How to Migrate from HubSpot to WordPress: Step-by-Step Instructions

So, you’re thinking about moving your website from HubSpot to WordPress?

Well, migrating your website from HubSpot to WordPress is a significant decision that can offer numerous benefits for your business.

Let’s start with the basics first.

Brief Overview of HubSpot and WordPress

HubSpot CMS is a comprehensive content management system that’s part of HubSpot’s larger marketing platform. It offers website-building tools, content creation features, and seamless integration with HubSpot’s marketing, sales, and service hubs. Known for its user-friendly interface and built-in marketing tools, it’s particularly popular among businesses heavily invested in inbound marketing strategies.

WordPress, originally developed as a blogging platform, has evolved into a versatile content management system (CMS) powering over 40% of all websites. It’s open-source, highly customizable, and supported by a vast community of developers and users.

Reasons for Migrating from HubSpot to WordPress

While the migration process requires careful planning and execution, the long-term benefits of switching to WordPress can be substantial for many businesses. This guide will provide you with step-by-step instructions to ensure a smooth transition from HubSpot to WordPress, helping you maintain your online presence while gaining more control over your website’s future.

You Can Also Read:  Ultimate Guide to Any CMS to WordPress Migration

Step-by-Step Process for HubSpot to WordPress Migration

Before you dive into the migration process, it’s important to lay the groundwork. This preparation phase will save you time and headaches down the road. Let’s divide it into three key steps:

Assess Your Current HubSpot Content

First things first: take stock of what you’ve got. Log into your HubSpot account and make a list of all your content. This includes:

• Blog posts
• Landing pages
• Web pages
• Forms
• Media files (images, videos, PDFs)

Pay attention to your most popular content and any custom layouts or features you’ll want to recreate in WordPress. This is also a good time to decide if there’s any content you don’t want to migrate. Think of it as spring cleaning for your website.

Choose a WordPress Hosting Provider

Your hosting provider is like the foundation of your house – you want it to be rock solid. When choosing a host, consider:

• Speed and reliability
• Customer support
• Security features
• Scalability
• Price

Some popular options include Bluehost, SiteGround, and WP Engine. Many hosts offer one-click WordPress installation, which brings us to our next step.

Install WordPress

If your chosen host doesn’t offer a one-click installation, don’t worry. Installing WordPress manually isn’t complicated:

• • Download WordPress from WordPress.org
  • Create a database for WordPress on your web server
  • Upload the WordPress files to your desired location on your web host
  • Run the WordPress installation script by accessing the URL in a web browser

Once installed, you’ll have a basic WordPress site up and running. Don’t worry about how it looks just yet – we’ll get to that later.

Remember, preparation is key. By thoroughly assessing your content, choosing the right host, and getting WordPress installed, you’re setting yourself up for a smoother migration process.

Export Content from HubSpot

Now that you’ve done your prep work, it’s time to get your hands dirty. We’re going to pull all your content out of HubSpot so it’s ready to move to WordPress. Don’t worry, it’s not as scary as it sounds. Let’s break it down:

Export Blog Posts

HubSpot makes this pretty straightforward:

• • • Go to your HubSpot dashboard
    • Click on “Marketing” > “Website” > “Blog”
    • Select “More tools” > “Export”
    • Choose your file format (CSV or Excel)
    • Click “Export”

HubSpot will email you when your export is ready. This file will contain all your blog post content, including titles, body text, and meta descriptions.

Export Pages

For your web pages and landing pages:

• • • Navigate to “Marketing” > “Website” > “Website Pages”
    • Click “Create” > “Export your pages”
    • Select the pages you want to export
    • Choose your file format
    • Hit “Export”

Again, you’ll get an email when it’s ready. This file will have your page content, but remember, you might need to recreate some layouts manually in WordPress.

Export Media Files

Here’s the tricky part – HubSpot doesn’t have a bulk export option for media files. You’ll need to download these manually:

• • Go to “Marketing” > “Files and Templates” > “Files”
  • You can filter by file type (images, documents, etc.)
  • Download each file individually

Pro tip: Start with your most recent or most used files. If you have thousands of files, consider if you really need all of them.

A word of caution: Keep your exported files organized. Create separate folders for blog posts, pages, and media files. Trust me, your future self will thank you when it’s time to import everything into WordPress.

Remember, this process might take some time, especially if you have a lot of content. Don’t rush it. It’s better to be thorough now than to realize you’re missing something important later.

Set Up WordPress

With your content successfully exported from HubSpot, it’s time to set up your new WordPress site. Consider this step as prepping your new home before bringing in all your belongings. Let’s focus on two key areas:

Choose and Install a Suitable Theme

Your theme is what makes your site look good. Here’s how to pick and set one up:

• Browse the WordPress theme directory or check out premium theme marketplaces like ThemeForest.
• Look for themes that match your brand and have the features you need.
• Consider responsiveness, customization options, and loading speed.

Once you’ve chosen a theme:

Go to Your WordPress Dashboard

1. Click “Appearance” > “Themes” > “Add New”
2. If it’s a free theme, search for it and click “Install”
3. For premium themes, click “Upload Theme” and follow the prompts
4. After installation, click “Activate”

Don’t stress too much about getting it perfect right away. You can always tweak it later.

Install Necessary Plugins

Plugins add extra features to your site. Here are some you might need:

• • • Yoast SEO or Rank Math for search engine optimization
    • Jetpack for security and performance
    • Contact Form 7 or WPForms for creating forms
    • WooCommerce if you’re running an online store

To install plugins:

• • 1. Go to “Plugins” > “Add New”
    2. Search for the plugin you want
    3. Click “Install Now” then “Activate”

Be careful not to go overboard with plugins. Too many can slow down your site.

Essential plugins for migration:

• • WordPress Importer: This comes pre-installed. It’ll help you bring in your HubSpot blog posts.
  • Really Simple CSV Importer: Useful for importing pages and custom post types.

You Can Also Read:  WordPress Migration Checklist

Import Content into WordPress

Alright, we’ve got your WordPress site set up and your HubSpot content exported. Now comes the fun part – bringing it all together. We’ll look at two ways to do this:

Use WordPress Importer or Migration Plugin

For blog posts:

• • 1. Go to “Tools” > “Import” in your WordPress dashboard
    2. Click on “Install Now” under “WordPress”
    3. Once installed, click “Run Importer”
    4. Choose the XML file you exported from HubSpot
    5. Map the authors and click “Submit”

This should bring in your blog posts, including titles, content, and metadata.

For pages and custom content:

• • 1. Install the “Really Simple CSV Importer” plugin
    2. Go to “Tools” > “Import” > “CSV Importer”
    3. Upload your CSV file from HubSpot
    4. Map the fields to match WordPress structure
    5. Click “Import”

Keep an eye out for any error messages. You might need to clean up your CSV file if there are issues.

Manual import process (if needed)

Sometimes, automatic imports don’t work perfectly. Here’s how to manually import:

• • 1. Create a new post/page in WordPress
    2. Copy-paste the title from your HubSpot export
    3. Copy-paste the content, adjusting formatting as needed
    4. Set the publish date to match the original
    5. Add categories and tags
    6. Update metadata (like SEO title and description)

Yes, it’s time-consuming. But it ensures everything comes across exactly as you want it.

Pro Tips:

• Start with your most important content first
• Check each imported post/page for formatting issues
• Keep track of what you’ve imported to avoid duplicates
• Don’t forget to update internal links as you go

Transfer Media Files

We’re in the home stretch now. Let’s get those images and other media files into your new WordPress site. This step is essential for keeping your content looking good and functioning properly.

Upload Images and Other Media to WordPress

First, let’s get your files into WordPress:

1. In your WordPress dashboard, go to “Media” > “Add New”
2. You can drag and drop files or click “Select Files” to upload
3. For bulk uploads, select multiple files at once

If you have a lot of files, you might need to do this in batches. WordPress has file size limits, so keep an eye out for any upload errors.

Update Media Links in Posts and Pages

Now comes the slightly tedious part. You need to make sure all your content is pointing to the right files:

This process can be time-consuming, but it’s important for maintaining your site’s look and functionality.

Shortcut for the tech-savvy: If you’re comfortable with databases, you can use a search and replace plugin to update all your old HubSpot media URLs to the new WordPress ones in one go. But be careful – one wrong move can break your site. Always backup before trying this.

Redirect URLs

You’re in the final stages of your migration. Now, let’s make sure people can still find your content at its new home. This is where 301 redirects come in handy.

Set up 301 Redirects From HubSpot to WordPress

Why are 301 redirects important? They tell search engines and visitors that your content has moved permanently. This helps maintain your SEO rankings and ensures people don’t land on broken links.

Here’s how to set them up:

1. Make a list of your old HubSpot URLs and their corresponding new WordPress URLs. A spreadsheet works well for this.
2. Install a redirection plugin in WordPress. “Redirection” is a popular free option.
3. In your WordPress dashboard, go to “Tools” > “Redirection”
4. For each URL pair:
   • In the “Source URL” field, enter the old HubSpot URL (without your domain)
   • In the “Target URL” field, enter the new WordPress URL
   • Click “Add Redirect”
5. Test each redirect by trying to access the old URL. It should take you to the new one.

If you have a lot of URLs, you can usually bulk import them using a CSV file. Check your chosen plugin’s documentation for details.

Design and Layout

Now that your content is in WordPress, it’s time to make your new site look and feel like home. This step is all about recreating your brand identity and any special layouts you had in HubSpot.

Customize WordPress Theme to Match Your Brand

1. Go to “Appearance” > “Customize” in your WordPress dashboard.
2. Work through each section:
   • Site Identity: Upload your logo and set your site title
   • Colors: Match your brand colors
   • Typography: Choose fonts that align with your brand
   • Header: Set up your menu and header layout
   • Footer: Add your  copyright info and any footer widgets
3. If your theme has additional customization options, explore those too.
4. Don’t forget to check how your site looks on mobile devices.

Remember, you don’t need to replicate your HubSpot site exactly. This is a chance to freshen things up while staying true to your brand.

Recreate Any Custom Page Layouts

If you had special layouts in HubSpot, you’ll need to rebuild these in WordPress:

1. For simple layouts, use your theme’s built-in page builder if it has one.
2. For more complex designs, consider installing a page builder plugin like Elementor or Beaver Builder.
3. To recreate a specific page:
   • Create a new page in WordPress
   • Use your page builder to add sections, columns, and elements
   • Copy over text and images from your HubSpot export
   • Adjust spacing and styling to match your brand
4. For recurring layouts (like product pages), create templates to save time.
5. Don’t forget about your homepage. This often needs special attention to get right.

SEO Considerations

Moving your site is a big deal, and you don’t want to lose the search engine rankings you’ve worked hard for. Let’s make sure your new WordPress site is as SEO-friendly as your old HubSpot one.

Install SEO Plugin (e.g., Yoast SEO)

1. Head to “Plugins” > “Add New” in your WordPress dashboard
2. Search for “Yoast SEO” (it’s a popular choice, but there are others like Rank Math)
3. Click “Install Now”, then “Activate”

Once it’s up and running:

• Go through the setup wizard
• Connect to Google Search Console if you can
• Fill in your site’s basic info like name and logo

Update Metadata and Permalinks

1. Sort out your permalinks first:
   • Go to “Settings” > “Permalinks”
   • Pick a structure that matches your HubSpot setup (usually “Post name”)
   • Hit save
2. For each post and page:
   • Scroll to the SEO section at the bottom
   • Add a focus keyword
   • Write a snappy meta description
   • Check the SEO title looks good
3. Don’t forget about categories and tags:
   • Find them under “Posts” > “Categories” or “Tags”
   • Add descriptions and metadata to each
4. Check your sitemap:
   • Usually at yourdomain.com/sitemap_index.xml
   • Submit it to Google Search Console
5. Look over your robots.txt file:
   • Make sure it’s not blocking anything important
   • Update any HubSpot-specific stuff

Test and Quality Assurance

You’re almost done now. Before you make your site public, we need to check that everything works correctly. This step is really important – it’s your final opportunity to find and fix any problems before your visitors see your new site.

Check all pages and posts

1. Go through every single page and post. Yes, all of them.
2. Look for:
   • Broken images or missing media
   • Formatting issues (weird spacing, wrong fonts)
   • Broken links
   • Missing content

Tip: Open your old HubSpot site and new WordPress site side by side to compare.

Test functionality and forms

1. Click all your menu items and internal links
2. Test every form on your site:
   • Fill them out
   • Submit them
   • Check if you receive the data
   • Test any autoresponders
3. If you have a search function, try it out
4. Test any other interactive elements like sliders or accordions

Don’t forget about:

• Social media share buttons
• Comments sections on blog posts
• Any e-commerce features if you have them

Ensure mobile responsiveness

1. Use your phone and tablet to check the site
2. Look for:
   • Text that’s too small to read
   • Images that don’t resize properly
   • Buttons that are hard to click
   • Menus that don’t work right
3. Use Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test tool for an extra check

Go Live

This is it – the moment you’ve been working towards. It’s time to flip the switch and make your new WordPress site live. Take a deep breath, and let’s walk through this step by step.

Update DNS settings

1. Log into your domain registrar’s account (like GoDaddy or Namecheap)
2. Find the DNS settings for your domain
3. Update the A record to point to your new WordPress host’s IP address
4. If you’re using Cloudflare or similar, update it there too

Final checks and launch

Before you update the DNS:

• • 1. Double-check your WordPress site’s settings:
       • Is your site visibility set to “public”?
       • Have you removed any “coming soon” plugins?
    2. Run through your test checklist one last time
    3. Set up monitoring tools like Google Analytics and Search Console

Once DNS is updated:

• • 1. Keep an eye on your site for the next few hours
    2. Test critical functions again (forms, payments if applicable)
    3. Check your site from different locations and devices

After launch:

• 1. Monitor your site’s performance and traffic
  2. Watch for any 404 errors and fix them
  3. Keep an eye on search rankings for your important keywords

Post-Migration Tasks

You’ve launched your new WordPress site. Great job! But there are a few more things to do to ensure everything runs smoothly.

Monitor website performance

• • • Use tools like Google Analytics to track traffic
    • Keep an eye on page load times
    • Watch for any unexpected drops in traffic or rankings

Update internal links

• • • Go through your content and update any links still pointing to HubSpot
    • Check your menus and sidebars for outdated links
    • Don’t forget about links in your email signatures or social media profiles

Inform stakeholders and update business listings

• • Let your team know about the new site
  • Update any business listings (Google My Business, Yelp, etc.)
  • Inform partners or affiliates who might link to your site

Conclusion

Moving from HubSpot to WordPress is more than just a technical shift—it’s a strategic decision that can reshape your digital strategy. As we wrap up this guide, let’s focus on what matters most: the impact on your business.

This migration opens doors. WordPress isn’t just a platform; it’s a springboard for growth. You now have the tools to:

• Adapt quickly to market changes
• Engage your audience more effectively
• Scale your online presence without breaking the bank

But remember, a successful migration is just the beginning. Your new WordPress site is a powerful asset—use it wisely. Keep learning, keep optimizing, and most importantly, keep focusing on what your audience needs.