Merging two sites to new one

Strategic Guide to Merging Multiple Websites into a Single Professional Platform

In the digital landscape, evolving your online presence often requires consolidating multiple websites into a unified, streamlined platform. Whether due to shifting business focus, branding consistency, or resource optimization, merging websites can be a nuanced process that demands careful planning and execution. In this article, we’ll explore best practices and strategic considerations for merging two or more existing sites into a single authoritative platform—especially when transitioning towards a personal brand or individual professional identity.

Understanding Your Goals

Before initiating the merger process, clarify your primary objectives:
– Are you aiming to enhance brand consistency?
– Do you want to improve SEO performance?
– Is your goal to provide a more comprehensive, centralized resource?
– How much of the existing content aligns with your new vision?

In your case, transitioning from multiple service and blog sites focused on accounting and tax services across different countries to a single personal brand site suggests a shift towards a unified presence that reflects your professional identity.

Assessing Existing Content and Relevance

Given that over half of the current content may not be directly relevant to your new site, a content audit is a crucial first step. Evaluate each page and post based on:
– Relevance to your new brand focus
– Quality and accuracy
– Engagement metrics
– SEO performance

This audit helps determine which content to retain, update, or exclude, ensuring your new site remains focused and authoritative.

Merging Strategies: Full Site Consolidation vs. Content Linking

There are two primary approaches to consolidating multiple websites:

1. Complete Site Merge
2. Pros:
   • Centralizes all content, improving authority and SEO
   • Provides users with a seamless experience

3. Cons:

   • May require significant technical work
   • Potential for losing backlinks or rankings on some pages

4. Partial Consolidation Using Backlinks

5. Pros:
   • Easier to implement
   • Preserves existing SEO assets
6. Cons:
   • Less integrated user experience
   • Might dilute brand messaging

Considering your scenario, a comprehensive website merge—redirecting old URLs to relevant pages on the new site—could be advantageous, especially if the majority of content is now redundant or irrelevant.

Technical Implementation Tips

• URL Redirections: Use 301 redirects from old pages to the corresponding new pages or sections. This preserves search engine rankings and ensures a good user experience.