How do you move a WordPress website?

Do you ever feel like your WordPress website is holding you back? Maybe because you can't make money with it, or the functionality is limited. Maybe it's time to leave your old website behind and start fresh with a more modern website platform. But before you dump your old WordPress website, take these steps to ensure a smooth transition. We all know that trends in website design come and go. One day everyone is obsessed with animated GIFs, and the next day they can't get enough of flat designs.

Decide why you want to move

First, you need to determine why you want to move. Are you unhappy with your current platform? Is your website not generating enough revenue? Or do you just want to start over with a more modern platform? Moving your website is not a decision you should make quickly. It can be a time-consuming process that can go easily or badly wrong, depending on your preparation. If you want to move because you are not happy with your current platform, you should first try whether you can make adjustments within your current software that will make it easier for you. If you want to move to a more modern platform because you want more functionality, that's a perfectly understandable choice. Just make sure you don't rush the process and end up regretting your decision.

Find a new host

If you move your WordPress website to another host, make sure it is secure and reliable. You don't want your new website to become inaccessible due to server errors. It is also a good idea to migrate your WordPress website to make the transition less painful. You can do this with a plugin like WordPress Migration or a professional service like WP Engine. Alternatively, you can manually copy the data to your new server using a programme like cPanel or FileZilla. It is important not to try to move your WordPress database zonder migrate it first. This will ensure that the process is as seamless as possible and you won't risk losing data.

Create a content inventory

Before you start migrating your data, you'll want to create a content inventory with all the data on your website. This will help you avoid accidentally deleting anything during the migration process. You can also use it to help you decide what to keep and what to remove from your website. If you are migrating to a new blogging platform like Squarespace or a content management system like Wix, you can be selective about what you want to keep. For example, you can decide to keep your blog posts, but not your old page content. This makes the migration process much easier and saves you time.

Write down your existing content

After you have created a content inventory, start writing summaries for each of your blog posts. You can do this in a word processing programme or online tool such as Medium. Make sure you include the title, a brief summary of the content and the date of publication.

Set up social media automation

If you manage your social media accounts manually, it might be time to automate this process. You can set up social media automation tools like Hootsuite that allow you to schedule posts in advance. This will also allow you to schedule your blog posts so that they automatically go live on the same day and time every week. This will ensure that your new blog is active and attracts readers even if you don't have time to post manually. Before closing or deleting your old blog, you'll want to set up redirects from your old URLs to the new one. This will ensure that people visiting your old blog don't get confused if they see a broken link or are sent to another site.

Getting started!

So there is a lot to think about if you are considering moving your WordPress website. Before you do this, you need to make sure you move all your content to your new site. You should also make sure you set up redirects from old URLs to new URLs. Once you have done all this, you can close the chapter of your old website and start fresh with a new and improved WordPress website. Need help? We are here for you. Get in touch today contact on to discuss your move.