LearnDash to Tutor LMS SEO and Redirect Checklist (2026)

Migrating from LearnDash to Tutor LMS is not just a content move. It is an SEO change. Course URLs, lesson paths, and internal links can shift, and that can cause traffic drops if you do not plan for it.

This checklist focuses on search performance: URL mapping, 301 redirects, internal links, and Search Console verification. For the full platform migration steps, start here: LearnDash vs Tutor LMS (2026) and How to migrate from LearnDash to Tutor LMS.

Why SEO changes during LMS migration

Most LMS migrations change one or more of these:

• Course URL structure
• Lesson and topic slugs
• Breadcrumbs and internal links
• Sitemap paths
• Metadata or templates

Even small changes can reduce rankings. Your goal is to keep URL signals stable or cleanly redirect them.

Step 1: Inventory your existing URLs

Export a full list of course, lesson, and quiz URLs before you touch anything. Options:

• Your XML sitemap
• A crawl from a tool like Screaming Frog
• WordPress export or database query if you are technical

Make a simple sheet with:

• Old URL
• New URL
• Status (redirect, keep, remove)

If you do not have this sheet, you cannot control SEO impact.

Step 2: Build a clean URL map

Do not rely on automatic redirects. Map every important URL:

• Top courses
• High traffic lessons
• Blog posts that link to courses
• Any page that ranks in Search Console

If you are changing slugs, keep them as close as possible to the old version.

Step 3: Set 301 redirects

Use a redirect plugin or server rules. The goal is a single 301 hop.

Redirection plugin example

• Old: /courses/learndash-course-name/
• New: /courses/tutor-course-name/

.htaccess example

Redirect 301 /courses/old-course-slug/ /courses/new-course-slug/

Avoid redirect chains. A chain is when URL A redirects to B, and B redirects to C. Keep it A -> C.

Step 4: Update internal links

Redirects help, but internal links should point to the new URLs.

• Update links inside blog posts
• Update menus and footer links
• Update course cards or CTA buttons

This improves crawl efficiency and prevents users from seeing unnecessary redirects.

Lesson and quiz URL strategy

Courses usually keep the most authority, but lessons and quizzes can still rank, especially if they have specific how-to intent. Try to keep lesson and quiz slugs stable when possible. If the new LMS forces a different path, use precise redirects for each high traffic lesson.

If you have to change titles, do it after the URLs are stable. That keeps one variable moving at a time and makes it easier to diagnose drops.

How to update internal links fast

Manual updates are slow. Use a safe, staged approach:

1. Export a list of URLs that changed
2. Use a search and replace tool on staging to update old URLs to new ones
3. Recheck the most linked pages by hand

If you use a plugin for search and replace, always back up first. Even a small mistake can update hundreds of links incorrectly.

Also update:

• Course menus and sidebar links
• Call to action buttons in sales pages
• Links inside PDF resources or lesson downloads

Every internal link that avoids a redirect improves crawl efficiency.

Step 5: Update canonicals and metadata

Check that your new templates output:

• A canonical tag that points to the new URL
• Accurate titles and descriptions for course pages
• Consistent Open Graph data for sharing

If canonicals point to old URLs, you can confuse Google and slow recovery.

Keep content parity on top courses

If a course already ranks, keep the on-page content stable during the migration. That means the title, the main heading, and the first few paragraphs should stay close to the original. You can refresh and improve later, but changing content and URL at the same time makes it hard to know what caused a drop.

Also keep the same media assets when possible. If the featured image changes, update social previews and clear caches so the new image is served correctly.

Step 6: Regenerate the sitemap

Generate a fresh sitemap after migration. Then:

• Submit the new sitemap in Search Console
• Check that old URLs are not still present
• Make sure course pages are included

If you use a caching plugin, clear cache after updating the sitemap.

Step 7: Validate in Search Console

Once the migration is live, verify key URLs:

• Use the URL Inspection tool for top courses
• Request indexing for the most important pages
• Check the Coverage report for errors

Monitor impressions, clicks, and position for the top pages over the next 2 to 4 weeks.

Step 8: Keep analytics stable

If you change page templates, confirm that analytics still fire:

• GA4 or other analytics tracking
• Conversion events for enrollments
• Checkout events if you sell courses

A drop in data can look like a traffic drop if tracking is broken.

Step 9: Post-migration QA pass

Use this quick QA list after launch:

• Test all redirects on top pages
• Check that no 404 pages appear in Search Console
• Validate that course pages load fast
• Confirm that course images and thumbnails load
• Check mobile layout on at least two devices

Common SEO mistakes to avoid

• Leaving old URLs live without redirects
• Using 302 instead of 301 redirects
• Keeping old URLs in the sitemap
• Ignoring internal link updates
• Changing content and URLs at the same time

Make one set of changes at a time whenever possible.

Mini checklist (print this)

• [ ] Export all old URLs
• [ ] Map old URLs to new URLs
• [ ] Set 301 redirects with no chains
• [ ] Update internal links and menus
• [ ] Regenerate and submit sitemap
• [ ] Validate key URLs in Search Console
• [ ] Monitor impressions for 30 days

Monitoring and rollback plan

Search performance can dip for a few days after a migration. That is normal. What matters is whether it recovers quickly.

Keep a simple change log with dates, URL updates, and redirect rules. Even a small spreadsheet helps you trace issues fast.

Set up a simple monitoring plan for the first 30 days:

• Check Search Console for new 404 errors twice per week
• Watch top pages for impression and click trends
• Review your server logs if you can access them

If you see a large drop on a specific course, inspect the redirect and internal links for that page. Fix those first. Do not change content until you confirm redirects are correct.

If you need to roll back, keep a backup from the pre-migration site and document the exact steps you took. A rollback plan prevents panic decisions.

FAQ

Do I need redirects if the slug stays the same?

If the URL is exactly the same, no. But check that the new LMS does not change the path or category structure.

How long does it take for rankings to recover?

If redirects are clean and content is stable, most sites recover within 2 to 6 weeks. Larger sites can take longer.

Should I keep the old LMS installed for SEO?

Not for SEO. Keep it for backup and rollback. The SEO protection comes from redirects and clean URL mapping.

Can I change content and URLs at the same time?

It is possible, but not ideal. If rankings matter, change URLs first and content later.

Related guides

• LearnDash vs Tutor LMS (2026)
• How to migrate from LearnDash to Tutor LMS
• Tutor LMS Post-Migration Setup Checklist
• Quiz and Certificate Migration Checklist
• How to Check WordPress Plugin Compatibility

A clean SEO migration protects the traffic you already earned. Do the mapping work upfront, and the rest becomes routine. It also reduces support tickets.