Question about Website Redesign

I currently have a website where the main page is a pr7 and I want to redesign it. Its an old frontpage site that ends in .htm. A designer has recommended that I use wordpress because its user friendly and google loves wordpress sites, he says. It is a 170 page static informational site. Wordpress can't be done in a .htm format though, so i'd have to have all the pages end in .html and have them all do redirects.

My questions are, do you think this will cause me to lose my traffic? Also, do you think the pr will move over to the new pages, or will I possibly lose my pr7?

Appreciate you input.

 

Hi, I used to have similar issues with my site redesign some year ago, however this is more close to your solution:
http://wordpress.org/support/topic/page-extension-htm

Check this out. It can be done via .htacceess.

 

Do not even risk it. I would not touch that site at all. With a high PR and if you have good search engine ranking, your chances of going down in the rankings exceed your chances of going up.

 

i say change it.. a redesign shouldn't effect the overall ranking on google.. altho it might take longer you want to be current but... its going to depend on what your content is...

 

Hi, You can use change URL plugin of wordpress or you can also manage this things from .htaccess file, google loves new technologies and new stuff that will help you... it will not take to much time to bring you on top again.

 

i am fully agree who give you Tips... word-press is best choice... and use 301 redirect when word-press website ready... no way you loss any traffic. As your website PR7 so your new content index fast in WordPress.