If you worry about downtime when migrating to WordPress, you’re not alone. All it takes is one wrong step for your site to go down. When that happens, visitors will see errors, and your SEO rankings will take a hit.
But here’s the good news – you can migrate your site to WordPress without downtime, and we’ll show you how to do that in this guide.
Backup Your Current Website
The first thing to do is backup every single thing before you migrate your site to WordPress. Failing to do it is simply a disaster waiting to happen. But if you back up your site’s data, you have a safety net if something goes wrong during migration.
In order to execute a full backup that will help restore your site instantly, you need a reliable backup plugin like UpdraftPlus or BackupBuddy. Save copies of your files, database, and configurations to a secure location such as an external drive or cloud storage.
Set Up a Staging Environment
Would you want to launch a new site without testing it first? Maybe not. That’s why you need to set up a staging environment.
Think of it as a private copy of your website where you can test everything before going live. It helps you spot errors, broken links, or formatting issues without affecting your real visitors.
You can do this using the in-built staging features on your hosting provider, but if they don’t have it, you can use a good plugin like WP Staging. Alternatively, you can hire skilled WordPress developer. After testing, you’ll know what to tweak and improve on so there are zero surprises when you go live.
Select a Reliable Migration Plugin or Tool
Migrating your site manually is not only risky, it takes up a lot of time as well. So why not use migration plugins like All-in-One WP Migration, Duplicator, and Migrate Guru to handle the heavy lifting? Simply pick your preferred option, follow the steps, and let automation do its thing.
Export and Import Your Site Data
If you’re using a migration plugin, all you have to do is simply export your site’s files and database with a few clicks. Download the backup file and upload it to your new WordPress site.
But if you’re migrating manually, export your database via phpMyAdmin, transfer files via FTP, and import everything into WordPress.
After doing that, check to see if the themes, plugins, and media files transfer correctly. If there are missing elements, reupload them manually to avoid broken pages.
Test the New WordPress Site Thoroughly
Do the following before going live:
- Check pages, links, images, and forms to ensure they work properly.
- Browse your site via different devices.
- Fix any broken elements at this stage because once you go live, errors can cost you visitors.
Prepare for the Final Migration
When you get to this stage, don’t be in a rush to execute the process. Schedule it for low-traffic hours so there will be minimal disruptions. You should also inform your users or team in advance. Lastly, double-check backups, staging tests, and plugins to make sure everything goes smoothly.
Update DNS Settings and Monitor Propagation
Once your site is ready, update your DNS settings to point to the new WordPress server. It may take a few hours to propagate, but monitor your site closely to make sure the transition is smooth.
Post-Migration Monitoring and Optimization
After migrating your site to WordPress, check the loading speed, broken links, and SEO rankings. Use tools like Google Analytics and Google Search Console to spot issues and optimize its performance for a great user experience.
Conclusion
With the right strategy, it’s possible to migrate your site to WordPress without downtime. But it can be tricky if you’re not familiar with the process or the tools you’ll need to get the job done. That’s why you need Rajarshi Solutions, a trusted WordPress development company in Vadodara. Contact us today for a smooth and easy transition.
