Google's Mueller Sheds Light on Peculiar Domain Migration Results

John Mueller of Google explains that despite having the same content in different languages, each site with its own country code top-level domain (ccTLD) is essentially a unique entity. Therefore, it is normal for domain migrations to affect each site differently. Factors such as how users respond to changes in template or domain name, and how each site fits into the broader context of the internet, can influence the outcome of a migration.

The specific reasons for the loss of traffic in the .FR and .BE domain migrations are not detailed in the text. However, John Mueller suggests that each site is different and should be regarded as such, even if they share the same content in different languages. The differences in outcomes could be due to a variety of factors, including user response to the new domain or unforeseen issues with the migration process.

While the text does not provide a step-by-step guide, it implies the importance of treating each site migration individually, even when the content is the same but in different languages. Ensuring that redirects, canonical tags, hreflang attributes, content, and offers are properly set up, and verifying the migration through the Search Console are critical steps. Additionally, being aware that different sites may respond differently to migrations is crucial, and one should monitor each site's performance post-migration to address any issues promptly.