When to Migrate from WordPress to Next.js
Migration is expensive and disruptive. Here's how to know if it's worth it for your business.
The Honest Truth
Not everyone should migrate from WordPress. It's a significant investment, and if your WordPress site is working fine, there's no reason to change.
But if you're hitting real pain points, migration can transform your business. Here's how to evaluate your situation honestly.
Signs It's Time to Migrate
1. Your Site Is Slow (And It's Hurting SEO)
If your site takes 3+ seconds to load and you've already tried optimization, you've hit WordPress's performance ceiling. Google's Core Web Vitals now directly impact rankings. Our performance optimization service can help diagnose the root causes.
2. You're Fighting With Plugins
Plugin conflicts, broken updates, security vulnerabilities—if you're spending significant time managing plugins instead of growing your business, something's wrong.
3. You've Been Hacked (Or You're Worried About It)
WordPress security is a constant battle. If you've experienced a breach or you're paying significant money for security plugins and monitoring, there's a better way.
4. You Need Custom Functionality
If you're trying to build features that WordPress plugins can't handle well—complex filtering, real-time updates, advanced integrations—you're fighting the platform.
5. Your Site Is a Core Business Asset
If your website is how you generate leads and revenue—not just a brochure—it should be built on technology that supports your growth, not limits it.
Signs You Should Stay on WordPress
- • Your site is a simple blog with low traffic
- • Non-technical staff need to make daily content updates
- • Your site is performing fine (loads in <2 seconds)
- • You have no budget for custom development
- • You're happy with your current plugins and workflow
What Migration Involves
A WordPress to Next.js migration typically includes:
| Phase | What Happens |
|---|---|
| Audit | Map all pages, content types, and functionality |
| Design | Refresh design or recreate existing design |
| Development | Build new site in Next.js |
| Content Migration | Move content to new system (headless CMS optional) |
| SEO | Set up redirects, preserve URL structure |
| Launch | Deploy, monitor, iterate |
Preserving Your SEO
The biggest risk in any migration is losing search rankings. Here's how we prevent that:
- • Map all existing URLs before migration
- • Set up 301 redirects for any URL changes
- • Preserve title tags, meta descriptions, and structured data
- • Monitor rankings closely post-launch
- • Submit updated sitemap to Google Search Console
Do You Need a CMS?
One question that comes up: "If I leave WordPress, how do I edit content?"
Options include:
- Headless CMS (Sanity, Contentful, Strapi) - Best for teams who need non-technical editing
- Markdown/MDX - Best for developer teams
- WordPress as headless CMS - Use WordPress for content, Next.js for frontend
- No CMS - For sites that rarely change
Typical Timeline
A WordPress to Next.js migration typically takes 4-8 weeks depending on:
- • Number of pages and content types
- • Complexity of design
- • Custom functionality needed
- • CMS requirements
- • Integration needs
The Bottom Line
Migration is a significant investment, but for the right businesses, it pays off in:
- • Better search rankings from improved performance
- • Reduced hosting and plugin costs
- • Eliminated security headaches
- • A modern foundation that scales with your business
If you're experiencing real pain with WordPress, the investment in migration will feel obvious. If you're not sure, you probably don't need to migrate yet. You might also consider pairing migration with SEO copywriting services to refresh your content at the same time.
Not Sure If You Should Migrate?
Book a free 15-minute call. I'll give you an honest assessment of whether migration makes sense for your situation.