Changing website

[knoddie]

I have a website I developed personally in static HTML about four years ago that ranks #1 and #3 for my key search terms. The domain name is an exact match for the #1 term. This drives very significant traffic to the site.

I am now in the process of redesigning the website, and extending it so there is substantially more content sitting behind it, thereby hopefully henerating more page views and down the track more traffic. The new site is being developed in Wordpress.

Obviously trying to do all the right things with redirects, duplicating page names etc.

While the new site will be infinitely better than the current one, I am worried I may lose earnings by making the switch. It's a much prettier looking site, however I have tried to retain ad placement positions similar to the old site.

My question is this, when the new site goes live, how long would you give it to test its earnings versus the current site? So if earnings are substantially less with the new site, when would you roll back?

Would appreciate your feedback.

[IanCP]

My lousy 02c worth?

Change nothing.

In these current crazy Google/Adsense times? Only a super guru knows what is going on.

Like I said, my lousy 02c worth.

[HuskyPup]

I'm with IanCP, change nothing.

Only a super guru knows what is going on.

Nope, no one knows what's going on including Google itself unless your site is in to super millions of visitors and page views every month, or you have an incredibly popular seasonal niche(s), then they may give you some assistance and drive extra traffic your way...us minions, forget it, AdSense is a dinosaur.

[netmeg]

Just to throw a monkey wrench into the discussion - I switched a longtime HTML (but database driven) site into WordPress last year, and it more than double earnings. The ad placements and even the look were essentially the same.

Then this year, I put in a new design, but still most of the ads in essentially the same place, and it's doing even better.

Will WordPress on its own directly impact your earnings? Probably not.

It's all in how your users engage with your site.

Also - when you do get into WP, take a look at a free plugin called AdRotate. I'm using it for serving my ads now, and it's really nice. Works for any kind of ad - AdSense, affiliate, direct.

[jbayabas]

For 6 years, my main site was in HTML then converted it to wordpress just last year. My traffic is a bit higher now (im sure in two years, it will double) and earnings higher as well but the plus side is I am able to update the site much quicker. Thus, more content per day.

Make sure you have a Cache plugin when your site becomes popular. Wordpress uses database that requires a lot of CPU load. I use the plugin "W3 Total Cache". It not only reduces your CPU load, it also makes your site load much faster.

[MrSavage]

Can I make a mention? I'm a newb for all intents and purposes but I will mention this because I will do it so that other people using Wordpress won't have my situation. I'm sure most people do what they need to, but understand that Wordpress is a magnet for malware and hackers. I'm not trying to insult anyone's intelligence but when people are talking about moving to Wordpress or similar, understand it's a completely different ballgame. It's the "big leagues" of hackers and malware. If the site is that valuable to you then you must have security measures in place. Don't do what I did. Trust me. And if you think a theme from a premium company must be safe, think again. Go the extra mile to make it air tight. That's what you should be more worried about.

[knoddie]

Thanks for your help, much appreciated