How to Migrate Your Site from GoDaddy Website Builder to WordPress

Feeling boxed in by GoDaddy Website Builder? You’re not alone. While GoDaddy’s builder is great for beginners, its limited flexibility, restricted features, and scalability issues can leave you yearning for a platform with more room to grow. That’s where WordPress shines.

WordPress, the world’s most popular content management system (CMS), offers endless customization, scalability, and control over your website. However, making the leap from GoDaddy Website Builder to WordPress requires a detailed migration process, as there’s no automated export tool available.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through every step of migrating your website manually from GoDaddy Website Builder to WordPress. By the end of this guide, you’ll have a fully functioning WordPress site, ready to take your online presence to the next level.

Why Switch to WordPress?

Migrating from GoDaddy Website Builder to WordPress is more than just a change; it’s a leap toward unlimited possibilities for your website. While GoDaddy Website Builder is great for beginners due to its simplicity, it often falls short as businesses or websites grow. Let’s dive deeper into why WordPress is the superior choice.

Limitations of GoDaddy Website Builder

1. Design Restrictions

GoDaddy Website Builder offers a limited range of templates, which can feel restrictive as your creative vision expands. Customization options are minimal, making it challenging to create a unique website that reflects your brand identity.

2. Feature Limitations

The platform lacks support for advanced features, plugins, and integrations that modern websites often require. Whether it’s adding complex forms, integrating third-party tools, or optimizing SEO, GoDaddy’s builder doesn’t provide the flexibility needed for these tasks.

3. Scalability Challenges

As your website grows in traffic or functionality, GoDaddy’s platform can struggle to meet your needs. It’s not designed to handle complex sites like eCommerce stores, membership sites, or those requiring extensive databases. This limitation often forces users to switch platforms to continue scaling their business.

Advantages of WordPress

1. Unlimited Customization

With WordPress, the sky’s the limit. You can choose from over 10,000 free and premium  themes and more than 60,000 plugins to create a site tailored to your specific needs. Whether you’re building a portfolio, an eCommerce store, or a blog, WordPress offers the tools to bring your vision to life.

2. Scalability

WordPress grows with you. Start with a small blog and expand to a fully functional business site or a robust online store without switching platforms. With powerful hosting options and scalable plugins, WordPress can handle high-traffic sites effortlessly.

3. Ownership & Control

Unlike website builders, which often limit access to your site’s core files and data, WordPress gives you complete control. You own your website and its content outright, ensuring long-term security and independence from third-party platforms.

4. Cost-Effectiveness

WordPress is free to use, and its open-source nature means you can customize it as needed without hefty costs. While premium themes and plugins may have a price tag, you have the flexibility to build your site within your budget.

By Migrating to WordPress, You Unlock:

• Creative Freedom: Design and customize every aspect of your website without restrictions.
• Future-Proofing: Build a site that can grow and adapt as your needs evolve.
• Enhanced Functionality: Access advanced tools and integrations to meet your business goals.
• Full Control: Take charge of your website’s performance, security, and data.

Switching to WordPress isn’t just a technical upgrade—it’s an investment in your website’s future. With its limitless potential, WordPress ensures that your site is not just a digital presence but a powerful platform for growth.

Step-by-Step Guide to Migrate From GoDaddy Website Builder to WordPress

Migrating your website from GoDaddy Website Builder to WordPress might seem complex, but with careful planning and our detailed steps, you’ll have your new site up and running in no time. Let’s break down the process into manageable tasks to ensure a smooth WordPress website migration.

Attention: Migrating a website can be a complex and time-intensive process, especially for larger sites. If you’re looking for a hassle-free experience, consider a professional WordPress migration service. Our expert WordPress engineers can handle the migration for you, ensuring everything is done correctly and efficiently.

1. Preparing for the Migration

Proper preparation is key to ensuring a smooth migration process.

Checklist Before You Start

1. Backup Your Website Data: Manually save all text, images, and other content from GoDaddy Website Builder.
2. Create a List of URLs: Record all your current website’s URLs to maintain structure and SEO value.
3. Select a Hosting Provider:
   • If staying with GoDaddy, ensure your hosting plan is ready.
   • If switching, consider hosting providers like DreamHost or Kinsta, known for their WordPress-friendly services.

Tools You’ll Need

• HTTrack: A website copier tool to back up your site content.
• Text Editors: Tools like Notepad or Google Docs for saving and organizing text.

2. Backing Up Your GoDaddy Website Builder Content

Since GoDaddy doesn’t offer an export tool, you’ll need to back up your site manually or use external tools.

Option 1: Manual Backup

• Save Images: Right-click each image on your site and choose “Save Image As” to download it.
• Copy Text: Highlight text from each page, right-click, and select “Copy.” Paste the text into a document.
• Save Entire Pages: Visit each page of your website, press CTRL+S (Windows) or Command+S (Mac), and save it as “Webpage, Complete.”
• Verify Content: Disconnect from the internet and open your saved files to ensure all text and images are intact.

Explore: Best WordPress Backup Plugins

Option 2: Using HTTrack

1. Download and install HTTrack.
2. Set up a new project and input your site’s URL.
3. Run the program to copy the entire website.
4. Verify the downloaded content to ensure nothing is missing.

💡 Pro Tip: While HTTrack is fast, GoDaddy’s CDN (Content Delivery Network) may complicate downloading all images.

Learn: How to Move a WordPress Site to a New Domain (Easy Steps)

3. Setting Up Your WordPress Hosting

Your hosting setup depends on whether you’re sticking with GoDaddy or switching to a new provider.

Option A: Staying With GoDaddy Hosting

1. Deactivate GoDaddy Website Builder: Log in to your GoDaddy account. Then, navigate to “My Products” and cancel your Website Builder plan to free up your domain.
2. Add Hosting: Access GoDaddy’s cPanel and add your domain under “Addon Domains.”

Option B: Migrating to a New Host

1. Update DNS Settings: Log in to your GoDaddy account and go to “Manage DNS.” Then, update your domain’s nameservers to those provided by your new host.
2. Select a Hosting Plan: DreamHost, Kinsta, or similar providers are excellent choices for WordPress hosting.
3. Wait for Propagation: DNS changes may take up to 24 hours to reflect globally.

Find: Best WordPress Website Migration Agencies

4. Installing WordPress on Your Hosting

Once your hosting is ready, it’s time to install WordPress.

1. Log in to Your Hosting Dashboard: Use cPanel or a similar control panel provided by your host.
2. Locate the WordPress Installer: Most hosting providers offer a one-click installer for WordPress.
3. Follow the Installation Steps: Choose your domain, set your site title, and create admin login credentials.

💡 Beginner’s Tip: Many hosting providers include detailed guides or tutorials for first-time WordPress users.

5. Importing Content to WordPress

With WordPress installed, you’ll need to recreate your site’s content.

Recreating Pages and Posts

1. Log in to your WordPress dashboard.
2. Navigate to Pages > Add New or Posts > Add New.
3. Copy and paste content from your backup into the WordPress editor.
4. Use WordPress’s built-in formatting tools to refine your content.

Uploading Media

1. Go to Media > Add New in your dashboard.
2. Upload images and other media files saved during the backup process.

Organizing Content

• Use categories and tags to structure your site.
• Customize permalinks to match your old URLs and maintain SEO rankings.

6. Setting Up Redirects

Redirects ensure users and search engines can find your content at its new location, preserving your SEO rankings.

Using All in One SEO Redirect Manager

1. Install and activate the All in One SEO plugin.
2. Navigate to the Redirects Plugin.
3. Enter the old URL in the “Source URL” field and the new URL in the “Target URL” field.
4. Save the redirect and test it to ensure functionality.

Using Simple 301 Redirects

1. Install and activate the Simple 301 Redirects plugin.
2. Add old URLs under “Request” and new URLs under “Destination.”
3. Save changes and verify the redirects.

7. Customizing Your New WordPress Website

Now it’s time to make your WordPress site uniquely yours.

Choosing a Theme

• Browse the WordPress repository for free themes or purchase premium options for advanced features.
• Install and activate your chosen theme via the Appearance > Themes section.

Adding Essential Plugins

• SEO: AIOSEO or Rank Math.
• Performance: LiteSpeed Cache.
• Security: Wordfence or Sucuri.
• Design: Elementor or Beaver Builder.

Design Tips

• Use drag-and-drop page builders for customization.
• Test your site’s responsiveness on different devices.

Conclusion

Migrating your site from GoDaddy Website Builder to WordPress is an investment in your website’s future. While the process may seem daunting, the long-term benefits of customization, scalability, and control make it worthwhile. By following this guide, you can confidently transition to WordPress and unlock your website’s full potential.

Need Assistance? Seahawk’s WordPress Migration Services can help you transition seamlessly. Let our experts handle the heavy lifting while you focus on building your online presence.