Part 4: Common Migration Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them)
Platform migration can unlock major growth ~ but it can also backfire if you’re not careful. We’ve seen it all: broken links, lost data, SEO nosedives, and checkout flows that vanish into the digital void. These e-commerce migration mistakes aren’t just frustrating ~ they can cost you sales and damage your brand.
But don’t stress. Knowing what can go wrong is half the battle. Here’s how to dodge the most common pitfalls and make your platform switch a win.
Mistake 1: Ignoring SEO
Nothing stings like losing all your organic traffic after launch. One of the most common ecommerce migration mistakes is skipping SEO planning.
What to do instead:
Audit existing URLs and set up 301 redirects
Keep page titles, meta descriptions, and headers intact (or improve them)
Submit a new sitemap to Google Search Console
Monitor rankings and crawl errors post-launch
SEO is your long game ~ protect it like the valuable asset it is.
Mistake 2: Incomplete Data Migration
Your site isn’t just a collection of pages, it’s orders, customer accounts, inventory, and history. Messy or incomplete data transfers can break customer trust and cause major operational headaches.
Avoid it by:
Mapping data fields before migration
Testing the migration process in a staging environment
Double-checking customer accounts, order history, product variants, and pricing
No one wants to re-upload 200 SKUs manually. Trust us.
Mistake 3: Not Thinking About Mobile
Mobile is no longer a “nice to have.” It’s often your customer’s first impression. Yet some businesses focus only on desktop during design and testing, then wonder why conversions tank on launch.
Here’s your move:
Choose mobile-first themes
Test checkout flows on multiple screen sizes
Optimize load times for 4G connections
If your thumbs can’t easily complete a purchase, your customers won’t either.
Mistake 4: Launching Without a Soft Launch
Going from staging to full-on launch without testing in the wild? Risky.
Do a soft launch first. This gives you time to:
Catch any final bugs or formatting issues
Test live orders and payments
Train your team on the new backend
Let a small wave of traffic hit the site before shouting it from the rooftops.
Mistake 5: No Communication Plan
Whether it’s internal confusion or customers wondering why the site “looks different,” poor communication creates friction.
Fix it with:
Launch emails and banners that highlight what’s new
Quick how-to content if needed (especially if UX changed)
Internal training so your team isn’t scrambling to answer questions
When everyone’s on the same page, everything runs smoother.
Mistake 6: Choosing the Wrong Partner
A successful migration requires both strategy and tech chops. Choosing a team that lacks experience with complex migrations—or one that only does design without understanding backend logic ~ can turn a smart decision into a nightmare.
WMD has led migrations from Zencart, Magento, WooCommerce, Squarespace, and beyond. We don’t just rebuild—we rethink and replatform with strategy from day one.
Want to see how it’s done? Check out these success stories:
Shinetrim: From Zencart to WooCommerce
ALEPEL: E-Commerce Style Meets Shopify Substance
And if you’re thinking about a switch—Contact WMD to avoid the mistakes and get the momentum.
