{"id":142347,"date":"2015-06-24T11:00:17","date_gmt":"2015-06-24T15:00:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/premium.wpmudev.org\/blog\/?p=142347"},"modified":"2022-02-04T09:21:05","modified_gmt":"2022-02-04T09:21:05","slug":"move-any-site-to-wordpress","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wpmudev.com\/blog\/move-any-site-to-wordpress\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Convert a Website From Any Platform to WordPress"},"content":{"rendered":"

You started your website on a platform that was popular at the time. Perhaps it was the first one that you came across. But now that you\u2019ve used it for a while you\u2019ve decided it no longer does what you need it to. You want to move your website to WordPress. Smart move.<\/p>\n

WordPress is an amazing platform. So, good choice there.\u00a0The problem is you have all of those articles with photos already on that other platform. You have a menu structure that your visitors like. You have categories that make sense for your website. You have subscribers. That\u2019s a lot of items to be concerned about. Plus, you still want your visitors to feel like it\u2019s the same site they love.<\/p>\n

You know you want to move your site to WordPress. But the question is, how?<\/p>\n

This article doesn\u2019t focus on a specific platform. No matter which platform you\u2019re using, the process is about the same. Instead, this article will show you precisely how to make the move and either keep the structure you have or improve it.<\/p>\n

NOTE: I’m assuming you have a basic working knowledge of WordPress. If you do not, then you\u2019ll need to set up a WordPress installation and learn the ropes before converting your old site to WordPress.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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\"Migrating<\/a>
Migrating to WordPress is fiddly but you can do it!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

The Typical Migration Process<\/h2>\n

The typical conversion process from a different platform to WordPress looks like this:<\/p>\n

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  1. Evaluate Your Current Website<\/a><\/strong>. This will tell you what special features you need in your new WordPress website. This includes all of your content types \u2013 pages, posts, galleries, links, etc.<\/li>\n
  2. Set Up Your WordPress Installation<\/a><\/strong>. You don\u2019t need anything fancy yet \u2013 just WordPress installed on your domain.<\/li>\n
  3. Plugins to Migrate from Specific Platforms to WordPress<\/a><\/strong>. Migration plugins make moving your site to WordPress a lot easier.<\/li>\n
  4. Import Content Using an XML or CSV File to WordPress<\/a><\/strong>. Simple enough, right?<\/li>\n
  5. Set Up Your WordPress Site Design<\/a><\/strong>. This includes your theme, colors, logo, menu structure, links, and so forth.<\/li>\n
  6. Test and Debug Issues<\/a><\/strong>. It\u2019s important that your site is ready for public use before going live. This includes all links, images, media, content, menus, plugins, widgets, etc., both internal and external. I recommend using a maintenance mode plugin while the site is being tested.<\/li>\n
  7. Go Live<\/a><\/strong>. This involves either moving your domain to your new host or pointing your URL to your new site.<\/li>\n
  8. More Tests and Changes<\/a><\/strong>. Don\u2019t assume everything will be perfect when your site goes live. It is okay to makes changes.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Evaluate Your Current Website<\/h2>\n

    Knowing what you have will help you\u00a0figure out\u00a0what you need.<\/p>\n

    Start with a Plan<\/h3>\n

    Converting a website is a big project and you want to do it right the first time. I know it sounds clich\u00e9, but you need a plan to keep this train on the right tracks. You need to know exactly what your WordPress website should look like and how it should act. You need to know what you have, what you want to keep, what you want to change, and how you want it changed.<\/p>\n

    You need to know the specifics of what kind of site it is and what it should do. For example, are you moving a forum, paid membership, auction, school, or online store? Obviously, each these require different features. You\u2019ll need to know all the details so you can find the right solution for your site once it’s on WordPress.<\/p>\n

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    \n
    \"Always<\/a>
    Always start with a plan.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

    To do this go through your old site and take an inventory of its features.\u00a0Look at and make notes for items such as:<\/strong><\/p>\n