Do you know what it is migrate an online store, how is it done and when is the best time to implement it? If you answered “no” to any of those questions—or have any questions—don’t worry! In this article we collect the most essential information on the subject.
In case you are not happy with the e-commerce platform you are on now, we share an alternative: migrate your online store. Did you know that this option exists? Let’s dive right into the subject.
What is migrating an online store?
As the term indicates, migrating a store is transferring your virtual store from one e-commerce platform to another. Typically, you migrate to a digital solution that better suits your needs and those of your business.
In the initial stage of any business it is common to look for simple services. However, as the brand grows, it becomes essential to invest in a more robust server that offers plans with greater advantages and additional functionalities.
This can translate into services that include integrations with marketing apps and tools, bulk order management, responsive design, and more.
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Also, a solid e-commerce platform provides , as well as fewer technical instabilities. This is especially important during periods of high traffic or special dates, such as or .
Migrate store: how to know if it’s time to do it?
Among the many reasons that could lead you to make the decision to migrate your online store to a different platform, the following stand out:
- Low conversion rate on the current platform.
- A difficult manager to use
- constant falls (for example: the server fails on important dates, due to the ).
- Few or no chances to do SEO adjustments (that is, optimizing pages and products for search engines).
- Difficulty climbing the business (with advanced integrations, for example).
- Customer Support slow, in a language different from yours and/or not very empathic.
Do you identify with any of these situations? If so, then it is very likely that you have reached when to migrate your online store to a new platform.
What to consider when migrating your virtual store?
To make a store migration it is necessary, in the first place, create a plan with your team and, if applicable, with the specialist who is going to help you migrate data to the new e-commerce platform.
It is important that consider each and every stage of the process: how they are going to be carried out, who will be responsible for each action, the estimated time that each action will take, etc.
With that in mind, here are seven essential points so you don’t overlook them:
1. Technology
So that the migration does not become a frustrating process, it is important to make sure that the e-commerce platform to which you plan to migrate your business offers all the features you need.
Tiendanube, for example, in addition to offering various free integrations —as means of payment and shipping— also has the . There you will find dozens of apps that you can integrate into your online business to optimize the service, administration, sales, etc.
Surely you are already thinking of migrating to Tiendanube!
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2. Backup
If losing money, keys and everything is stressful… can you imagine what it is like to lose essential information about your business, such as the customer base? To avoid this nightmare, Before doing a platform migration, remember to make a backup of the history of products, orders and registrations.
Each platform offers a different way to do it. We suggest you contact the customer service center of your current platform and ask what the steps are to create a backup of your data.
3. Design
If your store has a , look for an expert in the field who can help you with the visual migration of your e-commerce. This is important, since completely changing the layout after a migration is not recommended. Your customers might be surprised or confused if there are too many changes at once.
To help you in your search, at Tiendanube we have a list of agencies and are always willing to help you customize and configure your online store. To meet them, we invite you to visit our site.
Are you still wondering whether to migrate to Tiendanube? I kept reading!
4. 301 Redirect
Just reading or hearing “301 Redirects” freaks them out! But don’t worry: redirects are tricky, but not impossible.
The 301 Redirect, in case you didn’t know, is a status code that tells Google that a URL is in a new location. In other words, it ensures that unwanted technical errors do not occur, as well as helping to preserve the ranking of your website and, consequently, the number of organic visits.
However, when migrating platform, it is crucial to keep the keywords used in titles, URLs and . You’ll also need to closely monitor your landing pages with tools like , to understand if the traffic is really following its regular flow.
If you want to go deeper into this, we recommend you read:
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5. Security
To guarantee a safe migrationit is essential to check that the new e-commerce platform offers the ssl-certificate. Or make sure that the SSL certificate you already have on your domain is compatible with the new system. In this way, all products, orders and customer data will be protected throughout the process.
It’s important to put attention on SSL certificate activation could take up to 24 hours. During this period, your online store will be identified as “insecure”. Therefore, when migrating, we advise you to share a maintenance notice on your brand’s social networks or via email.
6. Test
Before activating your new online store, after having done a platform migration, do a general test: from registrations and purchases, to order tracking. Also, we suggest you avoid this change during high demand seasons in your business.
If you’re not sure which periods have the most traffic, you can find out by running a quick analysis with Google Analytics. Look at traffic over a long period of time, identify “peaks” of users and analyze what those periods have in common (for example, if they are weekends or holidays).
With these measures, only a few clients will not be able to be served if something unforeseen occurs during the migration.
7. Communication
Finally, Don’t forget to communicate the change to your customers! You can also create discount coupons to attract visitors to your new store and ask your community to let you know if they had any difficulties or notice anything out of the ordinary.
With these actions, little by little, you will be adapting your online store to serve them better and better.
How to migrate to a new e-commerce platform?
The duration of a platform migration depends mainly on the size of the catalog of each store. The more products there are, the more complex and time-consuming the process will be..
Of course, regardless of the size of your business, there are some considerations that we recommend you have before migrating:
- analyze the site structure and products. This is the ideal time to make changes in either of these two areas.
- Prepare the team involved in the management and use of the store.
- Create a check list With everyone migration steps (from the change of the domain, to the personalization of the site). And set deadlines to execute each of the tasks.
- Anticipate what changes are going to be made and what new applications are going to be integrated.
If you are thinking of migrating your online store, but you don’t know how to choose the ideal e-commerce platform for your business, don’t worry! Here is a guide to know and compare e-commerce platforms More popular:
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We know how important the process of migrating an online store is. Therefore, if you want to have more information, we invite you to consult our specialized tutorial on So, you will know the process step by step and in greater detail.
Do you have specific questions about it? We are here to clear all your concerns and help you in the process. In our you will find all the service channels that we have to provide you with support.
In CloudStore, we facilitate the task of migrating online storessince the first monthly payment —regardless of the chosen plan— goes on our own to the on our platform.
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