Complete Guide to Migrating from Wix to WordPress

Are you ready to upgrade your website from Wix to WordPress? You're making a smart decision that will save you money, improve your SEO rankings, and give you complete control over your website. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the entire migration process, whether you choose to do it yourself or hire professionals like FAC Systems.

Why Migrate from Wix to WordPress?

Before diving into the migration process, let's understand why thousands of businesses are making this switch:

Pre-Migration Checklist

Before starting your migration, complete these essential steps:

Step-by-Step Migration Process

Step 1: Export Your Wix Content

Unfortunately, Wix doesn't provide a direct export feature for WordPress. You'll need to manually extract your content:

• Text Content: Copy all text content from your Wix pages
• Images: Download all images from your Wix media library
• Blog Posts: Copy all blog post content and metadata
• Contact Information: Note all contact details and form configurations
• SEO Data: Record all meta titles, descriptions, and keywords

Step 2: Set Up WordPress

Install and configure WordPress on your new hosting:

1. Install WordPress: Most hosting providers offer one-click WordPress installation
2. Choose a Theme: Select a professional theme that matches your brand
3. Install Essential Plugins:
   • Yoast SEO (for search engine optimization)
   • Contact Form 7 (for contact forms)
   • Wordfence Security (for security)
   • WP Rocket or W3 Total Cache (for performance)
   • UpdraftPlus (for backups)
4. Configure Settings: Set up permalinks, reading settings, and discussion options

Step 3: Recreate Your Design

This is where professional help can make a huge difference:

• Custom Theme Development: Create a pixel-perfect replica of your Wix design
• Responsive Design: Ensure your site works perfectly on all devices
• Brand Consistency: Maintain your brand colors, fonts, and styling
• User Experience: Optimize navigation and user flow

Step 4: Migrate Your Content

Transfer all your content to WordPress:

1. Create Pages: Recreate all your main pages with the exported content
2. Import Blog Posts: Transfer all blog posts with proper categories and tags
3. Upload Media: Import all images and optimize them for web
4. Set Up Forms: Recreate contact forms and other interactive elements
5. Configure SEO: Set up meta titles, descriptions, and schema markup

Step 5: Test Everything

Before going live, thoroughly test your new WordPress site:

• Functionality Testing: Test all forms, links, and interactive elements
• Mobile Testing: Ensure perfect functionality on mobile devices
• Speed Testing: Check loading speeds and optimize performance
• SEO Testing: Verify all meta tags and structured data
• Cross-Browser Testing: Test on Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge

Step 6: Go Live

When you're ready to launch your new WordPress site:

1. Update DNS: Point your domain to your new WordPress hosting
2. Set Up Redirects: Create 301 redirects from old Wix URLs to new WordPress URLs
3. Monitor Performance: Track your site's performance and search rankings
4. Update External Links: Update any external links pointing to your old site

Post-Migration Optimization

After your migration is complete, focus on these optimization tasks:

SEO Optimization

• Submit Sitemap: Submit your new XML sitemap to Google Search Console
• Monitor Rankings: Track your search rankings and traffic
• Fix Broken Links: Identify and fix any broken internal or external links
• Optimize Images: Compress images and add proper alt tags

Performance Optimization

• Caching: Set up proper caching for faster loading
• CDN: Implement a content delivery network
• Database Optimization: Clean and optimize your WordPress database
• Image Optimization: Use WebP format and lazy loading

Security Hardening

• Security Plugin: Install and configure a security plugin
• Regular Updates: Keep WordPress, themes, and plugins updated
• Backup Strategy: Set up automated backups
• SSL Certificate: Ensure your site uses HTTPS

Common Migration Challenges and Solutions

Challenge 1: Preserving SEO Rankings

Solution: Create proper 301 redirects from old URLs to new URLs, maintain the same content structure, and submit your new sitemap to search engines immediately.

Challenge 2: Design Recreation

Solution: Use professional web designers who can recreate your exact design using WordPress themes and custom CSS, ensuring pixel-perfect results.

Challenge 3: Content Transfer

Solution: Systematically transfer all content while maintaining proper formatting, links, and metadata. Use tools like WP All Import for bulk content migration.

Challenge 4: Functionality Replication

Solution: Identify equivalent WordPress plugins or custom development solutions for any Wix-specific features you were using.

Cost Breakdown: DIY vs Professional Migration

Let's compare the costs of doing it yourself versus hiring professionals:

DIY Migration Costs

• Time Investment: 20-40 hours of your time
• Learning Curve: Time to learn WordPress development
• Risk of Errors: Potential SEO and functionality issues
• Ongoing Maintenance: Need to learn WordPress management

Professional Migration Costs

• FAC Systems Pricing: £15 per page (typically £300-£600 total)
• Time Saved: 20-40 hours of your time
• Guaranteed Results: Professional quality and SEO preservation
• Ongoing Support: Help with WordPress management

Conclusion

Migrating from Wix to WordPress is a smart business decision that will save you money and improve your online presence. While the process requires careful planning and execution, the benefits far outweigh the effort involved.

If you're ready to start your migration journey, contact FAC Systems today. Our expert team can handle your entire migration process, ensuring a smooth transition with improved performance, better SEO, and complete control over your website.