As businesses grow, moving to HubSpot CMS can streamline website management, marketing automation, and CRM integration. HubSpot provides an all-in-one platform, but migrating a website—especially one with existing content, blogs, forms, and integrations—can be complex. Organizations face a key choice: handle the migration themselves (DIY) or hire professional migration services HubSpot.
This article compares both approaches, highlighting benefits, risks, and factors to consider when deciding the best migration strategy for your business.
Understanding HubSpot Migration
Migrating to HubSpot involves moving content, design elements, SEO metadata, forms, calls-to-action, workflows, and integrations from an existing CMS to HubSpot CMS. A successful migration ensures:
- No loss of content or formatting
- Preservation of SEO rankings and organic traffic
- Continued lead capture and CRM integration
- Proper functionality of third-party tools and workflows
Both DIY and professional approaches aim to achieve these goals, but the methods, risks, and outcomes differ significantly.
DIY HubSpot Migration: Pros and Cons
Pros of DIY Migration
- Lower Initial Cost
Handling the migration internally avoids service fees, making it an appealing option for small businesses or startups. - Full Control
Internal teams maintain direct oversight over content, design, and workflow adjustments. - Learning Opportunity
Teams gain hands-on experience with HubSpot CMS, which can help in ongoing site management.
Cons of DIY Migration
- Technical Complexity
HubSpot CMS uses modules, templates, and integrations that differ from other platforms. Inexperienced teams may struggle with content mapping, design replication, and functionality migration. - SEO and Traffic Risks
Incorrect URL mapping, missing metadata, or broken links can lead to ranking drops and reduced traffic. - Lead Data Loss
Improper migration of forms, CTAs, and workflows can result in lost leads or interrupted marketing campaigns. - Time-Consuming
DIY migrations can take weeks or even months, diverting internal resources from other strategic initiatives. - Limited Support
Internal teams may lack expertise to troubleshoot HubSpot-specific issues, increasing the risk of errors.
Migration Services HubSpot: Pros and Cons
Pros of Professional Migration Services
- Expertise and Experience
Certified HubSpot partners have extensive experience in migrating websites, ensuring accuracy and efficiency. - SEO Preservation
Experts handle URL redirects, metadata transfer, schema markup, and sitemap submission to maintain search rankings. - Lead Data Integrity
Forms, CTAs, workflows, and CRM integrations are migrated seamlessly, preventing lost leads or marketing interruptions. - Time Efficiency
Professional teams follow structured processes and use automation tools to accelerate migration timelines. - Security and Compliance
Sensitive data is protected during migration, with backups, encrypted transfer, and compliance with GDPR or CCPA. - Post-Migration Support
Experts monitor performance, address issues, and optimize the website after launch.
Cons of Professional Services
- Higher Cost
Migration services can range from a few thousand dollars to higher, depending on website complexity. - Dependency on External Partner
Businesses must communicate and coordinate with the service provider throughout the project.
Key Factors to Consider When Choosing
When deciding between DIY migration and professional migration services HubSpot, consider the following factors:
- Website Size and Complexity
Large websites with hundreds of pages, blogs, landing pages, and custom integrations benefit from expert migration. Smaller websites with minimal content may manage DIY successfully. - SEO and Traffic Importance
If preserving search rankings and organic traffic is critical to your business, professional services offer better security. - Internal Expertise
Evaluate your team’s familiarity with HubSpot CMS, coding, and migration processes. Lack of experience increases risk. - Time and Resource Availability
DIY migration requires dedicated internal resources. If time is limited, professional services ensure a faster and more reliable transition. - Budget and ROI
While DIY seems cheaper initially, errors in migration can lead to lost traffic, leads, and revenue. Professional services can deliver a higher return on investment by ensuring accuracy and minimizing risk.
Best Practices for a Successful HubSpot Migration
Regardless of the chosen approach, consider these best practices:
- Audit Existing Website: Identify high-performing pages, outdated content, and technical issues.
- Plan Migration Thoroughly: Map URLs, metadata, forms, and integrations before starting.
- Test in a Staging Environment: Ensure all pages, workflows, and forms work correctly.
- Implement Redirects Carefully: Preserve SEO and internal linking structure.
- Monitor Post-Migration Performance: Track SEO, traffic, and leads immediately after launch.
Conclusion
Choosing between DIY migration and Unlock New Possibilities with Our 10 Free HubSpot CMS Modules depends on your business size, expertise, time, and risk tolerance. While DIY may be cost-effective for small, simple websites, professional migration services are highly recommended for growing businesses with complex content, integrations, and SEO considerations.
Professional services offer peace of mind, faster execution, and protection of SEO, traffic, and lead data. Investing in experts ensures a smooth, secure, and optimized HubSpot migration, allowing businesses to focus on growth while leveraging the full capabilities of the HubSpot CMS ecosystem.