Migration Timeline

The checklist below is designed to help you manage your migration. It can be adapted to reflect the specific needs and workflows of your team.

Phase 1: Planning and preparation

Review the Website Migration Toolkit and related guidance

Complete a full audit and inventory of your current site content

Determine which content to keep, update, archive or remove

Establish any department or division-specific timelines

Phase 2: Content review

Allocate responsibility for reviewing and rewriting content where necessary

Ensure updated content meets accessibility and style guidelines

Identify content requiring input or approval from subject matter experts

Prepare new or replacement media (e.g., images, PDFs, videos, etc.)

Flag content that depends on templates still in development

Phase 3: Build and migration

Ensure relevant team members have access to the new CMS

Set up page structure and site navigation

Create and format pages using available components

Phase 4: Review and launch

Conduct accessibility and content quality review

Migrate or rewrite content as needed

Test layout, links, embedded media, and metadata

Set up any required redirects and update any external links pointing to the old site

Obtain sign-off from content owners or stakeholders

Agree on a likely publish/launch date

Launch the site and verify functionality

Phase 5: Post-launch

Monitor site usage and user feedback

Schedule a retrospective to capture lessons learned

Plan for future updates and ongoing maintenance