Content Migration to WordPress from Different CMS

WordPress is one of the most popular content management platforms, and a lot of websites face the need to move their content to this system. The reasons can be different: an outdated CMS, the wish for more SEO capabilities, the simplification of content management, or simply the desire for a more modern design.

But in any case, content migration is quite a complex process that needs a properly worked-out strategy in advance to avoid losses in data, traffic, or technical errors. We will cover the main features of the WordPress migration guide, some common issues when performing this task, and some best practices to maintain quality and performance.

Why businesses need a WordPress migration guide

Content migration to WordPress is a complicated process that needs a clear strategy and attention to detail. If there isn’t a well-thought plan, migration will surely lead to the loss of some important data, site crashes, deterioration of SEO positions, or even decreased traffic. Therefore, it’s crucial for a company to have a structured guide that will help avoid critical mistakes and make this transition to WordPress as smooth as possible.

Key benefits of a WordPress migration guide:

• Minimizing risks: A clear step-by-step plan helps avoid mistakes such as duplicate content, incorrect link transfer, or loss of images.
• Preserving SEO results: A correct migration, taking into account redirects and indexing settings, ensures that the site does not lose its position in search engines.
• Conducting resource management: With a well-structured guide, your team will be able to migrate faster and more painlessly without delays in business operations.
• Considering performance optimization: The correct database structure, selection of appropriate hosting, and caching settings significantly improve the performance of the site.

Those companies that get ready for the WordPress website migration service are guaranteed continuous operation of the site, the preservation of functionality, and more. Therefore, if it’s going to transfer content onto WordPress, then it should not act unconsciously. A clear guide will let this process be predictable, efficient, and safe.

Types of content migration & choosing the right approach

Сontent migration to WordPress can be performed in a few ways depending on the amount of data to be moved, the technical possibilities of the team, and business goals. The proper approach will allow you not to lose the information, failures of the site, and problems with SEO. Let’s look at the basic variants of content migration.

Manual migration vs automated tools

While manual content migration is suitable for small-sized sites or structures that require special attention, it is especially preferred because you are in full control of everything. However, it requires a lot of time and knowledge to work with databases, files, and SEO settings.

Automatic tools include plugins like WP All Import, Duplicator, and CMS2CMS. Such tools notably accelerate this process and minimize the chance of human error. It’s suitable when speed is relevant and usually used for rather standard websites, but it can have disadvantages concerning customization options and correctness in terms of structure.

Hybrid approaches & assisted migration

A hybrid approach will take the best of both domains: automated tools manage the core data, while manual work helps in adjusting key elements such as SEO, images, and page structure. This is the best option for large or complex sites.

It is worth noting here that companies lacking in-house technical experts can avail of the services of our WordPress agency that will carry out the migration both quickly and without risk.

Content migration checklist for a smooth transition

To ensure that the migration of content proceeds without hitches, follow this checklist:

• Backup: Make a full backup of your site before you begin.
• Content audit: Decide which materials need to be migrated, updated, or deleted.
• Data migration: Employ the chosen method of migration.
• SEO settings: Save URLs or configure redirects.
• Site testing: Check the correctness of the display of content, the speed of loading, and whether the pages work correctly. 
• Final launch: If, after checks, all shortcomings are corrected, the site can be opened for users. 

With the right approach to content migration, you will transfer content without losses and provide stable work for the WordPress site.

Website content migration plan: step-by-step process

How to migrate content to WordPress efficiently? Migrating content to WordPress requires a careful approach to avoid data loss, site crashes, and SEO issues. A clear website content migration plan will help make the migration fast and efficient.

Pre-migration preparation

Conduct a full backup of your website, database, images, and other media files before commencing the content migration process. This would enable you to restore your data in case some errors are not foreseen.

Content inventory will tell you which pages, posts, media, and metadata need to be migrated. This can also be an excellent time to update or eliminate outdated information.

To keep your search rankings intact, you must document all your existing URLs and plan for their redirects (301). This will prevent 404s and the potential loss of traffic after migration.

Migrating the database & media files

In the case of automated or manual migration, exporting the database from the old platform and importing it to WordPress is required. This requires adjustments to tables and links to fit into the new structure.

Transfer all files to the appropriate WordPress folder: wp-content/uploads. If the previous setup had a different structure, the database entry should be changed so that images correctly appear on the website.

All CSS, JavaScript, and other types of custom assets must also be fitted for the new platform.

Testing & fixing issues post-migration

Functionality testing

Test all pages, links, forms, and interactive elements to ensure they work correctly.

SEO settings

Check if all redirects are configured correctly and if meta descriptions, tags, and XML sitemap are preserved.

Speed ​​optimization

Content migration can affect site performance, so you need to check page load times and configure caching, image compression, and database optimization.

Pre-launch testing

Test the website on a few devices and browsers to check everything working stably.

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CMS to WordPress migration: how to migrate from different platforms

From any other CMS to WordPress migration can get complicated. In this section, we will discover how to migrate from several popular platforms properly.

Migrate Joomla to WordPress

Migration from Joomla to WordPress requires special attention, as the structure of data and architecture of the website is not similar. To avoid problems in the process of transition:

Migration tools: There are specific plugins for the automatic transfer of most content, such as FG Joomla to WordPress.

URL redirects: Joomla and WordPress have different URL structures; hence, a system of redirection should be set up to save positions in SEO.

Functionality testing: All pages, media files, and links should be tested after the content migration to ensure they will work in the new platform.

Migrate Drupal to WordPress

Migration from Drupal to WordPress can be tricky because of the way these systems manage content and the flexibility of settings. Be prepared by the following steps:

• Exporting content: You will need to export your content out of Drupal. This can be done via XML or through special WordPress plugins supporting the import of data from Drupal.
• Migrating media files: As with Joomla, you must manually migrate your media files because the directory structure could be very different.
• SEO settings and redirects: Don’t forget to set up 301 redirects and metadata maintenance for search engine ranking sustenance.

Migrate from Wix, Shopify & custom CMS

Migrations from closed systems like Wix or Shopify are more complicated because not all support direct data export. The following points should be kept in mind for effective migration.

Since Wix doesn’t support exporting to WordPress, it’s best to perform the content migration manually. First, you’ll need to extract text content, images, and other files and recreate the page structure in WordPress. It’s also a good idea to keep or adapt the design to a new template.

In turn, Shopify allows exports in CSV format, which will enable you to import products, categories, orders, and much more significant data into WordPress with the help of some e-commerce plugins such as WooCommerce. After the migration, you will also have to set up all the payment and shipping systems.

In the case of custom platforms, content migration typically requires a deeper understanding of the site’s structure and database. You will probably have to resort to working with databases manually or custom scripts for data export and import into WordPress.

Best content migration plugins & tools for WordPress

Content migration to WordPress can be easier with powerful plugins and tools that automate most processes. They help you migrate data safely from other platforms while preserving all your files, settings, and SEO data. Some of the best content migration plugins and third-party services you should consider are listed below.

Top content migration plugins

All-in-One WP Migration is among the best WordPress migration tools. This allows you to relocate all your content, media files, databases, plugins, themes, and settings in a straightforward and fast way. You have to install this plugin on your old and new site, export the data, and import it into a new environment.

WP Migrate DB is another powerful weapon when migrating your WordPress database. You can export your site’s database while retaining all the required details: URLs, data, and a lot of other important elements. This plugin would benefit more advanced users since you could tune the migration settings and look into changing media paths or URLs.

FG Joomla to WordPress will be your indispensable assistant if you are migrating your site from Joomla to WordPress. This plugin allows for automatically importing posts, categories, media, and other important data from Joomla. It also supports image and video migrations and the configuration of redirects in order to avoid 404 errors.

Third-party migration services

If you want to delegate the content migration process or save time, third-party migration services will be a great choice. They offer more detailed help and professional support.

CMS2CMS – an automated online service allowing migrating content from Joomla, Drupal, Blogger, and other content platforms to WordPress. You’re free to migrate your textual content and media files as well, keep your category structure and menus, and not hurt your SEO with the help of this service.

WP Engine is a WordPress web hosting platform. It guarantees the fastest and safest site transfer to WordPress with the help of special tools and technical support during the whole process until it is complete.

To further enhance your WordPress site, you could also consider our guide to WordPress plugin development for advanced users.

SEO after website migration

After having migrated your content to WordPress, it’s important that your site is up and running, as well as your search engine rankings. The SEO after website migration avoids the loss of organic traffic and ensures the site is indexed correctly by Google and other search engines. A few key things to consider following the migration completion of your website are as under:

301 redirects & URL structure preservation

Setting up 301 redirects is one of the most important steps after migrating your content to a new platform. You get to keep the old URLs assigned to your old site and be able to redirect users and search engines automatically to the corresponding new pages in WordPress. If you don’t have proper 301 redirects, you will risk getting 404 errors, which can negatively affect the rankings of your site in the search engines.

Another important point is preserving the structure of URLs. If you change the structure of URLs during migration, you have to arrange redirects so that all old pages retain their traffic and SEO value. Update all internal links and images for the new structure.

Google Search Console updates & indexing best practices

Where possible, it is a good idea to update your Google Search Console information after content migration to make the search engines aware of changes on your site. You can register a new version of your site with updated URLs and check for crawler access issues. You may add a new sitemap to Google Search Console to have the search engines index your new pages faster.

Also, make sure your settings in the robots.txt file allow search engines to crawl all major pages of your site. Remember, the proper setup of this file ensures that search engines do not block important content.

After updating Google Search Console, consistently review your crawl and index reports to ensure all pages are properly indexed. Post-migration issues may arise for a few weeks, making it essential to monitor performance and make necessary adjustments.

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Post-migration testing & troubleshooting

After migration to WordPress, serious site testing should be performed to ensure everything works as it is supposed to and that your SEO does not suffer. Mistakes that go unnoticed after the migration may cause lost traffic, poor user experiences, or even drops in rankings. Now, let’s discuss main focuses of testing and troubleshooting after content migration.

Content migration SEO strategy

In contrast, testing SEO on your site after migration should be one of the most prominent post-migration measures. Even in the case of a successful migration, you could lose your place in search rankings if you are not taking correct SEO measures.

Checking meta tags

Meta descriptions, titles (H1, H2, H3), and image alt tags should not differ from one another post-migration. Similarly, check that all the old SEO settings have been migrated correctly, especially if you used any SEO plugin like Yoast SEO or Rank Math.

Content preservation analysis

It is worth checking that all pages, blog posts, categories, and tags are migrated correctly. This ensures the content structure is exactly like the original site and no pages are missing or duplicated.

Search engine position monitoring

In the first weeks after migration, it is necessary to regularly monitor the site’s search engine positions. Google can temporarily change the page ranking, but with a well-configured SEO strategy, positions will gradually be restored for your site.

Checking for broken links, missing media, and redirects

Internal linking and media file issues are quite common after content migration. It may adversely affect user experience on the site and SEO performance too.

Broken links detection

Using special tools, such as Broken Link Checker or Screaming Frog SEO Spider, you will be able to find all links leading to non-existing pages in no time. Fix broken links or redirect them.

Redirects check (301 redirects)

But more importantly, when the URL structure has changed, it is relevant to check if all the old links are properly redirecting to new ones. You can easily do this in Google Search Console or with special WordPress plugins.

Internal links check

When there is any change in URL structure, you will have to update all your internal links so they do not point directly to new pages via redirects.

Media files testing

After migration, there are quite often problems with the inability to load images and other media files. You should check whether all images are shown properly and whether they are still available at old URLs.

Website performance testing & mobile optimization

After migration to WordPress, the site should open fast, and it should also work correctly on desktop and mobile devices.

Analysis of site loading speed ​​

You can check your site speed with Google PageSpeed ​​Insights, GTmetrix, or Pingdom. In case your site is slower, you should optimize your images, use caching, and recheck your hosting.

Responsiveness design test

Your website should look right on different devices: mobile phones and tablets. You can check if your site is mobile-friendly with Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test.

Plugin performance assessment

Some plugins can make it slower or conflict with each other. You should check that all the plugins installed work properly and don’t slow down performance.

Server load check

If your site is slower after content migration, then you should check whether your hosting meets the current requirements. You probably need to change your tariff plan for a more powerful server.

Conclusion 

Content migration into WordPress is responsible work that takes much attention to preliminary planning, proper selection of tools, and attentive testing. Along with the necessity to transfer all the data, it is required to save the structure, optimally speed up the site loading, and perform the correct settings of SEO functioning.

Are you looking for a reliable partner to migrate your content into WordPress? Our professional agency will help you do so fast, safely, and without losing traffic. Contact us to make your site efficient and ready for growth!

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