WordPress builds and migrations
WordPress development and website migrations
In short
Kotoh Labs builds new WordPress sites and migrates existing sites from Squarespace, Wix, Drupal, legacy CMSs or older WordPress installs. Content is moved, old URLs redirect to new ones so links and search rankings carry over, and staff are trained to edit the new site.
Updated
How Kotoh approaches it
A migration is mostly about not losing things: pages, images, forms, links and search rankings. We start with a full inventory and a URL map, so every old address has a new home. Then we rebuild on a theme your editors can’t accidentally break, test the redirects, and train your team before launch.
We also tell you when WordPress isn’t the best answer. Our founder has moved his own businesses’ sites from WordPress to faster static builds on Cloudflare when the content rarely changed.
Built for
- Organizations outgrowing Squarespace or Wix
- Teams on an aging WordPress or Drupal site
- Sites with years of content to move
- Organizations that edit content weekly
Common problems
- Slow, plugin-heavy sites
- Themes no one can safely update
- Fear of losing content or rankings in a move
- Editors who break layouts
What we build
- Custom, lightweight WordPress themes
- Block patterns editors cannot break
- Content migration with URL mapping
- Forms, events and donation integrations
- Static or headless builds where they fit better
- Speed, security and backup setup
What you receive
- Migration plan and URL map
- Redesigned site on WordPress or a faster alternative
- Redirects for every changed URL
- Editor training and written guide
- Post-launch check of search indexing
Controls
- Staging site for review
- Redirect testing before launch
- Least-privilege editor roles
- Automated backups and updates
Work that shows it
Interior Foliage Design
Interior Foliage Design: lead-generation site and proposal generator
Lead-generation website for a family-owned NYC plant design firm, plus a custom proposal generator.
Beverage Boss
Beverage Boss: online store for a wine and spirits shop
Full online store for a New Haven wine and spirits shop, with delivery ordering and SMS sign-up.
Questions buyers ask
Will we lose our Google rankings when we move?
Not if the move is planned. Every old URL is mapped to a new one with a permanent redirect, titles and descriptions carry over, and we check indexing in Search Console after launch.
Is WordPress always the right choice?
No. WordPress is best when many people edit content often. For sites that change rarely, a static build on a platform like Astro is faster, more secure and cheaper to host. We recommend one or the other in the proposal.
Can you move us off Squarespace or Wix?
Yes. We export your pages, posts, images and forms, rebuild them on the new platform and redirect the old URLs.
How long does a migration take?
Small sites typically take a few weeks; larger sites with years of content take longer. The proposal includes a schedule with review points.
Related capabilities
Nonprofit and public-sector websites
Clear, accessible websites that staff can update, for nonprofits, agencies, schools and associations.
Hosting and care plans
Managed hosting, updates, backups, monitoring and small edits, so your site stays fast and safe.
Accessibility (WCAG 2.2 AA)
Audits and fixes to WCAG 2.2 AA, plus templates that stay accessible as your team adds content.
Have a project or a workflow worth fixing?
Send a short note about what you need. Ian answers every email within one business day.