Many website owners choose HTML for their first website because it was the way websites were always build years ago. WordPress was still very hard to use and there were no drag and drop web builders like Elementor to make things easier.

With the passage of time, many website owners begin to realize that custom built HTML has limitations that affect their website growth. Moreover, it is quite expensive to rely on a web developer for every little change. So they decide that they want to move to something more powerful and flexible.

For many, WordPress is the obvious choice for their next website platform.

This article will walk you through what you need to consider before moving your site. It will explore your options for getting your site onto WordPress, and provide you with a step-by-step approach to get it done.

What You Need to Consider Before Moving from HTML

How are you going to maintain your website, now that you will no longer rely on a web developer for everything?

With WordPress there is the WordPress Editor or the newer Gutenberg Editor.

While good, they are still difficult to work with. I suggest that you consider a visual drag and drop web builder called Elementor.

The Elementor visual web builder is good replacement for the WordPress editors, because you will have these features:

Elementor will allow you to maintain your website without know any code.

Themes. With Elementor you can use any theme that you want. Or ignore complete the restirtictions of a theme and design any look and feel that you want as Elementor can start with a blank canvas. There is no real way to move the theme from HTML, so as to get the same look and feel

Functionality. With WordPress there are over 50,000 free plugins available for such things as event calendars, booking systems, hotel reservations, image sliders, user registrations, SEO etc. – many more than HTML.

Migration Steps

Here are the steps involved in moving a website from HTML to WordPress. As you know HTML does not offer a simple way to simply get all your content and images in a single backup file.

Stating server

I will set up WordPress on a staging server so that there is no interruption to visitors of your current website.

Domain name

You will be able to keep the same domain name. And I will use the same URLs on the staging server.

Purchase Hosting

As I mentioned above, in order to move from HTML, you will probably need to get new hosting. WordPress hosting is widely available, I suggest Hostgator or InMotion as they have excellent support and low prices.

Install WordPress your new host

After you have hosting and the staging server is done, I can move the files from the staging server to your new hosting sever and point your URLs so that your visitors will now see your new WordPress pages.

Design

Every attempt will be made to keep the same look and feel as your HTML website using the same colors, and fonts.

Build HEADER AND FOOTER

A new header will need to be built using WordPress’ menu system. Also a new footer will need to be made.

Build pages

Next I need to duplicate the same pages in WordPress.

Copy and paste content

The simplest way to migrate your site from HTML to WordPress is for me to manually copy content from HTML and paste it into the WordPress site, just like using a word processor.

The advantage of doing the page by page is that I can make sure every single piece of content is copied to the new WordPress site.

The obvious disadvantage of this method is that it is tedious and time-consuming, especially if you have a lot of posts and pages on your website

Images

I will use the same images as found on the HTML website or you can supply me with other images or I can use royalty free stock image. Also I will need to optimize these images for fast loading.

Testing website

Once the pages have all been built, I will need to test them on various browsers like Chrome, IE, Firefox, and be sure they are mobile responsive on tablets, smartphones, and iPhones as well as on desktops.

Domain change

Once everything checks out, I will need to change the domain to point to your new hosting website. At this point you can cancel your HTML account.

Special issues

Your new WordPress website cannot be pixel perfect due to the difference between HTML’s layout and WordPress. However, the look and feel can be very close.

For example, these items might differ.

Navigation Menus – WordPress offers an easy to use menu system than will be used instead of the HTML system.

Fonts – HTML might have their own proprietary fonts. WordPress uses Google fonts. Many are similar but not the same as the HTML fonts. Colors, however, can be the same as well as font size.

Image Sliders – HTML might have custom code for their image slider. WordPress needs to use a plugin that will react differently.

Blogs – Depending on the number of blog posts, this can greatly change the price. Most quotes are for setting up the WordPress blog system and allowing you to transfer all the posts, tags, categories, and comments. The standard WordPress blog system has a very different format than HTML.

Ecommerce – WordPress uses WooCommerce which is very different that whatever was used for the custom HTML’s proprietary system. If you have a lot of products or services for sale, then the price will vary.

Appointments – Again WordPress offers many plugins for clients to make appointments that work differently than HTML.

Membership and Registration – The WordPress membership plugins and membership system uses plugins too. There is a wide choice.

General Functions – You should not expect that all the HTML proprietary functions or special coding will work in WordPress.

Conclusion

While HTML may have suited you when you first launched your website, it may no longer have everything you need for your growing business. In checking out the alternatives for your website, you likely considered moving to WordPress.

HTML does not offer a simple backup and transfer to another platform like WordPress. But with a little planning and following these instructions, you can have your site moved from HTML to WordPress in no time.

While the task is not difficult, it does take quite a bit of time to get done.