Website Migration and Redesign Without SEO Loss
Old, slow or stuck on Wix? How to migrate and rebuild a website without losing rankings: the safe process, the 301 step and 2026 prices in Israel.
In short (TL;DR): A website migration is a controlled move of an existing site to a new platform, and a rebuild (redesign) puts an improved site in its place. Keep the domain, map the URLs and set 301 redirects, and you can move without losing the search rankings you have earned. Typical cost in 2026: about ₪5,000 to ₪25,000+.
If your site is slow, looks dated, or is locked into a platform you want to leave (Wix, for instance) — you can move it and rebuild it without losing the search visibility you have built up. The key is an orderly process: keep the domain, map every URL and set 301 redirects from the old pages to the new ones, then move the content across. The cost of a migration plus rebuild in 2026 usually runs from ₪5,000 for a small site to ₪25,000 and up for a full business site.
A website migration is a controlled copy of an existing site from one platform or server to another, keeping the digital identity intact — the domain, the content and the search rankings. A rebuild goes a step further: rather than only moving the site, you build a new and better one in place of the old.
Why migrate or rebuild at all?
- A ceiling on growth. Closed platforms limit what you can customise, how fast the site can be and what it can do. As the business grows, the site cannot grow with it.
- Speed and search. Old sites are usually slow, and that hurts both the experience and the Google ranking — a subject we set out in the guide to advanced web development and performance.
- Ownership. You want to hold the code and the asset yourself, not rent them from a supplier.
- A dated look. A site that looks a decade old damages trust — sometimes a design refresh is enough, sometimes a rebuild is needed.
Why now? The numbers
- Google holds around 90% of the search market. According to StatCounter data, losing organic rankings in a careless migration means losing most of the traffic the site could have.
- Speed is part of the page experience Google measures. The Core Web Vitals metrics affect ranking — and an old, slow site loses out in Google and in conversions alike.
- Migration cost range in 2026: about ₪5,000 for a small site up to ₪25,000+ for a full business site, depending on size and complexity.
How do you avoid losing your rankings? This is the critical part
The big fear about migrating is justified: a careless move can wipe out years of search work. A proper process prevents that:
- Map every existing URL and identify the pages that rank in Google.
- Keep the domain — it stays exactly as it is; only what sits behind it changes.
- Set 301 redirects from each old address to its new equivalent, so that Google and visitors both land in the right place.
- Move the content and preserve the headings and copy that bring in traffic.
- Test after the switch — broken links, speed, indexing in Google and Search Console.
Skipping the redirect step is the mistake most sites fail on — and then the organic traffic falls off a cliff.
What does a migration or rebuild cost?
| Type of work | What it includes | Price range (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Design refresh | A better look on the same foundation | ₪3,000–8,000 |
| Migration + rebuild (small site) | New site + migration + redirects | ₪5,000–12,000 |
| Migration + rebuild (business site) | Full site + content + rankings preserved | ₪12,000–25,000+ |
The price depends on the number of pages, how much content has to move, and the complexity involved (a shop, a customer area, integrations). Before deciding, it is worth seeing the full picture in the 2026 website cost guide and choosing the new foundation carefully — see WordPress versus a coded site.
How long does the process take?
A design refresh usually finishes within one to two weeks. Migrating and rebuilding a business site normally takes about 3 to 8 weeks — depending on the number of pages, content approvals and complexity (a shop, integrations, a customer area). The 301 redirects go live on the day of the switch itself, so that search performance and lead flow continue without a break.
Refresh or rebuild — which should you choose?
If the foundation is sound and the site merely looks dated, a design refresh will do and will cost less. If the site is slow, cannot be extended, is not yours, or is built on a platform that limits you, a rebuild is the right investment. That decision is best made with a supplier who examines the existing site properly, as described in the guide to choosing a company and the website build process.
Want to move without losing what you have built? Take a look at the website build service from Aiterra, or talk to us for a review of your current site and a safe migration plan.
