Are You Tired of Godaddy? How to Migrate Your Website to WordPress

Are you feeling fed up with your Godaddy website and looking for an upgrade to WordPress? Feeling overwhelmed about how to transfer your website? Don’t worry, we’ve got your back. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll lead you through the process of transferring your Godaddy website to WordPress. Let’s dive in and get started.

Step 1: Choose the Right Hosting Service

Before we jump into the actual migration process, it’s crucial to pick the appropriate hosting service for your new WordPress website. Some of the most famous hosting services for WordPress are Bluehost, SiteGround, and HostGator.

If you’re searching for a more managed solution, we recommend WP Engine or Kinsta. Keep in mind that some hosting services offer migration services, so check if your chosen service does.

Step 2: Install WordPress

Once you’ve decided on your hosting service, it’s time to install WordPress. Most hosting services make this process easy with one-click installations.

Log in to your hosting account and locate the “Install WordPress” option. Follow the hosting service’s instructions, and you’ll have WordPress up and running in no time.

Step 3: Export Your Godaddy Website Files

Now, it’s time to export your Godaddy website files. This is an essential step in the migration process. Log in to your Godaddy account and locate your website.

Next, open the cPanel by clicking on the “Advanced” tab and click on the “FTP Accounts” option.

Create a new FTP account and make sure to keep note of the login details. Then, connect to it using an FTP client.

You’ll need to download all of your website files and your WordPress database. To do this, navigate to the public_html folder and select all files. Right-click and select the “Download” option.

The process may take a while, but once it’s complete, move on to the next step.

Step 4: Import Your Godaddy Website Files

Now that you have your website files downloaded, it’s time to import them into your new WordPress site.

Log in to your WordPress dashboard and navigate to the “Import” option. Select the “WordPress” option and install the plugin.

Once done, select the “Activate Plugin & Run Importer” option. Upload your downloaded website file and follow the instructions to import your website files to your WordPress site.

Step 5: Update Your Website Links

After importing your website files, it’s time to update your website links. The migration process may result in broken links, so it’s crucial to go through your website and make sure all of your links are working.

You can use a plugin like “Better Search Replace” to make sure all your links are updated correctly. Install and activate the plugin and then navigate to the “Tools” option in your WordPress dashboard.

Next, select “Better Search Replace” from the menu and enter your old domain name in the “Search For” field, and your new domain name in the “Replace With” field. Click “Run Search/Replace,” and the plugin will handle the rest.

Step 6: Redirect Your Domain

The final step is to redirect your domain to your new WordPress site. This guarantees that your visitors can find your new site.

To redirect your domain, update your domain’s DNS settings. Log in to your Godaddy account and navigate to the DNS management section.

Update your A record to your new hosting service’s IP address, and update your domain’s nameservers to your new hosting service’s nameservers.

It may take a few hours for the changes to take effect, but once they do, your domain should be redirected to your new WordPress site.

Final Thoughts

Transferring your Godaddy website to WordPress might seem like a daunting task, but with the right guide, it’s easily achievable. Follow the steps outlined in this article, and you’ll have your website up and running in no time.

Remember to choose the right hosting service, export your website files, import them to your new WordPress site, update your website links, and redirect your domain. Good luck!