There are several reasons you may want to automatically convert HTML pages to WordPress. For example, if you have an old and static HTML site and want to incorporate some plugins that allow greater interaction for the user, you can run it with the WordPress content management system. Perhaps you need a storage location to share an HTML file, obtain easier content management, publish content instantly, visually modify texts, images, or navigation menus. In all these cases, WordPress is the solution.

What is HTML?

In computing, HTML is the language used to create web pages and comprises a set of useful tags to define elements such as text, photographs, images, videos, or lists. Initially, HTML was created to disseminate information with text and images. Still, the rapid growth of the internet has given way to new standards that allow its use to be expanded.

HTML simply stands for Hypertext Markup Language. The creation of web pages uses markers and attributes that help establish the presence of the content of an internet site. This language is widely used by programmers and is the basis of blogs, social networks, e-commerce platforms, and any page accessible through an online browser.

Basic Overview of WordPress

WordPress is a dynamic content management software or Content Management System. It allows the easy creation and design of websites where the content of any kind can be published, such as articles, forums, videos, photographs, etc. Although at first it was mainly aimed at blogs, WordPress is currently used to develop websites, such as online stores, forums, educational platforms, social networks, digital magazines, portfolios, professional websites, and more.

With millions of users around the world, this content management system has two versions:

  • WordPress.com – The user can register on this platform and start creating and designing their website or blog with attractive free templates. It has a common domain where the blogs and the elaborated pages are stored.
  • WordPress.org – This software is installed onto a hosting server and uses a paid domain to create the website. The user selects the preferred hosting and themes and incorporates plugins to enrich the functionalities.

Why should I be interested in automatically converting HTML pages to WordPress?

If you are looking to expand your brand’s presence online, you can find an excellent ally in WordPress because this software facilitates the work of SEO, which helps to spread your content faster. In addition, this content manager is perfect for electronic commerce and valuable for companies that sell products or services. It also has a variety of templates with attractive designs that will enhance the image of your website.

Step by Step Conversion from HTML to WordPress

If you want to make your website more dynamic and provide users with an engaging, interactive experience, you might be interested in converting your page from HTML to WordPress. Every day, more sites switch to this platform as a framework for applications and their custom content types.

Two types of procedures can pass a website from HTML to WordPress—Manual and automatic.

Manual Conversion

Manual conversion is done by taking the contents of the web in HTML and recreating them with WordPress’s website builder. Under this system, 100% of the result obtained is controlled, and it’s difficult to make mistakes that could break the web, so the result is usually optimal. However, it is a laborious and time-consuming procedure. This manual process is recommended when you want to convert a website with few URLs.

To perform this procedure manually, you must follow these steps:

  1. Create a folder to store themes and other important files.
  2. Design a new theme.
  3. Generate a style sheet in WordPress to copy the CSS from the old site.
  4. Split the HTML code into multiple elements to keep the CMS intact. The header will pass the HTML style sheet request to the WordPress content management system.
  5. Finally, take a screenshot of the theme that will function as the website file in the WordPress backend, based on the data found in the style sheet header.

Automatic Conversion

If you want to convert an HTML to WordPress automatically, follow these guidelines:

  1. The process is done using a plugin.
  2. Several plugins are useful, but one of the most used is HTML Import 2, available in the WordPress archive for free.
  3. Once you’ve logged in, you’ll need to change some settings. Here, users can set six options.
    1. Files: Here, you will place the files you want to import.
    2. Content: This window establishes what part of the old website is the base content. Generally, it’s the HTML tags.
    3. Title and metadata: It’s useful to teach the plugin to automatically recognize the title and some relevant data such as author, date, and time of publication, among others.
    4. Custom fields: Here, the content of various HTML tags from the old page is inserted as custom fields from the WordPress system.
    5. Categories and tags: Here, you must relate those of the new web page with HTML tags of the old web page.
    6. Tools: These are useful to update redirects.

When you have finished these steps, you can use the link that appears when you want to save the settings. When WordPress shows a window that says, “Ready to import files?” Go directly to Tools > Import > HTML > Run Importer. Here you can choose to perform a complete import or a specific HTML file to the computer.

It’s best to first download a single page from the old web as an HTML file and import it. This way, you can check if the page, its metadata, and contents are displayed correctly.

When you do this automatic redirection from the old URLs to the new ones, it’s convenient and will save you time and effort. This will allow your visitors and Google to be transparently directed to the new site. If it’s not done well, your website risks not appearing in Google searches.

What to do After Migration

Once you’ve completed the conversion, it’s necessary to fix some details that will give a final touch to the new WordPress page:

  • Install the necessary plugins.
  • Check and fix broken links, such as 404 errors.
  • Set up a custom 404 error page.
  • Set up redirect links, which will inform search engines that website content has been moved to another web address.
  • Enable search engine indexing. In the WordPress pane, select Settings> Reading and check “Allow search engines to index this site.”
  • Generate and enable site map. This will ensure that the new site is quickly listed in search engine results. The new XML sitemap will need to be submitted to Google.

Advantages of WordPress

WordPress has a large community of companies and web developers worldwide and is becoming the favorite content management system for the average user. Its installation is a simple procedure, and most web servers allow you to obtain it with a single click, easily facilitating the work of programmers. Another advantage of WordPress is that any modification can be made at any time, without limitations. Its interface is easy to use, and no special training is required to apply it, which is why it has become so popular.

Companies need daily web traffic to stay competitive, and a good website is essential to present their products and services and carry out their marketing tasks or communicate with customers. When you switch to WordPress, thousands of plugins allow you to add more functionality to your site. However, if you decide to use WordPress, it will require time and attention. You’ll need to update your plugins and themes constantly. These updates are essential to prevent hackers from attacking poorly protected and outdated websites. The website could stop working if its security isn’t constantly updated.

Because WordPress is open-source software, its users can use it according to their convenience and completely free of charge. They are free to run, manipulate, copy, or improve the software.

WordPress and SEO

The lofty growth of WordPress worldwide is largely due to its excellent affinity to position websites in prominent places for search engines. Improving this positioning is important for most of the web, as online stores are more interested in traffic over creating and customizing their websites using the content management system. But a well-designed and visually pleasing website attracts this traffic, which makes WordPress doubly valuable.

Through WordPress, it’s possible to better position the contents of any website on the internet because its programming structure is attractive to all search engines. Additionally, this platform allows the installation of specific useful plugins to add more SEO options, a valuable quality that makes WordPress the preferred platform for many.

Final Thoughts

Deciding to update your website may seem daunting, and you may feel unqualified to do so. But with WordPress, it is easier than ever to utilize their tools to create a website that looks and feels current. WordPress can be a fun way to express your brand’s mission, products, or services. By learning how to automatically convert HTML pages to WordPress you are positing your business for future growth while ensuring you stay visible in the public eye.