How I Migrated my Custom PHP Site to WordPress

Since most of my web clients are now using WordPress it was only logical to migrate my own site from a custom PHP implementation to a custom WordPress site. Here are the steps that I followed:

1) Decided on a new look for my site by making a Home page mock-up in Photoshop
2) Created a static HTML index.html page for my new Home page
3) Created a custom WordPress theme by dividing my index.html page into PHP, CSS and Javascript files

WordPress PHP files

4) Add my favorite plugins

My favorite plugins

5) Imported my blog from www.blogger.com

6) Tested and went live

If you’re curious about the details drop me an email or leave a comment. This migration took me about 10 hours to complete and now I can update my new site using only a web browser instead of using Dreamweaver.

Of course I still use Dreamweaver, Photoshop and WordPress every day now to deliver customized features, pages, WordPress themes and WordPress plugins.

This Post Has 14 Comments

  1. snehal

    I would like to know the detailed process of migrating my php website to wordpress. My wordpress directly lies in website’s directory.

  2. Daniel Payne

    Good morning. If you are handy with HTML, CSS and Javascript you can re-use the look of your current PHP site and create a Custom Template in WordPress. Otherwise you have a few choices:

    1) Use an existing WordPress Theme.
    2) Hire someone to create a custom WordPress Theme
    3) Learn how to code your own custom theme in WordPress

    How much content do you have to migrate from your PHP site to WordPress? Is it a handful of pages, hundreds of pages or thousands of pages?

    Here’s some WordPress documentation on creating a new theme: http://codex.wordpress.org/Theme_Development

    If time is of the essence, then hire a WordPress developer like me to get the job done quickly and correctly.

  3. Daniel

    Hello,

    How did you migrate the content off the database and import it into WordPress? My client has thousands of pages I need a little help.

    Thank you

  4. Shilpa

    Hello,

    Could you please let me know how you transferred the custom PHP website to wordpress with same domain name? I am having issues with maintaining the same domain name and also a part where the database needs to be taken care of.

    Please let me know,
    Thank you

    1. Daniel Payne

      Shilpa,

      You can install WordPress on your existing domain in a folder like /new, then write a PHP script to read your old content and create new WordPress pages or posts.

      You can always hire me at $75/hour to perform this service, or give it a try yourself.

      Good luck.

      1. maryann hine

        How many hours would it take to convert a PHP site to WordPress?

        1. Daniel Payne

          Maryann, Thanks for the question, I’d need to know how many pages your site is now, and what you want the new site to look like, then I can provide a quote. If you can send me the web address, I can also get a better idea of how complex and interactive your site is.

  5. Kevin

    Hi-I am looking to get your thoughts on if it makes sense to convert my PHP website to WordPress or update my website with updated version of PHP.

    What address can I send my website to. I can send you more specifics in email.

    Thanks

  6. bea

    Hi, i have a php site running on servergrove and i would like to migrate it to wordpress. Can I just install wordpress in the servergrove cpanel and start moving content over? how do i make sure the live site stays live till i go live? please advise

  7. bea

    Hi, i have a php site running on servergrove and i would like to migrate it to wordpress.

  8. bea

    Can I just install wordpress in the servergrove cpanel and start moving content over? how do i make sure the live site stays live till i go live? please advise

  9. Victor

    I am looking to convert the php website to WordPress did any one give the full detail?

    1. Daniel Payne

      Victor, I provide a service to convert your PHP website to WordPress. If interested, then contact me with your site details and then I can provide you a quote. I would need to know the site URL, and how many pages of content that you have, and what you want the migrated site to look like, and any added features. Thanks for asking.

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