4 Common WordPress Migration Myths Explained and Dispelled
Tags: wordpress, webdev, cms, migration
Published: 2021-03-22 10:54:31

WordPress is the [most popular CMS](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/wordpress-powers-39-5-of-all-websites/391647/#close) that’s fuelling nearly 40% of websites in 2021. If we consider websites using a CMS, WordPress enjoys a market share of 64.1%. That’s because WordPress comes with a host of features for web developers in areas, such as user experience, mobile usability, security, speed, and SEO. No wonder, [site migrations to WordPress from Sitecore](https://www.multidots.com/sitecore-to-wordpress-migration/), Joomla, and other CMS is quite common.

However, WordPress is only as good as its infrastructure. If you aren’t using the right hosting provider, you may experience issues like poor performance and hours of downtime. As a result, most webmasters plan WordPress migrations to increase their site’s responsiveness.
 
But WordPress migrations aren’t easy. The process involves exporting databases and files to a new host and optimizing all the elements to have a fully functional website. As if this wasn’t enough, the myths and half-truths surrounding the process have made it tough for webmasters to ensure a faultless WordPress migration.
 
In this post, we will dispel the common WordPress migration myths, allowing you to make the switch with ease.

##1. WordPress Migration Can Damage My Ranking##

WordPress site migration sounds like bad news for SEO. So much time and resources have gone into boosting those rankings on Google. What happens when the website moves to a new host? 

Well, the fact is that your website SEO (regardless of the CMS) is bound to take a temporary hit. However, this will not last for long. On the contrary, your site’s SEO will benefit from the advanced SEO features offered by the new host. 

Yes, the first week post migration will be awkward because Google will take some time to recrawl and index your webpages and give you back your ranking. But overall, migrations help webpages rank better by building a strong SEO framework. 

Plus, WordPress offers loads of plugins that can help you migrate without dumping your site’s ranking. 

Use these tips to migrate with minimal impact on SEO. 

- Update the internal links on your website.

- Use Google Analytics to keep an eye on your site’s analytics 
- post-migration. Keep looking for gaps that are affecting your SEO, allowing you to take the necessary corrective measures. 

- Keep old domains and redirect your website.
Check for broken links and duplicate content. These will impact your SEO. 

- Manage your sitemaps. 

- Update PPC campaigns and ad creatives if any. 

##2. WordPress Migrations Aren’t Secure##

It’s not uncommon to hear of the security threats and hacker attacks on WordPress websites. WordFence confirms that there are almost [90,000 attacks per minute](https://wpmanageninja.com/wordpress-security-statistics/#:~:text=According%20to%20WordFence%2C%20there%20are,11%25%20are%20from%20WordPress%20Themes.) on WordPress websites. Such news and reports have resulted in a prevalent myth when it comes to WordPress migrations - the process isn’t secure! 

The truth is no CMS is immune to hacker attacks. Yet, the core platform of WordPress is designed by a team that’s committed to making migrations as secure as possible. Moreover, the CMS offers multiple [security plugins](https://dev.to/mikedav42817522/the-best-wordpress-security-plugins-you-can-t-ignore-ka9) and features that make the process more secure. 

If you are considering a WordPress website migration, we strongly recommend installing plugins like Wordfence or Sucuri Security that can help you deal with sensitive data during the process. 

##3. Large WordPress Site Migrations Take Ages##

Large websites with tons of media files can indeed take a lot of time to download. But there’s a way around this! So, it’s a myth that this issue cannot be managed. 

Firstly, try to do a file transfer in a place where you have a good internet connection. Plus, follow the below-mentioned steps for a quick transfer of files.

- Before transferring, make a compressed archive (.zip or .rar) of the media files. It’s easier and faster to move one big file versus thousands of small ones. However, some hosting providers do not allow SSH access to the server.

- If you only have FTP/SFTP access, avoid using it directly when transferring multiple files. Try alternating download/upload connections by using LFTP and mirror commands.

- If you have SSH access to the old and new servers, transfer your files directly.

##4.Migration Leads to Loss of Data##

Most webmasters are wary of WordPress site migrations because they fear losing precious content and data. In a way, this concern is valid as no one wants their hard-earned data to fall off the ship when switching ports. 

But data loss occurs only when you do not take the necessary steps and precautions when migrating the site. Successful migrations ensure that all the data and content are intact. 

Here are a few effective tips to ensure that your precious website data isn’t lost during the switch. 

- Crawl the website before migration. Use the crawl data to check for URL-related issues. Check each URL to spot any missing content and take effective measures to fix it. 

- Keep your old website stable until the migration process is complete.

- When migrating WordPress websites, check for duplicate content. As mentioned earlier, this can negatively affect your SEO. 

Content duplication is a common issue encountered when site owners take extra precautions to avoid losing content during a migration.

###Summing Up###

Migrating WordPress websites doesn’t have to be complicated, provided you take the necessary precautions. However, the misconceptions shared above can make it challenging for webmasters to even think of initiating the process. That’s the reason we’ve attempted to dispel these myths. We hope you’ll use this information to successfully migrate your WordPress website.