How to migrate from Wix to WordPress step by step.

Lately we have been doing a number of migrations from Wix to WordPress. Both are great platforms with own their strengths & weaknesses. Wix is good for users who are just starting out or only need websites with some basic features and they do not want to have to maintain any software or security updates.

WordPress is a lot more robust and can be made to do almost anything you need it to – with the trade off being that you have to maintain the security of WordPress core files and plugins.

Migrating from Wix to WordPress can be a complex process, but it can be broken down into the following steps:

1. Set up a new WordPress website:
   • Choose a web hosting service and install WordPress on your domain.
   • Choose a theme and customize it to match your Wix website design.
2. Export content from Wix:
   • Login to your Wix account and go to the “Site Actions” menu.
   • Click on “Export Website” and select the option “Export to WordPress”.
   • Wait for the export process to complete and download the .xml file.
3. Import Wix content to WordPress:
   • Login to your WordPress dashboard and install the “Import Wix to WordPress” plugin.
   • Go to the “Tools” menu and click on “Import”.
   • Select the “Wix” option and upload the .xml file you downloaded in step 2.
   • Follow the prompts to complete the import process.
4. Customize WordPress content:
   • Review and update any imported content that may have changed during the migration.
   • Re-create any custom functionality or features that were on your Wix website that are not available in WordPress or through plugins.
5. Redirect Wix website to WordPress:
   • Add a redirect from your Wix website to your new WordPress website by adding the following code to the header of your Wix website: <meta http-equiv="refresh" content="0; url=https://yournewdomain.com/">
   • Update the URL in the code above to match your new WordPress website domain.
   • Alternatively, if you have a custom domain we recommend that you point your DNS to your WordPress web host and address any SEO redirects there as a best practice.
6. Test and launch your WordPress website:
   • Ensure that all content, functionality, and features are working correctly.
   • Launch your new WordPress website by pointing your domain to your WordPress hosting service.

Note: Depending on the complexity of your Wix website, there may be additional steps required to complete the migration process. It is recommended to work with someone like us or another experienced agency to ensure a smooth and successful migration. There are some very specific situations to watch out for when handling established Wix SEO and page authority matters when you migrate to another platform.