The Perplexing Shift from Wix to WordPress

Over time, Wix has grown to become one of the most popular website builders, with its easy-to-use interface and customizable themes making it ideal for beginners. But as you scale your business or website, you may find that Wix has some limitations that may adversely affect your growth. As a result, you might want to consider switching to another website builder with more control and better functionality, such as WordPress.

Why Migrate from Wix to WordPress?

Migrating from Wix to WordPress could be confusing, particularly if you lack technical know-how. However, with the proper guidance, the migration process can be painless and straightforward. Here are some of the most common reasons why you would want to switch from Wix to WordPress:

1. Limited Control

   Although Wix is user-friendly, it offers little control over the website. With its limited drag-and-drop editor, complex customization can be a challenge, limiting the expansion of your website’s functionality.

2. Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

   Wix does not offer SEO customization like Yoast SEO plugins that reduce your website’s search engine ranking. This limitation might make it challenging to rank on search engines like Google, Bing, and Yahoo.

3. Availability of Plugins and Themes

   WordPress has a wider range of plugins and themes that make it easier to customize your website’s functionality and appearance. Wix, on the other hand, has a limited number of plugins and templates, leaving you with no option but to stick with the built-in options.

4. Website Ownership

   With Wix, your website is hosted on Wix servers, meaning you do not have full control of your website. In the event that Wix shuts down, deletes or runs into any issue, you stand to lose all your content, data, and assets. In contrast, WordPress gives you full control over your website and the freedom to host it on any web hosting provider of your choice.

The Migration: From Wix to WordPress

Migrating from Wix to WordPress involves several steps, but the process can be simplified if you follow these easy steps:

Step 1: Choose a WordPress Hosting Provider

The first step is to select a hosting provider for your WordPress site. WordPress offers self-hosting, so you will have to find a web-hosting provider to host your site. Some of the popular hosting providers available include Bluehost, SiteGround, and WP Engine.

Step 2: Install WordPress on Your Hosting Account

Once you have decided on a hosting provider, the next step is to install WordPress on the hosting account. Most hosting providers offer a one-click WordPress installation process that automates the installation process. Such providers may also offer automated migrations that make it easier to move your website from Wix to WordPress.

Step 3: Export Your Wix Website’s Content

After installing WordPress on your hosting account, the next step is to export your Wix website’s content. Wix offers an export option that allows you to export your website’s content as an XML file. To access this option, go to your Wix site’s dashboard, select “Settings,” choose “Export Website,” and then click on “Download.”

Step 4: Import Your Website’s Content to WordPress

After exporting your website’s content from Wix, import the content into WordPress. WordPress offers an importer tool that allows you to transfer content from other platforms to WordPress. On your WordPress dashboard, select “Tools,” followed by “Import,” and then select the platform you want to import data from. If WordPress is not listed, install and activate the “WordPress Importer” plugin. Upload the XML file you exported from Wix after activating the plugin.

Step 5: Set Up Your WordPress Site

After importing your website’s content to WordPress, it’s time to set up your WordPress site. Customize your site’s design, functionality, and content to fit your brand using WordPress’s extensive customization options, such as adding plugins, installing themes, creating pages, and posts.

Step 6: Redirect Your Wix Website to WordPress

The final step in migrating from Wix to WordPress is redirecting your website from Wix to WordPress. This step ensures that any traffic landing on your old site is directed to the new site on WordPress. To do this, create a 301 redirect from your Wix website to your WordPress website’s homepage. You can accomplish this by adding the following code to your Wix website’s .htaccess file:

Be sure you replace “newwebsite.com” with your WordPress website’s URL.

Conclusion

Ditching Wix for WordPress could seem overwhelming, but it’s a valuable investment. By migrating to WordPress, you gain more control over your website, enhance your site’s functionality and SEO, and achieve full ownership of your data and assets. With this step-by-step guide, you can now shift from Wix to WordPress without any complications.