How can I migrate a Linux installation from HDD to SSD?

After some research, I found that ext4 is apparently quite usable on SSDs, so I went with the clone approach. Here is what I did, step by step:

1. Install the SSD
2. Boot from a USB and clone the HDD to SSD with dd
3. Change the UUID of the new filesystem. I missed that one at first, which caused funny results as grub and other software got confused
4. Update the fstab on the new filesystem. I used the genfstab script from the Arch USB for that
5. Re-generate initramfs, reinstall and reconfigure grub
6. Move SSD to the top in boot priority, done

The above worked for me; however, I am very much a novice admin, so I'm not sure if every step is actually necessary and useful.

Yes, but...

yes, you can simply clone/copy the HDD content in the new SSD, because an SSD is a disk, just as an HDD.
but also SSD is a completely different technology, so you have to adjust swap partition and discard setting.

Anyway, I suggest you a clean install