How we migrate websites to Craft CMS

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A website migration done well is one of the most valuable things a digital agency can do for a business. Done badly, it's one of the most damaging.

We've been migrating websites to Craft CMS for years and in that time we've built a process that's thorough, considered and genuinely proven. Not just technically, but commercially. The kind of process that protects what you've already earned online while creating a much stronger foundation for what comes next.

Here's how we do it.

Why Craft CMS?

Before we talk process, let’s talk Craft. We aren’t platform agnostic for the sake of it; we’re intentional about the tools we use.

Craft CMS is intuitive enough for content teams to use without developer support, powerful enough to handle complex, multi-site builds and flexible enough to grow with a business rather than constrain it. It's secure, well-supported, cost-effective and built with editorial experience genuinely in mind. When we recommend it to clients, it's because we believe it's the right tool, not because it's the easiest one for us.

The process

1. Internal preparation

Every migration starts before the client sees a single wireframe. Our developers, designers and SEO specialists review the brief together, agree on objectives and draft the right questions to ask about legacy content structures, existing functionality and what success actually looks like for this particular business.

Getting this right early saves significant time later.

2. Project kick-off

We bring the full team; development, UX and SEO into a comprehensive kick-off session alongside the client. This is where we revisit agreements, assess the current platform honestly and start to map out how Craft can improve the author experience, performance and scalability of what exists today.

3. Discovery

This is where the real groundwork happens, as the three disciplines work in parallel.

Our development team audits the existing CMS, reviews third-party integrations and begins content modelling. Craft's flexible structure means we can build content architectures that actually reflect how the business works, without unnecessary complexity.

Our UX team analyses competitors, identifies experience improvements and establishes the visual and interactive direction through moodboarding.

Our SEO team digs into keyphrases, audits existing content performance and flags what needs to be preserved, improved or retired. SEO isn't bolted on at the end. It shapes the platform from the outset.

4. Definition

With discovery complete, we get specific. The development team documents the full CMS structure; content types, fields, relationships and plans any bespoke functionality required. The UX team produces wireframes and creative concepts. The SEO team finalises the migration strategy and maps every URL redirect.

This phase exists to eliminate surprises. A well-defined project is a well-delivered project.

5. Production

Here's where it all comes together. Designs are built as responsive and fast front-end templates, in a flexible modular way that makes the most of Craft's highly customisable UI. Content teams get the ability to manage and update their site without needing to raise a ticket every time. The CMS is configured with live preview, drafts, revisions, multisite support and precise user permissions, the features that make day-to-day content management straightforward.

6. Pre-launch

Hosting is optimised. Content is migrated accurately, according to the plan. Nothing goes live until it's ready.

7. Launch

DNS changes are managed carefully. The site is monitored immediately post-launch. An SEO post-migration review is completed promptly to protect and where possible improve organic performance from day one.

8. Post-launch

The relationship doesn't end at launch. We provide ongoing Craft CMS and plugin updates, with regular enhancements driven by analytics, user feedback and the kind of digital trends that actually matter for the business. Craft's active developer community means vulnerabilities are typically resolved promptly, keeping the platform secure and performant over the long term.

Seen in practice: +70% conversion rate for Lovett Care

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When Lovett Care Group came to us, they were managing two separate domains across a growing estate of 28 homes and more than 1,800 beds. The challenge wasn't just technical – it was strategic. Two very different websites needed to become one unified platform, without losing the organic authority that had been built up over years.

Domain consolidations carry real risk. Organic visibility, local search rankings, enquiry volumes – all of it can take a significant hit if the migration isn't handled with care. For a care provider, where local search directly drives occupancy, that risk is even more acute.

We embedded SEO into the process from discovery, auditing both legacy sites, mapping competitor performance and developing a keyword strategy centred on local intent. URL redirects were planned meticulously. Authority was transferred from the stronger legacy domain into lovettcare.co.uk without disruption.

The results speak clearly: a 90% increase in sessions, a 56% improvement in Local Pack rankings and a 70% increase in conversion rate. More than that, Lovett now has a scalable Craft CMS platform built to support future growth – with the editorial freedom to manage it without relying on developer resource.

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Read the full Lovett Care case study

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Ready to migrate?

If your current website is holding your business back – whether it's slow, inflexible, hard to manage or simply telling an older version of your story – a migration to Craft CMS could be the most valuable investment you make this year.

We'd love to talk you through what that could look like. No obligation, just a straightforward conversation about what's possible.