Converting HTML to WP: site structure vs crawl errors

[barbdear]

I have a 2-year old HTML site that I'd like to convert to WordPress, but it was set up by a programmer who didn't know a lick about SEO, and the site structure is about 5 levels deep.

I can't decide if it would be better to break the site structure and flatten the thing out in WP (but risk a ton of crawl errors), or keep the goofy structure in order to maintain the pages that have been indexed for 2 years?

Also, is anyone aware of a WP plugin that would do the conversion, or does the WP site need to be built by hand? Thanks.

[InternetMarketingIQ]

You'll need to do it by hand and let WordPress work it's magic. I did this with a 600 page site and it took me a month... but worth it.. Why else would I do it :P

There is a plug in called Redirect that you can set up to make sure your old urls get sent to the correct pages. You'll also want to make sure you have a 404 page set up explaining the new changes.

Take advantage of this time to write more descriptive Title tags and use an SEO plugin. I like All in One SEO but it's not the only good plutg in.

A good site of 100 or so pages should never be more than 3 levels deep if you can avoid it... and 2 is preferable.

Don't overlook the Google SiteMap plug in... there are a couple of these as well. Make sure you set your perma link structure BEFORE you start adding pages/posts.

The real key is just to create a plan before you start... make a list of all the things to do and then check them off one by one.

Get a Google webmaster account and tell them the preferred URL structure... www. vs no www.

Lots to know, easy to make mistakes... but a plan and a list makes it very doable.

[Abledragon]

I absolutely agree on the importance of planning a project like this carefully. It's not difficult but it requires a lot of work.

Here's an article on the things to consider when planning a move like this:

Migrate an HTML Website to WordPress | WealthyDragon

Cheers,

Martin.