Migrate a custom PHP magazine website to WordPress (content + images + SEO redirects)

FYI: The noted pay structure is generic and will be based on what your own quote would be for such a job. Again, the quote price structure is only for me filling in that part of this form.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION\=

I run an online entertainment magazine (reviews, interviews, contests, and more). A previous developer built a custom, from-scratch PHP website that is mostly done but was never finished, and I want to move it onto WordPress so it's easy to maintain long-term.I have everything needed to do this: the full website files, the complete database, and the entire image library. I also have a detailed technical specification document that maps out exactly what's there and what needs to happen — I'll send it to you up front, so you're not going in blind. I'm looking for an experienced WordPress developer to rebuild the site on WordPress and migrate all my existing content into it, without losing my search rankings.

WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE\=

Set up a clean WordPress site (staging first, then go live).- Migrate all existing content from the old database into WordPress: \~1,097 reviews (Blu-ray/DVD, CD, movie, book, interview, concert, game) \~111 contests/giveaways \~10 "hot picks" supporting pages and staff info- Migrate the image library and set the correct featured image on each post.- Set up the content structure: custom post types \+ categories \+ custom fields (all specified in the document I'll provide).- Preserve my SEO: create 301 redirects so my existing web links keep working and I don't lose Google rankings. (This is important to me.)- Fix text-encoding issues during import (the old data is in an older character set — apostrophes/quotes must not turn into garbled characters).- Rebuild the site's look. I'll provide design direction — either a WordPress theme I've picked or a design concept — so you have a clear target.- Clean up the loose ends the previous developer left (empty/leftover items).- Provide me with a full .zip of the database and website files so that I can get someone to install it onto hosting for me.

WHAT I'LL PROVIDE\=

The complete original website files and database export.- The full image library.- A detailed technical specification document (data model, field-by-field content mapping, image folder structure, redirect plan, and QA checklist) — readable by a developer or an AI coding assistant.- My design direction (theme choice or design concept).

MUST-HAVE SKILLS\=

Proven WordPress development experience (please share past migration work).- Experience migrating content from a database / legacy site into WordPress (WP-CLI or a custom import script — not manual copy/paste for 1,000\+ posts).- Custom Post Types, taxonomies, and Advanced Custom Fields (ACF).- 301 redirect setup and basic SEO preservation.- Comfortable reading a MySQL database dump and working with PHP.

NICE TO HAVE\=

Experience with news/magazine-style WordPress sites.- Image optimization and site-speed work (my image library is large).- Ability to match or modernize an existing design.

TO APPLY, PLEASE TELL ME\=

1\. Have you migrated a custom/legacy site into WordPress before? Share an example.2\. How would you handle the content migration (manual vs. scripted)?3\. How will you make sure my existing links/SEO are preserved?4\. Your estimated timeline and price. (I can send the spec document and files for a more exact quote.)

Pay: From $100\.00 per day

Work Location: Remote