Moving from one platform to another sounds a bit scary, right? Especially if you’re planning to replace the convenient but limited Shopify with the more flexible and scalable WooCommerce. The process may seem complicated, but with the right approach, you can migrate your store without losses and with minimal risks. In this guide, we’ll cover in detail how to migrate Shopify to WooCommerce, what nuances are important to consider, and how to avoid common mistakes.
Why Migrate a Store From Shopify?
Shopify is convenient, especially at the start. The platform is simple, intuitive and does not require technical knowledge. But as your business grows, you may find that you are running into the limits of your capabilities.
WooCommerce, as a WordPress extension, offers much more freedom: full customization, control over data, a flexible system of plugins. The main thing is that there is no monthly fee for using the platform. Switching to WooCommerce often means fewer dependencies on third-party services and more opportunities for SEO and marketing.
Before You Begin: A Couple of Important Steps
Before you begin the actual transfer, it is important to do some preparation:
- Make a full backup of your Shopify store.
- Analyze the structure of your current site, including categories, products, customers, orders, and SEO settings.
- Choose hosting for your new WooCommerce site (preferably optimized for WordPress).
- Install WordPress and the WooCommerce plugin.
It is also a good idea to create a checklist of mandatory tasks at each stage of the transfer. This will help avoid chaos and not miss important details.
What Exactly Needs To Be Migrated – and How To Do It
Here are the main steps of the migration process:
- Data migration. Use special tools such as Cart2Cart, LitExtension.
- Design setup. You can adapt the current design or create a new one using WordPress themes. It is important to maintain brand recognition.
- Payment and shipping integration. Set up gateways (e.g. Stripe, PayPal) and shipping modules.
- Performance check. Make sure the entire store is working correctly before launching.
- SEO and redirects. You also need to migrate meta data, descriptions and “alt” tags.
And now the important details. After completing these steps, check if discounts and special offers are displayed correctly, if the user account works, and if order notifications are set up. Sometimes these details affect the perception of the new site by customers.
Where You Might Encounter Possible Difficulties
Problems happen: something didn’t transfer, some data is duplicated, plugins conflict. To avoid this, we recommend:
- don’t skimp on testing;
- test the site during the development stage;
- contact specialists if there are difficulties with the transfer.
At Dinarys, we have repeatedly helped clients with the transition from Shopify to WooCommerce, and we know how important it is to think through every step.
If your store has already “outgrown” Shopify, don’t be afraid to change the platform. WooCommerce is the flexibility, control, and space for scaling. The main thing is not to rush, think everything through, and not be left alone with the task.
