Migrate Your Website from WordPress to Shopify

How to Migrate Your Website from WordPress to Shopify (or Vice Versa) Without Losing Traffic

By Dua • Feb 11, 2025 • 2 min read

Migrating your website from WordPress to Shopify or Shopify to WordPress can be a game-changer for your business. However if not done correctly, it can result in lost traffic, broken URLs, and a decline in search rankings.

This guide walks you through a step-by-step migration process to ensure a smooth transition while keeping your SEO intact.

Why Migrate Between WordPress and Shopify?

Your choice of platform depends on your business needs. Here's why businesses move between the two:

From	To	Reason
WordPress	Shopify	For a more eCommerce-friendly platform with built-in payment options and security.
Shopify	WordPress	For greater design flexibility, better control over content, and lower long-term costs.

Regardless of the direction, a structured migration strategy ensures your SEO, traffic, and customer experience remain intact.

Step-by-Step Guide: Migrating from WordPress to Shopify

Step 1: Backup Your WordPress Website

Before making any changes, create a full backup of your WordPress site:

✅ Use UpdraftPlus or All-in-One WP Migration to save your files and database.
✅ Download all images, content, and product data.

Step 2: Set Up Your Shopify Store

Sign up for a Shopify account (click this to get 3 months free trail).
Choose a plan (Shopify offers a free trial).
Select a theme that aligns with your brand.

Step 3: Export Content from WordPress

Go to Tools > Export in your WordPress dashboard.
Choose All Content and download the XML file.

Step 4: Import Content into Shopify

Use the Shopify Store Importer App to transfer:

✅ Pages & Posts (as blog content in Shopify)
✅ Products & Images
✅ Customer Data

🛠 Tip: Shopify won’t import certain content types automatically. You may need to upload images and tweak formatting manually.

Step 5: Redirect URLs to Maintain SEO

Since WordPress and Shopify have different URL structures, you must set up 301 redirects:

In Shopify, go to Online Store > Navigation > URL Redirects.
Add old WordPress URLs and point them to the new Shopify versions.

✅ This prevents 404 errors and retains search engine rankings.

Step 6: Set Up SEO & Analytics

Update meta titles and descriptions using Shopify’s SEO settings.
Submit your new sitemap to Google Search Console.
Verify Google Analytics and check traffic patterns.

💡 Need expert help? WebCraftio ensures an SEO-friendly migration so you don’t lose rankings.

Step-by-Step Guide: Migrating from Shopify to WordPress

Step 1: Backup Your Shopify Data

Download essential data before switching:

✅ Products (Export via Shopify Admin > Products > Export)
✅ Orders & Customers
✅ Blog Posts & Pages

Step 2: Set Up Your WordPress Site

Purchase hosting from SiteGround, Bluehost, or WP Engine.
Install WordPress and choose a WooCommerce-compatible theme.

Step 3: Import Shopify Data to WordPress

Use the Shopify to WordPress Migration Plugin (like Cart2Cart) to transfer:

✅ Products & Categories
✅ Customer Data
✅ Blog Posts & Media

Step 4: Set Up 301 Redirects from Shopify

Since Shopify URLs are different, you need redirects:

Download your Shopify URL list from Online Store > Navigation > URL Redirects.
In WordPress, use the Redirection plugin to forward old Shopify links.

Step 5: Test & Optimize SEO

✅ Check Google Search Console for errors.
✅ Update permalinks to match your Shopify URLs as closely as possible.
✅ Improve site speed with caching plugins like WP Rocket.