Converting Web Sites To WordPress

Saturday, July 10th, 2010 at 8:53 am

Today’s question is a good one and asked frequently. There are a lot of people that have static websites and would like to be able to take advantage of the SEO aspects of WordPress but maintain the look they have already branded.

Mike, I’m looking for a simple way to convert what amount essentially to static sites to a WordPress platform and be able to retain – basic look and feel (layout & graphics) of sites currently. I’ve found numerous video help files to setup wordpress sites, nothing with specifics re: configuring or taking a current site and applying the basic look & feel (layout & graphics) to a WP layout (or possibly theme). If I knew enough to create my own WP layout (theme) at this time it would save me a lot of time and grief.

There is only one tool that I am aware of (does not mean there may not be others) that can easily create customized themes and that is Artisteer. I bought it and it is relatively easy to use to customize a blog theme to the current look you are using.

Now I am no graphics genius but it was easy to do once I had played with it a bit. There will be a bit of a learning curve but there are help files to get you through it.

You can see what I was able to do for a membership site I have Get Referrals Fast and the way I was able to adapt the same look to the training blog for it. Now I want more of a blog look with the top menu for the blog so they are not identical but you can change the menus to make them match exactly of you want to.

The other option if you have a number of sites and are using the same basic template on all of them would be to find a theme designer to create a theme using that format where the only changes would be a different header and background which would be easy to change up for the individual sites.

Either solution would allow you to convert the sites easily.

Feel free to leave your comments and ask your questions below.

About the author

Mike Paetzold got started blogging in 2003 and has become an expert on using WordPress. He has become known as The WordPress Guy.

After being an under ground niche marketer using his blogs he has surfaced to share some of the ways he uses blogs to enter various niches profitably.

If you would like help in building your business check out my coaching offer.