Domain Migration Google Analytics Question

[SEO Lady]

Hi guys n gals

I haven't had this situation before.

I've migrated domains many times, in fact it was one of the first things I learned back in 2009, but this time I'm unsure of the best practice in Google Analytics or whether I am reading too much into this?

A client migrated their domain last week, I've overseen the usual procedure (301 redirect on pages plus domain wide, Change of Address with Google, rankings are not affected, happy client) and in the Google Analytics account the traffic etc is still tracking as normal.

The question is, shall I make a note in GA of the date the domain migration happened, and simply manually change the old domain to the new domain?

Or should I create a new account from scratch, and if so why? At this point I can't see any advantages, only the disadvantage of losing years of historical data from the old domain.

Many thanks for reading
Nina

 

[WebDesires]

It scares me that you are pushing yourself as an SEO consultant yet you are asking one of the most fundamental SEO questions of all time!

Keep the data, flag the date migration occurred and change the domain.

And I also hope you updated Google Webmaster Tools and told google to re-crawl the site...

 

[UKcentric]

Should be no problem. Is this a different situation to most migrations? It doesn't seem so different.

You could make a backup profile in Analytics, then change the domain and install the tracking code on your new site. Definitely make a note in Analytics (or in your diary).

I definitely wouldn't want to start a new account as all the historical data will be lost and it will be harder to prove to your client how much more traffic your efforts are bringing in

 

[CarlReed]

I'd just create a new account and keep hold of the old as as a reference, as long as you're not running conversion tests during the switch it shouldn't really matter

 

[DhruvSoft]

If you have moved your site to new domain, there is no need too change the google analytics account. Instead what else you need to do is change of address tool should be used. A change of address will help Google to Index your new URL at new address. It will notify Google about new URL of existing content. Change of address is safe because only verified site owners can use it.

To Submit a change of address follow following steps:

• On the Search Console Home page, click the site you want to move from.
• Click the gear icon; then click Change of Address.
• Follow the instructions in the Change of site address tool.
• Monitor your traffic as indicated in Move a site with URL changes.

 

[Alan]

No need to do anything with the GA account if it is an all or nothing switch (as you suggest with 301s it is) The domain name in GA is only for your reference the important thing is the UA-xxxxxx so just use the tracking code. In GA you can track multiple domains on the same account if you so wish (although you need to do a bit of filtering to be able to see the different domains)