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Five simple wordpress migration tips for website users
1. WordPress was once known as one of a choice of blogging platforms but has
developed beyond its original use and is now one of the most popular content
management systems. It powers over 17% of the web and migrating a website to
WordPress is so simple that even if your original site was created without the use of a
content management system at all it can be moved over.
There are five basic steps to ensure to simple WordPress migration. These steps can be
carried out by regular web users and web site developers alike:
1) Evaluate the original website
2) Set up WordPress ready to import your website
3) Import content
4) Migrate your design
5) Review your website and go live.
2. 1) Evaluation your Website:-
This process should be relatively pain free as you’re dealing with your
familiar website. Go through the process of categorising and organising
your content, working out which you want to keep and migrate.
3. 2) Set up WordPress:-
Before importing your content WordPress needs to be set up and there are two
options. If you’re just experimenting then you should start with a local installation. If
you’re 100% ready to go then you need to install WordPress with your hosting
provider.
Once WordPress is installed you can make some adjustments to customise your new
website:
Update permalinks – go to Settings → Permalinks and opt for the “postname”
permalinks style which is the most effective.
Update users – it’s sensible to create an admin-level account for yourself. It’s also
essential that you remove the ‘admin’ user name to avoid any security breaches.
Forms – using plugin contact forms is the best solution rather than migrating code.
There are paid and free form plugins.
SEO Management – understanding SEO is not something you need to know inside out
especially with plugins like WordPress SEO on hand to sort it out on your behalf.
4. 3) Import Content:-
The ease of importing content will be dependent on your old website’s system. Did
you use a different CMS? If so you may have a straightforward importing tool to use.
Start by viewing the list of content-importing script in the Codex. If it matches up then
it’s simple and you can just follow the on-screen instructions.
Manual migration takes more time but will be necessary if you don’t have a CMS. It’s a
simple cut and paste job, although it’s recommended you keep note of all the old
URLs.
5. 4) Migrate your Design:-
Bringing over design is one of the more complex elements of the process. You could
consider a brand new design utilising one of the hundreds of WordPress themes on
the market. If not, follow these simple steps.
Evaluating Design
Evaluate the source code of the design before making the migration. If the code is
heavily table-based or more complex than you’re happy with then migrating the
design probably won’t be worth the development necessary. Experienced developers
may well want to have a go at it though.
Working with Code
The easiest way to migrate your design is to work directly with the source code in your
chosen browser. Going directly into the code saves time and gives you practically
everything you need.
Custom Theme
All WordPress experts would recommend you create a custom theme by modifying an
existing theme to meet your design needs.
6. 5) Review and Go Live:-
Now that your theme is working it’s time to review your site at a whole. Be prepared
for elements which need fixing and don’t work out. You’ll be bound to come across
broken links, style, and functionality.
Setting up Redirects
Your link structure is likely to change in the migration process and therefore you’ll
need to ensure redirected links are in place from the old pages to the new. Adding
these redirects to an .htaccess file which you can access through the WordPress
directory.
Going live with the site usually involves either relocating WordPress from the
development folder to the root directory or pointing the domain from the old server to
the new one.
It’s that simple and your WordPress migration is complete and you can begin to utilise
this easy to adapt CMS for all your web needs.
7. Read more Web design, CSS and Website development
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