How to Migrate Your WordPress Site to Webflow

Introduction

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Migrating a website from WordPress to Webflow can seem daunting, but it offers many benefits, including enhanced design flexibility, improved loading times, and better SEO capabilities.

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This comprehensive guide will walk you through each step of the process, from preparation to post-migration optimization, ensuring a smooth transition for your website.

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Preparation

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Backup Your Current WordPress Website

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Before starting the migration, it's crucial to back up your existing WordPress site.

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This step is your safety net, allowing you to restore your site if anything goes wrong during the migration. You can use plugins like UpdraftPlus to create a full backup, including your database and files. Alternatively, you can manually download your website files via FTP and export your database through your hosting control panel.

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Benchmark Your Website on Google Search Console

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To measure the success of your migration, record your current SEO performance metrics. Access Google Search Console and export your performance data, including key metrics like impressions, clicks, and average position. This benchmark will help you compare the pre- and post-migration performance of your site.

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Conduct an SEO Check

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Perform an SEO audit of your current site using tools like Ahrefs, Moz, or SEMrush. Document your site's keyword rankings, backlink profile, and overall SEO health. This information will be invaluable in maintaining your SEO efforts during and after the migration.

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Plan Your Site's Design

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Decide whether you want to replicate your current design or use this opportunity to redesign your site. Planning is crucial as it will guide your work in Webflow's Designer tool. Gather all design elements, including images, fonts, and color schemes, to recreate your site accurately or improve upon it.

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Download Your Sitemap

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A sitemap is essential for understanding your site's structure and ensuring all pages are accounted for during the migration. You can generate a sitemap using a plugin or access it directly at `yourwebsite.com/sitemap.xml`. Save this file for reference.

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Create a List of Pages

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Using Google Sheets, create a comprehensive list of all pages on your site. Include page titles, URLs, and any special functionalities or content that need to be migrated. This list will serve as your migration roadmap.

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Check Google SERPs

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Document how your pages are currently indexed and ranked in Google search results. Perform searches for your key pages and note their positions. This information will help you maintain your SEO rankings after the migration.

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Export Meta Descriptions

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Meta descriptions play a critical role in SEO. Use a plugin like Yoast SEO to export your site's meta descriptions. Store these descriptions in a Google Sheet, matching each one with its respective page.

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Gather Relevant Images

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Ensure all images on your site are accounted for and ready for migration. Use the Media Library in WordPress to download these images. Create a list in Google Sheets, documenting where each image will be used on your new site.

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Collect Relevant Files and Scripts

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Identify all files (such as PDFs and documents) and scripts (such as custom JavaScript) used on your site. Make sure these elements are listed and ready to be transferred. This step ensures no critical functionality or content is left behind.

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Review Tracking Functionalities

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Ensure all analytics and tracking codes, such as Google Analytics and Facebook Pixel, are identified. Document where these codes are implemented on your current site so they can be accurately transferred to Webflow.

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Migration

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Set Up the CMS Structure in Webflow

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Begin by setting up your site's structure in Webflow's CMS. This step involves creating collections and defining fields that will house your dynamic content. Plan your collections based on the content types from your WordPress site, such as blog posts, portfolios, or product listings.

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Export Dynamic Content from WordPress

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Use plugins or export tools to extract your dynamic content from WordPress. Tools like WP All Export can help you export posts, pages, and custom post types in a format that can be imported into Webflow.

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Add Static Content and Images

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Manually add static content and upload images to Webflow. Recreate your static pages, such as the homepage, about page, and contact page, using Webflow's Designer. Ensure all images are correctly linked and displayed.

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Upload Dynamic Content

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Import the dynamic content you exported from WordPress into Webflow's CMS. Use Webflow's CMS Collections to manage this content, ensuring it is accurately represented on your new site.

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Build Dynamic Pages

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Use Webflow's Designer to create dynamic pages that pull content from your CMS Collections. This step ensures your blog posts, portfolio items, and other dynamic content are displayed correctly.

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Fix Internal Links

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Update all internal links to reflect your new Webflow structure. Check that all links between pages are functional and point to the correct locations.

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Fix Anchors and Images

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Ensure all anchor links and images are working correctly. Update any broken anchors and ensure images are properly sized and optimized for the web.

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Build and Update Forms

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Recreate all forms from your WordPress site using Webflow's form builder. Test each form to ensure it functions correctly, capturing and sending data as intended.

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Add Meta Titles and Descriptions

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Transfer the meta titles and descriptions you previously exported from WordPress. Input these into the appropriate fields in Webflow to maintain your SEO efforts.

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Add Favicon and External Scripts

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Upload your site's favicon in Webflow settings. Ensure all external scripts, such as Google Analytics, are correctly embedded in the head or body of your new site.

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Setup Sitemap and Canonicals

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Use Webflow’s SEO settings to generate a sitemap. Ensure canonical tags are correctly set to avoid duplicate content issues.

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Prevent Subdomain Indexing

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During the transition, set your Webflow subdomain to noindex to prevent it from being indexed by search engines.

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Setup Redirects

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Set up 301 redirects from your old URLs to the new ones in Webflow. This step ensures any visitors using old links are automatically directed to the correct new pages, preserving your SEO value.

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Connect Your Domain

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Point your domain to Webflow’s servers and update DNS settings. This step finalizes the transition and makes your new site live.

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Invite Team Members

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Use Webflow’s collaboration features to invite team members who will help manage the site. Assign appropriate permissions based on their roles.

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Optimization

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Add Alt Tags to Images.

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Ensure all images have descriptive alt tags to improve accessibility and SEO. This step helps search engines understand the content of your images.

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Compress Images

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Use Webflow’s image settings or third-party tools to optimize your images. Compressing images improves site load times, enhancing user experience and SEO.

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Implement Rich Snippets

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Enhance your search results with structured data. Add schema markup to relevant pages to improve how they appear in search engine results.

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Minify CSS and JS

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Use Webflow’s settings to minify your CSS and JavaScript files. Minification reduces file sizes, leading to faster load times and better performance.

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Quality Assurance

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Review CMS Content for Formatting Issues. Carefully review all migrated content for formatting issues. Ensure text, images, and other elements are displayed correctly.

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Test URLs and Search for Errors

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Test all URLs on your new site to ensure they work correctly. Use Google Sheets to document and fix any broken links.

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Verify URLs in SERPs

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Check how your new URLs are indexed and ranked in Google search results. Ensure they are correctly listed and optimized.

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Test Website in Different Browsers and Devices

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Test your site across various browsers and devices to ensure compatibility. This step ensures a consistent user experience for all visitors.

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Confirm All Pages are Migrated

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Cross-reference your Google Sheet list to ensure all pages have been migrated. Verify that no content has been left behind.

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Check for Redirect Loops

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Use SEO tools to ensure there are no redirect loops. Redirect loops can confuse search engines and users, negatively impacting SEO.

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Verify Meta Titles and Descriptions

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Ensure all pages have correct meta titles and descriptions. This step helps maintain your SEO efforts post-migration.

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Test Every Form

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Submit test entries for each form to ensure they function correctly. Verify that data is captured and sent as expected.

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Check All Scripts are Working

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Verify that all scripts, such as tracking codes and custom JavaScript, are functioning correctly. Ensure no critical functionality is lost.

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Run an SEO Audit

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Perform a final SEO audit using tools like SEMrush, Ahrefs, or Screaming Frog. Address any issues identified to optimize your site’s performance.

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After Migration

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Submit Sitemap to Search Console

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Submit your new sitemap to Google Search Console. This step helps search engines index your new site correctly.

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Monitor for 404 Errors

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Check Google Search Console for 404 errors. Set up redirects for any broken links to maintain a smooth user experience.

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Gather User Feedback

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Collect feedback from users to ensure the new site meets their expectations. Use surveys, feedback forms, or direct communication to gather insights.

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Conclusion

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Migrating your website from WordPress to Webflow involves thorough preparation, careful execution, and diligent post-migration optimization. By following this comprehensive guide, you can ensure a smooth transition that enhances your site’s performance and user experience. Take your time, test thoroughly, and enjoy the benefits of your new Webflow site.

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Migration checklist

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You can find the migration checklist here.

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