Everything You Need to Know Before Switching Your Newspaper Website
Switching Website Providers Doesn't Have to Be Stressful
For many newspaper publishers, the thought of changing websites can feel overwhelming.
Questions immediately come to mind:
- Will we lose our articles?
- What happens to our photos?
- Will our website go offline?
- What happens to our email?
- Will Google still find our stories?
- Will readers notice?
The good news is that website migrations have become a proven, well-planned process.
With careful preparation and experienced guidance, your transition can be smooth, organized, and virtually invisible to your readers.
At Surf New Media, we've developed a migration process designed specifically for community newspapers.
Why Newspapers Decide to Migrate
Every newspaper has its own reasons for making a change.
Some want:
- Modern website design
- Better support
- AI-powered publishing tools
- Lower long-term costs
- Faster publishing workflows
- Newsletter automation
- Better mobile experience
- Improved security
- Digital subscriptions
- A platform built specifically for newspapers
Whatever your reason, a successful migration starts with careful planning.
What Can Be Migrated?
One of the biggest concerns publishers have is preserving years of valuable content.
Depending on your current website, we can often migrate:
- Articles
- Photos
- Categories
- Authors
- Menus
- Pages
- Archives
- Documents
- Videos
- Advertisers
- Community calendars
- And much more
Every website is different, so we'll evaluate your current platform and discuss what can be migrated before the project begins.
Our Migration Process
Step 1 – Discovery
We begin by learning about your newspaper.
We discuss:
- Current website
- Publishing workflow
- Staff
- Goals
- Special requirements
- Existing features
This allows us to build a migration plan tailored to your newspaper.
Step 2 – Website Setup
We create your new website using one of our professionally designed newspaper templates.
The site is customized with your:
- Logo
- Colors
- Navigation
- Branding
- Homepage layout
- Sections
Your website reflects your newspaper while benefiting from a proven design.
Step 3 – Content Migration
We transfer as much existing content as possible into the new website.
This may include:
- Articles
- Images
- Categories
- Menus
- Pages
- Archives
The exact migration depends on your current CMS and available data.
Step 4 – Configure Features
Next, we configure your new platform.
This may include:
- AI tools
- Publish Everywhere
- Newsletter automation
- Digital subscriptions
- E-editions
- Contact forms
- User accounts
- Search engine optimization
Step 5 – Staff Training
Before launch, we train your staff.
Editors, reporters, publishers, and administrators learn how to:
- Publish stories
- Upload photos
- Use AI
- Build newsletters
- Manage content
- Publish Everywhere
Training helps ensure everyone is comfortable before launch day.
Step 6 – Testing
Nothing goes live until it's ready.
We carefully review:
- Navigation
- Images
- Articles
- Mobile responsiveness
- Links
- Forms
- Search functionality
- User accounts
- Performance
Step 7 – Launch Day
Once everything has been approved, we schedule the launch.
The transition is carefully planned to minimize disruption for readers.
Most visitors simply notice that the newspaper has a modern new website.
Step 8 – Ongoing Support
Launching your website isn't the end of the relationship.
It's the beginning.
Our team continues providing:
- Technical support
- Software updates
- Security monitoring
- Feature enhancements
- AI improvements
- Training
- Ongoing assistance
Will My Website Go Offline?
Usually not.
Your new website is built on a private staging server while your existing website remains online.
Only after everything has been tested and approved do we make the switch.
This greatly reduces downtime.
What Happens to SEO?
Search engine visibility is one of the most common concerns during a migration.
We work to preserve your website's search presence by carefully planning the transition.
This may include maintaining URLs where practical, setting up redirects when needed, preserving important metadata, and reviewing indexing after launch to help search engines understand the new site structure.
While every migration is different and search rankings can naturally fluctuate for a period after launch, careful planning helps minimize disruption and positions your site for long-term growth.
What Happens to Our Email?
If Surf New Media is also hosting your email, your email addresses usually remain exactly the same.
The only thing changing is where your email is hosted.
We'll:
- Create your new email accounts
- Help configure computers and mobile devices
- Explain how to preserve your existing email
- Coordinate the transition
Most readers and advertisers never notice the change.
How Long Does a Website Migration Take?
Most newspapers launch within 4 to 8 weeks.
The timeline depends on:
- Website size
- Number of articles
- Existing CMS
- Staff availability
- Special features
- Migration complexity
We'll provide an estimated timeline before work begins.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will I lose my articles?
In many cases, no.
We evaluate your existing website and migrate as much content as possible.
Will my domain name change?
Usually not.
Most newspapers keep the same website address.
Will our email addresses change?
No.
In most cases your email addresses stay exactly the same.
Do you train our staff?
Absolutely.
Training is included before launch.
Can readers continue using the website during migration?
Yes.
Your existing website stays online while your new website is built and tested.
Related Resources
Continue exploring:
- Email Migration Guide
- Publish Everywhere
- Best Newspaper CMS
- Why Community Newspapers Choose Drupal
- How Much Does a Newspaper Website Cost?
- ROI Calculator
- Launch Timeline
- Newspaper Resource Center
Ready for a Stress-Free Migration?
Changing website providers shouldn't keep you awake at night.
With careful planning, experienced guidance, and a proven migration process, your newspaper can move to a modern publishing platform with confidence.
From content migration and email setup to staff training and launch day, Surf New Media is with you every step of the way.
Schedule a Free Demo and let us show you how simple a newspaper website migration can be.