How to migrate from Ghost to Wordpress

If you're thinking about making the switch from Ghost to WordPress, this guide will walk you through the process of migrating your content from one platform to the other.

How to migrate from Ghost to Wordpress
Photo by Markus Spiske / Unsplash

Are you considering migrating your blog from Ghost to WordPress? WordPress is a popular content management system that offers a wide range of features and options for creating and managing a website or blog. While Ghost is a newer platform, it has a growing community and is a great option for those looking for a simple, stylish blogging experience.

If you're thinking about making the switch from Ghost to WordPress, this guide will walk you through the process of migrating your content from one platform to the other.

Before you begin, it's important to understand that migrating your content from Ghost to WordPress will require some technical knowledge. If you're not comfortable with modifying code or working with databases, you may want to consider hiring a developer to help you with the migration process.

With that said, let's take a look at how to migrate from Ghost to WordPress.

Export your content from Ghost

The first step in migrating your content from Ghost to WordPress is to export your existing content from Ghost. To do this, log into your Ghost administration panel and go to Settings > Labs.

Under the Export section, click the "Export your content" button. This will generate a JSON file that contains all of your posts, pages, and settings.

Create a WordPress database

Next, you'll need to create a new database on your web server for WordPress. If you're not sure how to do this, your web hosting company should be able to provide you with instructions.

Once you've created the database, you'll need to create a user with permissions to access it. Again, your web hosting company can provide you with instructions on how to do this.

Install WordPress

Now that you have a database set up for WordPress, you can install the software. WordPress is available for download from the official WordPress website.

Once you've downloaded the WordPress ZIP file, extract it to your computer. Then, create a new folder on your web server for WordPress and upload the extracted files to that folder.

Once the files have been uploaded, you can access the WordPress installation script by going to http://example.com/wordpress/wp-admin/install.php in your web browser (replace example.com with your domain name).

Configure WordPress

The WordPress installation script will walk you through the process of setting up WordPress. You'll need to provide information such as your database name, database user, and database password.

Once you've completed the WordPress installation, you can log into your new WordPress site by going to http://example.com/wordpress/wp-admin (replace example.com with your domain name).

Import your content into WordPress

Now that WordPress is up and running, you can import your content from the Ghost JSON file. To do this, go to Tools > Import in the WordPress administration panel.

Under the "Import" heading, click the "Install Now" link next to the "WordPress" importer.

Once the importer has been installed, click the "Run Importer" link. On the next page, click the "Choose File" button and select the JSON file that you exported from Ghost.

Then, click the "Upload file and import" button. WordPress will now import your content from Ghost.

Configure your WordPress theme

Once your content has been imported into WordPress, you'll need to configure your WordPress theme to match the style of your Ghost site.

If you're using a theme that's designed for WordPress, you can usually find instructions on the theme's website for how to configure it.

Otherwise, you'll need to edit the WordPress theme files to match the look and feel of your Ghost site. The WordPress Codex has a guide on how to customize your WordPress theme.

Redirect traffic from Ghost to WordPress

If you're still using Ghost, you'll need to set up a redirect so that any traffic that goes to your Ghost site is redirected to your new WordPress site.

To do this, you'll need to edit the .htaccess file on your web server. Add the following lines to the file:

Redirect / http://example.com/wordpress/

Replace example.com with your domain name.

That's it!

You've now successfully migrated your content from Ghost to WordPress. Remember to keep your WordPress site backed up so that you can easily restore it if something goes wrong.

How to setup DNS after migrating from Ghost to WordPress: Step-by-step Guide

  1. Log into your account at your web hosting company.
  2. Find the DNS (Domain Name System) settings and make a note of the current DNS entries.
  3. Set the DNS entries for your domain name to the following:
  4. Wait for the DNS changes to propagate. This can take up to 48 hours.
  5. Log into your WordPress site and go to Settings > General.
  6. Enter your domain name in the "WordPress Address (URL)" and "Site Address (URL)" fields.
  7. Save your changes.
  8. That's it! Your WordPress site should now be accessible at your domain name.

Some of the best hosting services for WordPress: Pros and Cons

There are a lot of different web hosting companies out there, and it can be difficult to choose the right one for your WordPress site. To help you make a decision, here's a look at some of the best hosting services for WordPress, along with the pros and cons of each.

  1. WP Engine

WP Engine is a popular managed WordPress hosting service. They offer a wide range of features, including automatic WordPress updates, daily backups, and built-in caching.

PROS:

  • Automatic WordPress updates
  • Daily backups
  • Built-in caching
  • Excellent customer support

CONS:

  • Expensive
  • Limited storage space

2. SiteGround

SiteGround is a well-known web hosting company that offers a variety of hosting plans, including shared, cloud, and dedicated. They offer a wide range of features, including free SSL certificates and automatic WordPress updates.

PROS:

  • Free SSL certificates
  • Automatic WordPress updates
  • Excellent customer support

CONS:

  • Limited storage space

3. Bluehost

Bluehost is one of the largest web hosting companies in the world. They offer a variety of hosting plans, including shared, VPS, and dedicated. They offer a wide range of features, including unlimited storage space and bandwidth.

PROS:

  • Unlimited storage space
  • Bandwidth
  • Free SSL certificate
  • Excellent customer support

CONS:

  • Expensive

4. DreamHost

DreamHost is a popular web hosting company that offers a variety of hosting plans, including shared, VPS, and dedicated. They offer a wide range of features, including unlimited storage space and bandwidth.

PROS:

  • Unlimited storage space
  • Bandwidth
  • Free SSL certificate
  • Excellent customer support

CONS:

  • Expensive

5. HostGator

HostGator is a popular web hosting company that offers a variety of hosting plans, including shared, cloud, VPS, and dedicated. They offer a wide range of features, including unlimited storage space and bandwidth.

PROS:

  • Unlimited storage space
  • Bandwidth
  • Free SSL certificate
  • Excellent customer support

CONS:

  • Expensive

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