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December 28th, 2008 | Posted in Blogging, WordPress 18 Comments »
I integrated a WordPress blog into another website this weekend. The original site, pictured below, was http://tamarabonet.com.
Original site (built in Dreamweaver)
Here’s the WordPress blog I customized (http://tamarabonet.com/blog) to look identical to the existing site:
WordPres Blog (created to match original)
This is my third blog design in which I ported over an existing html site into a WordPress theme. I’m getting better at it, but it still takes me a full day to do it.
I also recently created a WordPress blog for a voiceover site. The following image shows the original site.
Original Site (Built in Dreamweaver)
And here is the WordPress blog I customized to match the original.
WordPress blog (created to match original)
As you can see, the WordPress blog looks almost identical to the original site. By far the most difficult part about porting over an HTML site is dealing with tables. People often use tables when they build sites in Dreamweaver. But WordPress doesn’t use tables — it uses div tags to structure the layout.
When I create the WordPress theme, I’ve found I can’t just remove the original site’s tables and have the WordPress theme match the original site in a seamless way. So I leave the tables in.
The only post I’ve written on integrating a WordPress blog into a Dreamweaver-built HTML site is this one: “Seamlessly Integrating a Blog into Your Existing Website.” From it, I’ve had a handful of people contact me.
I would write a tutorial for this process, but it would take me too long, and most people don’t want the hassle of doing it themselves anyway. If you’re thinking about adding a blog that matches your existing website, let me know. I can create a custom blog theme for you. See my WordPress Consulting page for details.
Tags: customization, html, themes, WordPress
Is the process too difficult for a non tech user? I d love to convert few of my existing web sites to wordpress but did not try yet.
If you’re comfortable with CSS and understand WordPress template tags and hierarchy, it’s not difficult. However, why not just migrate all your content into an existing WordPress theme? It’s actually easier to do that. For example, Woothemes has some compelling designs that may be better than trying to create a custom theme that matches your original site. However, some people are really in love with their site design, or have built up a brand around it, and want to keep it.
[...] Integrating WordPress into an Existing Website [...]
Thanks for your honesty and for writing something on a positive note. There is so much negativity around the world in these troubled times, so I appreciate what you have said.
Kind regards,
Barry
I really liked your blog! You have some great content. Check out my blog and give me some feedback… I just posted a great blog about the 36 Best Wordpress plugins for 2009., thanks !
Hi,
this is exactly what I’m looking for. I also use dreamweaver and want to integrate a WP-blog in my existing html-site and not the other way around. Too bad you have no tutorial how to do this! I don’t use tables -only div’s and css.
Can’t you write a bit more on how to start?
regards,
ephra
Hello,
have you managed to find a solution to intergrating a wordpress blog into an existing html? I’m desperate to find a solution. I also do not want to give my whole site over to wordpress. I’m about to learn some php to see if that helps.
kind regards,
Lewis
Lewis, there’s no easy way to do it. You have to basically create a wordpress theme that matches your existing site’s design. I offer this as a service. See my contact form to contact me with more details about your site, if you’re interested.
I found your blog on google and read a few of your other posts. I just added you to my Google News Reader. Keep up the good work. Look forward to reading more from you in the future.
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Nice article…I really like it!
Wow this is an awesome theme. You should add it to STCFX.
Good post and a fantastic read. You’ve raised some valid points. Fantastic work, keep it up. I love coming back back to this webpage and browsing the excellent content you always have available.
Aarrgghh! What you did with the websites that you showed above is exactly what I am trying to do. Looks like I may have to break down and spring for you or someone else to actually create the blog to mirror my website design. Frustrating that I can’t do this myself.
If you want to hire me to create a wordpress theme for you, let me know. I do usually do this for $300 to $600. It does require knowledge of CSS, PHP, XHTML, and WordPress.
Terry, if you want to hire me to create this theme for you, let me know. Contact me with project details.
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