How to Migrate From Weebly to WordPress: Step-by-Step Guide

As you may already know there are several popular CMS options available to create a website. And one of these options is often Weebly. But as your website grows and your needs evolve, you might find yourself craving more flexibility and control. That’s when migrating to WordPress can be beneficial.

WordPress is often referred to as the best CMS, and for good reason. Not only is it easy to work on, but it also offers outstanding flexibility and customizability. That is thanks to its themes and plugins.

In this blog, I’ll tell you why you should shift from Weebly to WordPress. Plus, you’ll understand the methods used by professional WordPress migration services for a successful transfer. Let’s begin.

Why Migrate from Weebly to WordPress?

Weebly is a good platform for beginners to get their website live and running quickly. Its drag-and-drop interface is user-friendly, and it requires minimal technical knowledge. But, as your website grows and your requirement increases, Weebly’s limitations can pause your growth.

Here’s why migrating to WordPress might be the smart move for your website:

• Flexibility: Weebly’s simplicity comes with limitations. WordPress, on the other hand, offers immense flexibility. There are thousands of free and premium themes that can help customize almost every aspect of your site’s design and functionality. So it perfectly matches your vision.
• Scalability: As your website and audience grow, Weebly might struggle to keep up. WordPress is built to scale, allowing you to add complex features and functionality as your needs evolve.
• Search Engine Optimization (SEO): Weebly offers limited control over SEO. With WordPress, you can implement the best SEO tactics to optimize your website for search engines. That leads to a higher organic traffic.
• Ownership and Control: With Weebly, your website is ultimately hosted on their platform.  WordPress gives you complete control over your content and data. You can choose the best WordPress hosting provider, back up your files, and operate your website as you please.
• Plugin Power: WordPress boasts a massive library of plugins. You can install a WordPress plugin to add almost any feature imaginable to your website, from eCommerce to contact forms and more. Weebly’s app store, while helpful, pales in comparison.

So basically, if you crave a website with excellent flexibility, customizability, and scalability, WordPress would be better than Weebly.

How to Migrate From Weebly to WordPress?

When it comes to migrating from Weebly to WordPress, the manual method offers granular control over the process. But it requires some technical knowledge. So make sure you follow the process shown below or consult with our WordPress experts for the site migration.

Step 1: Prepare Your WordPress Home

Before you bring your website from Weebly to WordPress, you need to form a foundation on the latter. Here’s what you need to do:

1. Secure a Domain Name and Hosting: If you don’t already have one, purchase a domain name and a reliable WordPress hosting plan. Many hosting providers offer one-click WordPress installation, making setup easy. Consider factors like storage, bandwidth, and customer support when trying to choose WordPress hosting.
2. Install WordPress: Follow your hosting provider’s specific instructions or simply install WordPress on your domain through the official link. This typically involves logging into your hosting control panel (cPanel) and using their automated WordPress installer.

Step 2: Export Your Weebly Content

After WordPress is ready with the foundation, it’s time to export the content from Weebly.

1. Login to Weebly: Access your dashboard and navigate to the Settings section. The exact location might vary depending on your Weebly version.
2. Export Your Site: Find the Export option often under General or Backup. Weebly will generate an XML file containing your website content, including pages, posts, and images. Download this file and save it securely on your computer.

Step 3: Import Content into WordPress

1. Login to Your WordPress Dashboard: Access your WordPress admin panel using the login credentials provided during installation.
2. Install the WordPress Importer Plugin: Go to Plugins > Add New and search for WordPress Importer. This is a default plugin included with WordPress, but if not installed, you can easily install and activate it from here.
3. Run the Importer: Go to Tools > Import and select WordPress. This will launch the import wizard.
4. Upload Your Weebly XML File: Click Choose File and select the XML file you downloaded from Weebly in Step 2. Click Upload file and import to begin the import process.
5. Submit the Import: Click Submit to initiate the import process. Depending on the size of your Weebly website, this may take some time.

Step 4: Rebuild the Visual Appeal

Migrating from Weebly to WordPress brings over your content. But the visual design – the look and feel of your website –  won’t automatically transfer. Here’s what you need to consider:

• Theme customization: WordPress offers a range of free and premium themes to personalize your website’s look and feel. Choose a WordPress theme that aligns with your brand and explore its customization options. You can also customize it by creating a child theme.
• Images and Media: Weebly’s migration process might not transfer all your images and media files. You’ll need to upload them manually to your WordPress media library and then re-insert them into your pages and posts.
• Menus: Recreate or add site navigation menus using the WordPress menu builder. You can customize the menu structure and appearance to match your Weebly design or create a new one altogether.
• Widgets: Similar to menus, Weebly widgets won’t transfer automatically. You get a variety of widgets in WordPress to add to your sidebars and footers to replicate functionalities like social media feeds, contact forms, or calendars.

As you make changes, don’t forget to preview your website on different devices to ensure it looks good on all screen sizes.

Step 5: Set Up Redirects 

Since your website URL structure will change after migration, visitors using your old Weebly URLs might face errors. Set up redirect URLs in WordPress from your old Weebly URLs to ensure a smooth transition. You can achieve this using a plugin or by editing your server’s configuration files.

• Using a Plugin: The easiest method is to utilize a redirection plugin like Redirection or 301 Redirects. These plugins offer user-friendly interfaces to create redirects by mapping your old Weebly URLs to their corresponding new WordPress URLs.
• Editing .htaccess File (Advanced): This method requires some technical knowledge. You’ll need to access your WordPress file structure through an FTP client and edit the .htaccess file. Here, you can manually add redirect rules that map old URLs to new ones.

By following these detailed steps, you can successfully migrate your website from Weebly to WordPress. But if you are looking for professional help, choose our WordPress migration service for a smooth transition.

What to Do After the Migration?

We assume you have successfully migrated to WordPress. Now, it’s time to take advantage of its full potential.

Here are some next steps to take your website to the next level:

• Point Your DNS: If you purchased your domain name separately from Weebly, you might need to update the DNS settings to point your domain to your new WordPress hosting provider.
• Review and Refine Content: After the migration, there might be duplicate content or inconsistencies. Thoroughly review your pages, eliminating outdated information and ensuring internal links function correctly.
• Organize Categories and Tags: Use categories and tags effectively to organize your content and improve visitors’ navigation. Categorize your posts logically and use relevant tags to help users discover related content.
• Install Essential Plugins: Enhance your website’s functionality with plugins. Consider essential plugins for:
  • SEO: Yoast SEO, Rank Math (improve search engine ranking)
  • Security: Wordfence Security, Sucuri Security (protect your website from threats)
  • Backups: UpdraftPlus, Jetpack (schedule regular backups)
  • Performance Optimization: WP Optimize, Jetpack Boost (improve website loading speed)
• Optimize Permalinks: Optimize the WordPress permalink structure. Here’s how:
  • Go to your WordPress dashboard and navigate to Settings > Permalinks.
  • Choose a structure that includes your post/page title (e.g., /your-post-title/). This makes your URLs more user-friendly and easier for search engines to understand.
• Regular Backups and Maintenance: Set up a regular backup schedule to protect your website content and database in case of any issues. Regular WordPress maintenance can ensure the security of your site.

If you want the best post-migration implementation on your website, contact professional WordPress development services for effective software solutions.

FAQs About How to Migrate From Weebly to WordPress

Conclusion

Migrating your website from Weebly to WordPress can be quite beneficial. You get better flexibility, scalability, SEO-friendliness, ownership and control, and customizability.

To migrate your Weebly website to WordPress,

1. Set up the WordPress foundation
2. Export content from Weebly
3. Import content into WordPress
4. Rebuild the visual appeal
5. Set up redirects

After that, follow the configure the DNS settings, install the necessary plugins, optimize the permalink structure, and opt for regular maintenance.

For professional help with the same, you can consult with our WordPress development experts!