Should I convert my site to Wordpress?

by bhentschel

Posted: 13 years ago 11 replies

INTERNET MARKETING

Hi,

We had our furniture website developed before I knew about Wordpress.

Now all I hear about is that your site should be on Wordpress. Am I missing out?

My site was developed on php and database. It works so well. I love it and it's clean & easy to update for me.

Now I want to add functionality (like a shopping cart) that would be easy to do with Wordpress site, but is tougher with my site.

Can I update my site so that is a combo of my site and Wordpress? (a hybrid) Or should I just shift my entire site to Wordpress, or should I just develop my site as is? Any suggestions?

You can see a short 1 minute video that explains how the website engine works here:

furniturewebmarketing.com or you can see my site anne-quinn.com.

Thanks for your help. This forum is awesome! I have all these questions and didn't know where to go for answers until now.

Thanks, Brian

#convert #php #site #website #wordpress

Mike Nikolz 13 years ago

Wordpress gives you an incredible flexibility. You can build any site on wp. You have whole range of plugins for any case and any need, and if you don't find the right plugin for your task, you can always order it.

And it's extremely SEO-friendly!

The only case you can manage without wordpress - is when you have your own coder aboard 24/7 which is not only good in code, but also in SEO.
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- Gail_Curran 13 years ago
  
  If it ain't broke, don't fix it. How do you know that adding a shopping cart would be easier in Wordpress?
  
  Thanks
  
  1 reply
  
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  Bozigian 13 years ago
  
  Yeah definately wordpress is easier to work with. But if you are going to switch to wordpress, it will be a learning curve
  
  Thanks
  
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CR 13 years ago

We've done the same thing with our main plr site. Won't say it was without problems and we did ask a few questions here. It's great now.
We decided on the plugin wp eStore from TipsandTricks-hq
Big decision!
Good luck.
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Istvan Horvath 13 years ago

Please, don't listen to thsoe that started to blog yesterday and think they know what WordPress is good for.

I wouldn't convert that site to WP (and I can do almost everything I want with WP).
I'd rather try to convince the author of the script to add a shopping cart to it.

However, I have major concerns with the present setup, too.
First: it seems that you have to pay the script developer for the hosting account? Is it right? He is hosting your site and he gives the script for it? If it's true - it is a very bad setup... basically, you are (or can be) hostage to his host/script.

Any other solutions out there?
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Brian Alaway

13 years ago

Originally Posted by bhentschel

Hi,

Can I update my site so that is a combo of my site and Wordpress? (a hybrid) Or should I just shift my entire site to Wordpress, or should I just develop my site as is? Any suggestions?

Yes, you could keep your current site, which would be wise since it's working well. You have a couple of options for incorporating WordPress into your existing site. You could create a subdomain off your existing domain (subdomain.furniturewebmarketing.com) and install WordPress in the subdomain or you could install WordPress in a sub-folder of your current domain (furniturewebmarketing.com/wordpress). This would allow you to get familiar with WordPress and try out different shopping carts without affecting your current site. Regardless just make sure you have complete backups before beginning.

Thanks

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Abledragon 13 years ago

I absolutely agree with the 'if it aint broke don't fix it' line - and I build all my new sites on WordPress.

In case you need some more convincing here's an article that covers some of the things you'd need to think about if you were to change:

Migrate an HTML Website to WordPress | WealthyDragon

Plus, as Gail_Curran said: it's just as easy to add a shopping cart to an existing PHP based site as it is to WordPress

Cheers,

Martin.
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- bhentschel 13 years ago
  
  Thanks,so much for the advice!!!
  
  So it sounds like I should stick with what I have, which is great news to me
  
  The guy who developed my site, has gone onto another project, and doesn't have time to work on this site anymore.
  
  How do I find a internet developer to enhance the site I have:
  
  - integrate a link for my facebook fan page
  - add an email op in box
  - check my site to make sure it's optimized for SEO. (One of the last things he did was add meta tags - which is working great)
  - add a shopping cart (longer term)
  
  Thanks, Brian
  
  Thanks
  
  1 reply
  
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  youngworks 13 years ago
  
  Good sound advice already given! I am glad you have listened to it.
  
  I would like to add that you could change your mindset from having just one website, because it is like owning 'real estate' the more you have, the better off you could be. Providing you take good care of your websites.
  
  Lastly, I don't rejoice over 'meta tags' - these have minor affects nowadays.
  
  Thanks
  
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Marketing Cheetah 13 years ago

plenty of developers in WF, frelancer and DP. As you are already at WF so I would recommend it. You will be able to find many experts.
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mhobbs25 13 years ago

I would say if you want more control on your site and more freedom then start your transition over to wordpress. Most plugins are compatible with wordpress and you will have a way more user friendly experience with it.

But if your site is working well and you have someone doing it all for you then just keep it. Tell them to add what you want and leave it be.

I personally would try for the best of both worlds. See what it takes to convert it over, if its easy then do it. If not then just stick to whats working for you.
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Should I convert my site to Wordpress?

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