# Legacy docs redirect map during help-center migration

> When migrating a help center or docs corpus, ship permanent redirects from every legacy URL so search traffic, backlinks, and in-product links survive the move.

- Canonical HTML: https://growth.iangoh.com/growth-ideas/legacy-docs-redirect-map-during-help-center-migration/
- Source: [intercom.com](https://www.intercom.com/help/en/articles/56643-migrate-your-articles-from-zendesk)
- GrowthDex source hub: [Intercom Help](/sources/intercom-help-intercom-com/)
- Last checked: 2026-05-25
- Rarity: rare
- Budget: free
- Channels: SEO, Website, Support
- Stages: migration, docs, seo, retention
- Key metric: Permanent HTTP 301 redirects for migrated article and collection URLs

## Why this can grow

Docs migrations usually lose trust in quiet ways: old support links break, bookmarked answers die, and search equity resets just when buyers are comparing vendors. A redirect map keeps the old URLs useful, preserves link authority, and makes the migration feel stable instead of risky.

## Ian's take

From scaling consumer platforms across MENA and Southeast Asia, my default is to distrust growth work that only looks good in a slide. For SEO and AI search, I care less about clever keyword tricks and more about clarity. A buyer, crawler, or answer engine should quickly understand who this is for, why it works, what proof backs it, and what page deserves to be cited. For retention, I would watch the second and third use, not just the first click. A tactic is real when it changes a habit. For this tactic, I would watch Permanent HTTP 301 redirects for migrated article and collection URLs before putting more time or budget behind it.

## Action plan

1. Define one narrow startup segment where legacy docs redirect map during help-center migration can create a measurable lift.
2. Turn the tactic into one offer, page, campaign, or workflow for the SEO and Website channel.
3. Use the evidence from intercom.com to set the first version of the message, format, and audience.
4. Launch a small test for 7 to 14 days with one success metric: Permanent HTTP 301 redirects for migrated article and collection URLs.
5. Review the result, keep the winning message, remove weak variants, and turn the learning into a repeatable growth playbook.

## Source-backed example

Intercom's Zendesk article migration creates permanent redirects from previous Zendesk article and collection URLs to the new Intercom articles so existing links keep working and SEO value is preserved.

## Adjacent tactics in the same lane

- [Cross-domain help-center 301s before docs move](/growth-ideas/cross-domain-help-center-301s-before-docs-move/) - same source, 3 shared channels, 3 shared stages
- [Help-center collection link cleanup after domain switch](/growth-ideas/help-center-collection-link-cleanup-after-domain-switch/) - same source, 3 shared channels, 2 shared stages
- [Same-workspace 301 map after help-center migration](/growth-ideas/same-workspace-301-map-after-help-center-migration/) - same source, 3 shared channels, 1 shared stage
- [Unlisted public article preview before search release](/growth-ideas/unlisted-public-article-preview-before-search-release/) - same source, 3 shared channels

## Read GrowthDex essays

Browse the plain-English essay index at [GrowthDex Blog](/blog/).

## Related GrowthDex essays

- [The docs move usually gets judged by the dull pages](/blog/the-docs-move-usually-gets-judged-by-the-dull-pages/) - docs migration, seo, support-led growth
- [The switcher usually trusts what they can check](/blog/the-switcher-usually-trusts-what-they-can-check/) - switcher intent, SEO, product marketing

## Reading path: AI products

- [The docs move usually gets judged by the dull pages](/blog/the-docs-move-usually-gets-judged-by-the-dull-pages/) (2026-05-25T12:05:00Z)
- [The switcher usually trusts what they can check](/blog/the-switcher-usually-trusts-what-they-can-check/) (2026-05-25)

## Reading path: developer tools

- [The docs move usually gets judged by the dull pages](/blog/the-docs-move-usually-gets-judged-by-the-dull-pages/) (2026-05-25T12:05:00Z)
- [The switcher usually trusts what they can check](/blog/the-switcher-usually-trusts-what-they-can-check/) (2026-05-25)

## Advisory

If you want help turning this into a working growth system, Ian Goh offers advisory at https://iangoh.com/advisory.