When switching themes or changing SEO plugins, the biggest risk is losing the SEO data like meta title, description, keywords, etc. In this article, we will show you how to properly transfer SEO settings with SEO data transporter.
What is SEO Data and Why You Need to Move It?
Some WordPress theme frameworks, and almost all WordPress SEO plugins allow you to add SEO data. You can set custom site title, description, meta tags, keywords, etc.
SEO plugins like Yoast SEO and All in One SEO allow you to add SEO data to all your posts, pages, and even custom post types.
If you have been using one of these plugins or themes for a while, then you may have added a lot of SEO data for your posts. Now if you change your theme or switch SEO plugins, then you will lose that data. This may affect your site’s SEO rankings.
That’s why moving SEO data is crucial.
Let’s take a look at how you can transfer SEO settings in WordPress with SEO Data Transporter.
Video Tutorial
If you don’t like the video or need more instructions, then continue reading.
Transferring SEO Settings in WordPress
First thing you need to do is install and activate the SEO Data Transporter plugin. Take a look at our guide on how to install a WordPress plugin.
Upon activation, you need to visit Tools » SEO Data Transport to transfer SEO settings.
There are two drop down menus on the SEO data transporter page. First you need to choose the platform you are transferring from. Second, you need to choose the platform you are transferring to.
Let’s assume that you are transferring from Yoast SEO plugin to All In One SEO pack. First you would select WordPress SEO in the from field and select All in One SEO Pack in the moving to field.
After that click on the analyze button to see what records and elements are compatible between the two platforms.
SEO Data Transporter plugin will analyze your SEO data and will show you the results. You will get to see the number of compatible records and elements like custom title, meta description, and meta keywords.
You can now click on the ‘Convert’ button to initiate the transfer. SEO Data transporter will move your SEO settings to your chosen platform.
After the successful transfer of your SEO settings, you can safely uninstall your old SEO plugin or theme. You can also delete the SEO transporter plugin as well.
Plugins and Platforms Supported by SEO Data Transporter
SEO Data Transporter plugin supports many popular WordPress SEO plugins, theme frameworks and platforms. Here is a list of supported platforms:
Supported Themes
Supported SEO Plugins
- All in One SEO Pack
- Yoast SEO
- Headspace2
- Add Meta Tags
- Meta SEO Pack
- Platinum SEO
- SEO Ultimate
- Greg’s High Performance SEO
Basically if you want to switch from Yoast SEO to All in One SEO pack or if you want to switch from All in One SEO pack to Yoast SEO, then SEO data transporter is your go-to tool.
The team at StudioPress built the most comprehensive solution of its kind.
Other Ways to Transport SEO Settings
Some SEO plugins come with their own built-in tools to import and export SEO settings. If you are transferring to a new SEO plugin, then you should always check if it can import settings from your older plugin or theme.
For example, Yoast SEO plugin has a built in import feature. After you have installed Yoast SEO plugin, you can go to SEO » Tools page and click on import and export link.
With Yoast SEO, you can move your SEO settings between two sites using the same Yoast SEO plugin. You can also import SEO data from different SEO plugins into Yoast SEO.
We hope this article helped you learn how to to transfer WordPress SEO settings with SEO Data Transporter. You may also want to see our list of best WordPress SEO tools and plugins that you should use.
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Before I installed Yoast SEO I use AIO SEO Pack. Activated Yoast SEO and deactivated AIO SEO Pack.
After that I saw that I have prior of all to transfer data from AIO to Yoast. After that i activated again AIO and try to transfer data with SEO Data Transporter but was no records to transfer.
Did I made crucial mistake
If this method did not work you may want to try going under Yoast>Tools>Import and Export to see if the Yoast plugin finds anything to transfer.
Hi, thanks for your article.
If I ve changed All in 1 for Yoast nearly 4 months ago should I use data transporter? Or is it better to forget about it and continue with Yoast?
Hi Alex,
If you had data like meta descriptions and titles, then you ca use the data transporter tool to import it in Yoast SEO.
Used Yoast on blog post after using divi theme for prior 30 blog posts. Everything seems to be fine, but it will not publish. Do I need data transport or other action with Yoast?
Hi,
Great article. Sadly there is no longer the SEO Data Transporter option for Thesis 2 – do you have any ideas of another plugin I could use? or another way?
Thanks in advance!
Awesome, just what I needed – thx!
I was worried that the plugin would try to import every conceivable setting, but it stuck with meta data, which is just what I wanted. Love it.
Hi thanks for the post, in August 2013 i have switched from AIO Seo pack to Yoast and completed the processes as described above in “Other Ways to Transport SEO Settings”
The problem is that i have lost organic traffic and keyword rankings and still facing the issue. Kindly tell me if there is any problem with seo settings or i have lost keyword rankings…
kindly have review my blog it technotrait.com
Hi,
I installed the SEO data transporter plugin and went to the page where it says “transfer from one platform to another”
I selected “Genesis theme” in the first drop down. But I couldnt see “Yoast SEO” in the second drop down at all. I had instaleld and activated the Yoast SEO plugin first and I double checked it was activated.
Please could you advise what could have gone wrong OR if this SEO data transporter plugin has stopped supporting Yoast completely?
Thanks
Nupur
Yoast SEO is also known as WordPress SEO in the dropdown menu.