A dynamic online presence in this fast-paced digital world can make your business site more attractive to your target audience. To achieve this state, you must include user-friendly and versatile features in your websites.
Since you have been using the Wix platform from the beginning, you must have already learned that this platform offers little scope for customization. As a result, you must migrate to a better open-source platform like WordPress to make your site more customizable and engaging.
In this blog, we will provide an in-depth overview of how you can successfully migrate your site from Wix to WordPress. This will help you to learn all the tips and tricks for making your business growth surge in real time.
Why Move from Wix to WordPress?
Not every CMS platform can offer the same amount of flexibility as open-source ones. And amongst them, WordPress would be the best solution in most cases. So, before we dive into the migration process, it’s necessary to understand the merits of moving your website from Wix to WordPress.
Greater Control and Flexibility
WordPress is an open-source platform and it can give you full control over your website. This flexibility opens the door for thousands of plugins, themes, and customization options that are not available on Wix.
Advanced SEO Capabilities
WordPress is always equipped with the best SEO features. With plugins like Yoast SEO or Rank Math, you can seamlessly optimize your website for search engines, gaining an edge over Wix for search rankings.
Content Ownership
Unlike Wix, where your content is hosted on their platform, WordPress also provides you access to host your content on any server. This generally facilitates full ownership and control over your site’s data.
Pre-Migration Preparation for Converting Wix to WordPress
Migrating from Wix to WordPress requires careful planning and execution. Here’s a structured guide to the essential pre-migration steps you should follow:
1. Choose the Right Hosting Provider
- Select a reliable hosting provider that offers excellent speed, uptime, and customer support. Popular options include WP Engine, Bluehost, or SiteGround.
- Reliable Hosting
You can select a host that offers excellent speed, uptime, and customer service. Popular options include WP Engine, Bluehost, SiteGround, or HostClad (A low-cost cloud hosting service).
2. Domain Name Transfer
- If your domain is registered with Wix, prepare to transfer it to your new hosting provider. Most hosts provide a straightforward domain transfer process.
3. Install WordPress
- Once your hosting is set up, install WordPress on your server. You can do this via:
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One-Click Installation: Most hosting providers offer this feature for easy setup.
- Manual Installation: Download WordPress from WordPress.org and upload it to your server, following the installation instructions.
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4. Choose a WordPress Theme
- Select a theme that reflects or improves upon your Wix site’s design. Consider:
- Free and Premium Themes: Explore the extensive library of themes available.
- Customization Options: Ensure the theme allows for easy customization without coding.
5. Prepare for Content Export
- Since Wix does not provide a direct export option, plan how to manually export your content:
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Text Content: Copy and paste text manually from Wix to WordPress.
- Images: Download images from Wix and upload them to your new site.
- Blog Posts: Use the RSS feed feature in Wix to export blog posts by copying the RSS feed URL and importing it into WordPress.
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These steps will set a solid foundation for your migration process, ensuring that you are well-prepared before moving your website from Wix to WordPress.
What steps to follow for migrating from Wix to WordPress?
The migration from Wix to WordPress can be a complex task if you are not educated on the proper guidelines. Now, we will give you a full overview of this migration process to ease your stress and achieve satisfaction:
Import Wix Content to WordPress
After completing the content export process, it’s time for you to import it into your new WordPress site. To do this perfectly, you should follow the below procedures:
RSS Feed for Blog Posts
WordPress allows you to import RSS feeds from other platforms, making it easy to transfer blog content from Wix. After completing the process, you should double-check for missing content or formatting issues.
Manual Transfer of Content
For images, pages, and other content, you will need to develop new pages in WP and paste your content from Wix manually.
Set Up Permalinks
Permalinks are the URLs of your blog posts and pages. WordPress gives you the flexibility to customize these URLs to be SEO-friendly. To set up permalinks, you must perform the following tasks:
Custom Structure
Navigate to “Settings” -> “Permalinks” in the WP dashboard and select a structure like /post-name/ for cleaner URLs.
301 Redirects
If your Wix URLs are different from your new WordPress URLs, you need to set up 301 redirects to ensure visitors and search engines are directed to the correct pages.
Customize WordPress with Plugins
One of the best features of WordPress is its vast library of plugins. These plugins allow you to add functionality that wasn’t possible with Wix. To customize with WP plugins, you can work with the following options:
SEO Plugins
You can install a plugin like Yoast SEO to optimize your website’s search engine performance in your new CMS.
Backup Plugins
You can also use a backup plugin like UpdraftPlus, to regularly back up your website’s database and files.
Security Plugins
To make your site secure, you must ensure the website is secured with plugins like Wordfence or Sucuri.
Test and Optimize Your Site
In the final stage of migration from Wix to WordPress, you must execute tests and optimizations before launching the new site. To ensure a smooth processing, you must carry out the following actions:
Cross-Browser Testing
Firstly, you can test your website on different browsers (Chrome, Safari, Firefox) to ensure consistency.
Mobile Responsiveness
Then, you should use tools like Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test to check if your site is optimized for mobile and other handheld devices.
Page Load Speed
Finally, you can also use tools like GTmetrix or Google PageSpeed Insights. These are very helpful for measuring your page load times and identifying scopes for improvement.
SEO Optimization after Migration from Wix to WordPress
Wix to WordPress migration cannot be completed without proper SEO. As a result, you should follow the below post-migration strategies for a better outcome:
Proper 301 Redirects
When migrating from Wix to WordPress, it’s necessary to ensure all old Wix URLs are similar to new WordPress URLs. You can perform this by 301 redirects, which inform search engines that the older page has permanently moved to a new destination. However, 404 errors can occur for bad settings, hurting both user experience and SEO rankings at the same time.
Improve Meta Titles and Descriptions
Besides managing 301 redirects, you must review all your meta titles and descriptions to ensure they align with the content on your new WordPress website. Here, you should use your targeted keywords naturally to enhance search engine visibility.
Optimize Images and Alt Text
As part of your post-migration SEO efforts, you must optimize images by compressing them for faster load times. In addition, you should add descriptive alt text to improve SEO and accessibility.
Submit a New Sitemap
Following the successful migration from Wix to WordPress, you must submit a new sitemap to the Google Search Console. Doing so will help the search engines to quickly crawl and index your new website for SEO.
If you still feel the above migration process is a bit hectic, then we urge you to seek assistance from third parties for a one-stop solution.
How Glossy IT Can Help You Migrating From Wix to WordPress
At Glossy IT, we have an experienced and skilled technical team who can provide you with the best service for migrating Wix to WordPress. Here, we are committed to providing you with a one-stop service so that you do not need to do anything by yourself or go anywhere else for a similar issue.
Give us a shout to learn more about our Website Migration Services.
Summary
WordPress offers superior flexibility, control, and SEO advantages than Wix. This makes it a preferred choice for businesses looking to scale and grow in the long run. By following this detailed guide, you can perform a smooth transition while retaining your SEO rankings and enhancing your website’s overall performance. However, if you still feel this migration from Wix to WordPress is a daunting task, you must search for external help from expert developers.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about Migrating from Wix to WordPress
What are the first steps to start the migration process?
Answer: Begin by choosing a reliable hosting provider for your new WordPress site. After selecting a host, you will need to install WordPress on your server. Many hosting providers offer one-click installations to simplify this process.
How do I transfer my content from Wix to WordPress?
Answer: Wix does not provide a straightforward export option, so you’ll need to manually copy text content and download images. For blog posts, you can use the RSS feed feature in Wix to export your posts and import them into WordPress.
What should I do after importing my content?
Answer: After importing your content, set up permalinks for SEO-friendly URLs and create 301 redirects if necessary. This ensures that visitors and search engines are directed to the correct pages on your new site.
How can I enhance my new WordPress site’s SEO?
Answer: Post-migration, ensure that all old URLs redirect properly using 301 redirects. Review and optimize meta titles and descriptions, compress images for faster load times, and submit a new sitemap to Google Search Console for indexing.
Is it necessary to customize my WordPress site with plugins?
Answer: Yes, customizing your site with plugins is highly recommended as it adds functionality that may not be available with Wix. Consider installing SEO plugins like Yoast SEO, security plugins like Wordfence, and backup solutions like UpdraftPlus.
What if I encounter issues during the migration process?
Answer: If the migration process feels overwhelming or you face technical difficulties, consider seeking assistance from professional developers or services like Glossy IT, which specializes in website migrations.
Will migrating from Wix to WordPress affect my website’s SEO rankings?
Answer: If done correctly, migrating should not negatively impact your SEO rankings. Properly setting up redirects and optimizing your new site can help maintain or even improve your search engine visibility during the transition.
How long does the migration process take?
Answer: The duration of the migration process can vary based on the complexity of your site and the amount of content being transferred. On average, it may take anywhere from a few hours to several days.
Can I still use my existing domain name after migrating?
Answer: Yes, you can transfer your existing domain name from Wix to your new hosting provider during the migration process. Most hosting providers offer guidance on how to complete this transfer smoothly.
What role does manual vs automated migration play in Wix to WordPress?
Answer: When migrating from Wix to WordPress, you can choose between manual and automated migration. Manual migration is cost-effective and gives you control but is time-consuming and prone to errors. Automated migration is faster and reduces errors but may incur costs and require some technical knowledge. Choose based on your website’s size and your resources.
What are the steps for setting up a temporary domain during the migration from Wix to WordPress?
Answer: To set up a temporary domain during your Wix to WordPress migration, choose a reliable hosting provider and create an account. Use a temporary subdomain or purchase a new domain. Install WordPress via your host’s dashboard, then manually or automatically migrate content from Wix. Finally, transfer your original domain and update the DNS settings to complete the transition.