12 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}
12 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}

Advice request: html site to wordpress

by togdil
10 replies
  • WEB DESIGN
    • |
Hello All

I request your advice on the following points:

I would like to convert my html static site to wp platform but retain its static character by making all the original pages to wp pages (not posts) with urls ending in .html like the original pages.

The reason I want to do this is that it is difficult to add new pages or edit the existing ones as quickly as I want in the html format. Moreover I find that my html site pages do not appear the same in all browsers and are not xhtml compliant. I learned that you can do all this in a html site with xsitepro though I find it too costly and not affordable for me.

My question here is:

Would this conversion affect my site's se rankings and adversely affect traffic?

---------------------------------

Another thing that I would like to know that for retaining the overall look and feel of my site I would like to have a wordpress template which nearly copies the original html site.

How and where to find such a wp template?

I would be looking forward to your advice and suggestions.

Thanks in advance
#advice #html #request #site #wordpress
  • Profile picture of the author charleyhays
    I have converted over a couple of HTML sites to WP for clients, it is more work and has no real advantage to convert the WP Pages to .html. When I have converted sites to WP, I have found that ranking actually increase.

    Porting over a design to WP requires custom coding. I use a theme called Builder by iThemes that will get you very close to your HTML design.

    After I port over a site, it is key to use a plugin like Redirection to do a 301 Redirect so your old backlinks don't break.

    For content, you can use spectacu.la page widget to disply your pages of content into widget areas.

    I hope that helps.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3067887].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author togdil
      Originally Posted by charleyhays View Post

      I have converted over a couple of HTML sites to WP for clients, it is more work and has no real advantage to convert the WP Pages to .html. When I have converted sites to WP, I have found that ranking actually increase.

      Porting over a design to WP requires custom coding. I use a theme called Builder by iThemes that will get you very close to your HTML design.

      After I port over a site, it is key to use a plugin like Redirection to do a 301 Redirect so your old backlinks don't break.

      For content, you can use spectacu.la page widget to disply your pages of content into widget areas.

      I hope that helps.
      First let me thank you for your response and also wish you and all a very very Merry Christmas.

      Now I would like to have some clarification if I may.

      Do I understand it right that you say that there is distinct advantage in converting html sites to WP but not the other way round?

      And I didn't quite get what you have said about spectacu.la - would be glad if you could please clarify it a little.

      Thanks again
      Signature
      Know Your VoIP
      Can You Really Make Money Online?



      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3068188].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author charleyhays
        Originally Posted by togdil View Post

        First let me thank you for your response and also wish you and all a very very Merry Christmas.

        Now I would like to have some clarification if I may.

        Do I understand it right that you say that there is distinct advantage in converting html sites to WP but not the other way round?

        And I didn't quite get what you have said about spectacu.la - would be glad if you could please clarify it a little.

        Thanks again
        Originally Posted by togdil View Post

        First let me thank you for your response and also wish you and all a very very Merry Christmas.

        Now I would like to have some clarification if I may.

        Do I understand it right that you say that there is distinct advantage in converting html sites to WP but not the other way round?

        And I didn't quite get what you have said about spectacu.la - would be glad if you could please clarify it a little.

        Thanks again
        Based on my experience, I have seen sites that I have converted to WP gain better rankings within 1 month. I'm not an SEO guru or anything, but I have seen sites getting less than 100 visits per day and not show up on the first 3 pages of Google make it to the front page and increase traffic. I do always use the All In One SEO plugin which I believe helps alot.

        Spectacu.la page widget is an incredible plugin. From the description on Wordpress dot org
        With this page widget you can create a page in the normal WordPress editor and then drop it in any widget space - you can even embed shortcodes, videos and so on, all from the usual visual editor, rather than having to type HTML into a text widget.

        And you can even control the widget to a significant degree, meaning it can be hidden and revealed as and when you require it.

        This makes for a much easier to use process and has proven hugely popular with our users for the creation of profiles, sidebar videos and more.

        And you no longer need admin access to be able to edit sidebar content belonging to you!

        In a few rare cases, with poorly coded CSS in themes you may run into problems, so you should test this widget with your theme, across several browsers, before using it on a critical live site.

        The widget will not show up on the page that is chosen to show in the widget. So if you click through to the page the widget will disappear from the sidebar.
        spectacu dot la
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3068294].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author togdil
    @charleyhays

    Thank you.You have helped me a great deal with your responses to my questions. I am sorry I could not post this earlier as my internet connection was not working for some time.

    Btw I also found a free template from ithemes which is nearly like my site so I will be using it - the Builder is rather costly, though

    Togdil
    Signature
    Know Your VoIP
    Can You Really Make Money Online?



    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3073046].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author charleyhays
      Originally Posted by togdil View Post

      @charleyhays

      Thank you.You have helped me a great deal with your responses to my questions. I am sorry I could not post this earlier as my internet connection was not working for some time.

      Btw I also found a free template from ithemes which is nearly like my site so I will be using it - the Builder is rather costly, though

      Togdil
      I'm so glad that I could help. If there is anything I can do to help, please let me know
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3074988].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author ebizagenda
    if you are using search engine friendly url's in wordpress, when editing pages and posts, you can manually set the url's as well, instead of letting the system set them for you. you will find it next to the title when you are editing the specific page or post.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3073816].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author dialseo
    When developing a clients site, I'll start from a basic HTML mock-up so they can interact and have something to click on. HTML pales in comparison to the quality WordPress offers.

    WordPress makes customizing site wide easier from a single place. Conversely, HTML requires you go to each page of your site and manually make changes.

    SEO wise, WordPress advantages include:
    - Automatic Pinging of New Content
    - Dynamic Menus (if coded)
    - Flexible Link Structure (if configured)
    - Ease of Update (fresh content)
    - Ease of Change (widgets, templates)

    The advantages play when you configure it properly. Searches for SEO WordPress yield pages for days.

    Just remember, there are plenty of WordPress sites doing very poorly on search engines. It takes work to excel (like in any business). Read, experiment, and read some more...then experiment some more!
    Signature
    A ton of domains for sale!
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3074591].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Abledragon
    Here's an article that sets out some things to consider when moving an HTML site to WordPress:

    Migrate an HTML Website to WordPress | Create an Awesome Home Business

    Cheers,

    Martin.
    Signature
    WealthyDragon - Earning My Living Online
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3075950].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author anestbaik
    little bit outdate,
    but still want to answer

    1. it is easy to move from static to wordpress theme,
    ONLY if YOU know PHP

    i always suggest do this (convert from old static to wp theme) for your famous-site or establish-site, as change theme sometimes confusing and reduce UX (user experience) ..

    but maybe it is good to if you can find new free theme, perhaps it could be a new vision for your visitor ..

    2. about URL / permalinks, you do not need to worry about it,
    just keep remember what is your page url, and you can set it up manually on wordpress to make it match

    3. for .html extension, it is easy to set on wordpress, just go to "settings -> permalinks"
    Signature
    CLONING ANY SITE to WORDPRESS THEME

    CONVERT JPG / PDF / HTML to WORDPRESS THEME
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3076332].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author togdil
    Thanks everybody for contributing to this thread which I was able to read only now because of problem with my internet connection. I was not able to access certain sites though others were coming okay and one of those elusive sites was warrior forum.

    I am converting a static site as I said in the beginning and was stuck at one place because I could not make my pages urls to end in .html as they are in the old static site. The permalink feature works with posts but not pages which I found after lots of frustration with changing permalinks. Then luckily I found one plug in which does that. But I will also be doing the 301 redirect in case the plugin stops working.

    My reason for converting to wp is to have greater freedom to add to my content as and when I want though I wouldn't get the pinging advantage as all my pages would be in the page format and not post format.

    Again thanks and let the suggestions come. Yes, have a nice holiday and a very Happy Prosperous New Year with all the members of your family.

    Cheers
    Signature
    Know Your VoIP
    Can You Really Make Money Online?



    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3078856].message }}

Trending Topics