Knowledgebase

Switching from Aviums Host Website Builder (powered by Weebly) to WordPress or another Content Management System (CMS) involves several steps, including planning, data migration, and domain settings. Here's a detailed guide to help you make the transition smoothly:

Step 1: Choose Your New CMS

1. Select a CMS: Decide on the CMS you want to switch to, such as WordPress, Joomla, or Drupal. WordPress is the most popular choice due to its user-friendliness and flexibility.

Step 2: Backup Your Current Website

1. Export Content: Log into your Aviums Host Website Builder account and export your website content if possible. Note that Weebly may not support a full export to WordPress, so you might need to copy content manually.

   • For text and images, copy and paste them into a document for later use.
   • Take screenshots of your current site layout for reference.

Step 3: Choose a Hosting Plan for Your New CMS

1. Select a Hosting Provider: If you’re switching to WordPress, choose a suitable hosting plan that supports WordPress installations. Check if Aviums Host offers a dedicated WordPress hosting plan or choose another provider like Bluehost, SiteGround, or A2 Hosting.

2. Purchase Hosting: Follow the prompts to complete your purchase and set up your hosting account.

Step 4: Install Your New CMS

1. Install WordPress: If you've chosen WordPress, most hosting providers offer one-click installations:
   • Log into your hosting account.
   • Navigate to the control panel (cPanel) and look for the Softaculous Apps Installer or similar option.
   • Click on WordPress and follow the instructions to install it.

Step 5: Choose and Install a Theme

1. Select a WordPress Theme: After installing WordPress, choose a theme that fits your business needs:
   • Go to the Appearance > Themes section in your WordPress dashboard.
   • Click on Add New to browse and install a new theme.

Step 6: Import Your Content

1. Add Your Content: Manually copy and paste your text content from your old website to your new WordPress site.

   • Images: Upload images using the Media section in WordPress.
   • Pages and Posts: Create new pages and posts under the Pages and Posts sections, respectively.

Step 7: Set Up Essential Plugins

1. Install Plugins: Add essential plugins to enhance your website's functionality:
   • SEO: Install plugins like Yoast SEO or Rank Math to optimize your site for search engines.
   • Security: Consider security plugins like Wordfence or Sucuri.
   • Backup: Use a backup plugin like UpdraftPlus.

Step 8: Configure Settings

1. General Settings: Go to Settings > General to set your site title, tagline, time zone, and other general settings.

2. Permalink Structure: Navigate to Settings > Permalinks and choose a structure that suits your SEO needs, like Post name.

Step 9: Point Your Domain to the New CMS

1. Access Your Domain Registrar: Log in to the account where you registered your domain.

2. Update DNS Records: You will need to update your domain's DNS settings to point to your new hosting provider. This typically involves:

   • Changing the A Record to the new server's IP address.
   • If you were using custom nameservers with Aviums Host, update them to those provided by your new hosting provider.

Step 10: Test Your New Site

1. Preview Your Site: After pointing your domain, test your new site by entering your domain into a web browser. Ensure that all pages are working correctly, and content appears as expected.

Step 11: Optimize and Promote

1. SEO Optimization: Use the SEO plugin you installed to optimize each page for search engines.

2. Social Media: Link your social media accounts and promote your new website.