How do you approach CMS migration for large-scale or complex sites?

How do you approach CMS migration for large-scale or complex sites?

Answer: When approaching CMS migration for large-scale or complex sites, I follow these key steps:

1. Assessment and Planning: Evaluate the existing site architecture, content, and functionality. Identify goals for the new CMS and establish a migration strategy.

2. Content Audit: Inventory all content, categorizing it for relevance, quality, and usage. Decide what to keep, update, archive, or remove.

3. Choose the Right CMS: Select a CMS that meets the site’s scalability, flexibility, and functionality needs.

4. Data Mapping: Develop a mapping strategy for how existing content will fit into the new CMS structure.

5. Testing Environment: Set up a staging environment for the new CMS to test the migration process.

6. Migration Execution: Use automated tools or scripts for bulk data migration, ensuring to handle media files and metadata.

7. Quality Assurance: Thoroughly test the migrated content for functionality, broken links, and formatting issues.

8. SEO Considerations: Implement 301 redirects for old URLs to maintain SEO value and monitor performance post-migration.

9. Training and Documentation: Provide training for users on the new CMS and document processes for ongoing maintenance.

10. Launch and Monitor: Go live with the new site and monitor for issues, making adjustments as necessary.

This structured approach helps ensure a smooth transition while minimizing disruptions.

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