Ultimate Guide to Any CMS to WordPress Migration

Known for its flexibility, user-friendly interface, and extensive plugin ecosystem, WordPress has become the go-to platform for most bloggers, businesses, and developers.

So whether you’re running a personal blog, an online store, or a corporate website, WordPress offers the tools and customization options to create a site that meets your specific needs.

WordPress is the world’s most popular content management system (CMS), powering over 40% of all websites on the internet

Benefits of Migrating to WordPress

Migrating to WordPress comes with a host of benefits that can significantly enhance your website’s functionality and user experience:

• Ease of Use: With its intuitive dashboard and simple content creation tools, WordPress makes website management accessible even for non-technical users.
• Customizability: Thousands of themes and plugins allow you to tailor your site’s appearance and functionality without needing to write code.
• SEO-Friendly: WordPress is designed with search engine optimization (SEO) in mind, helping your site rank higher in search engine results.
• Community Support: A vast community of developers, designers, and users means you’ll have access to extensive support, tutorials, and resources.
• Scalability: WordPress can grow with your business, handling everything from small personal blogs to large e-commerce sites.

Purpose of the Blog Post

The purpose of this blog post is to guide you through the process of migrating your website from any CMS to WordPress. Whether you’re using Joomla, Drupal, Wix, Squarespace, or another platform, this step-by-step guide will help you transition smoothly and efficiently. By the end of this post, you’ll have the knowledge and tools needed to move your content, maintain your SEO, and launch your new WordPress site with confidence.

Preparing for the Migration

A. Backup Your Existing Website

Backing up your data ensures you have a complete copy of your site’s content, media, and settings, which can be restored if anything goes wrong during the migration. This step protects you from potential data loss and minimizes downtime, ensuring a smooth transition to WordPress.

Tools and Methods for Backing Up Different CMSs

1. Joomla

• Akeeba Backup: Akeeba Backup is a comprehensive Joomla backup solution that allows you to create a full site backup, including the database and files. It provides easy restoration options and is highly recommended for Joomla users.
• Manual Backup: You can manually back up your Joomla site by exporting the database using phpMyAdmin and downloading the website files via FTP.

2. Drupal

• Backup and Migrate Module: This module simplifies backing up and restoring your Drupal site. It allows you to back up the database, files, or both, and store backups on your server or download them.
• Manual Backup: Manually back up your Drupal site by exporting the database via phpMyAdmin and downloading the files through FTP.

3. Wix

• Exporting Content: While Wix doesn’t offer a direct backup option, you can manually export your content by copying and pasting text and downloading images. Additionally, you can use third-party tools to extract and save your content.
• Saving Media Files: Download all your media files from the Wix media manager to your local storage.

4. Squarespace

• Export Squarespace Data: Squarespace allows you to export some of your content in an XML file, which includes pages, posts, and certain media files. For other content, manual export and backup are required.
• Manual Backup: Copy and paste text content, and download images and files manually to ensure you have all your site’s data saved.

5. Other CMSs

• Backup Plugins and Extensions: Many CMSs have specific backup plugins or extensions available in their marketplaces. Look for trusted and highly-rated options.
• Manual Methods: If a specific backup tool is not available, the manual method of exporting the database via phpMyAdmin and downloading website files via FTP is a universal approach.

B. Evaluate Your Current Content

Before migrating your website to WordPress, it’s essential to perform a thorough audit of your current content. This step involves reviewing all the pages, posts, media files, and other content types on your existing site to assess their relevance, quality, and performance. Here’s how to conduct a comprehensive content audit:

Determine What to Migrate and What to Discard

After auditing your content, the next step is to decide what to migrate to your new WordPress site and what to discard. Here’s how to make those decisions:

1. Keep High-Performing Content: Migrate content that is performing well in terms of traffic, engagement, and conversions. This includes blog posts, landing pages, and other assets that are driving significant value to your site.
2. Update and Migrate: Identify content that has potential but needs updating. This might include improving the information, updating SEO elements, or enhancing the readability and design. Once updated, this content should be migrated.
3. Consolidate Similar Content: If you have multiple pieces of content covering the same topic, consider consolidating them into a single, comprehensive post. This can help improve SEO and user experience.
4. Discard Outdated or Irrelevant Content: Remove content that is outdated, irrelevant, or no longer aligns with your website’s goals. This can include old news posts, outdated information, or content that no longer fits your brand.
5. Evaluate Media Files: For media files such as images, videos, and documents, determine which ones are essential to keep and which can be discarded. Ensure that all media files you plan to migrate are of high quality and relevant to your current content strategy.

C. Choose the Right Hosting Provider

Choosing the right hosting provider is another vital element for the performance, security, and scalability of your WordPress site. Here are key criteria to consider when selecting a WordPress-friendly host.

Recommendations for Reliable Hosting Providers

Here are some reliable hosting providers that are highly regarded for their WordPress hosting services:

Also read more: Drupal to WordPress Migration

D. Install WordPress

Step-by-Step Guide to Installing WordPress

1. Choose Your Hosting Provider

Sign up for a hosting plan that suits your needs. Ensure the plan supports WordPress installation.

2. Access Your Hosting Account

Log in to your hosting account’s control panel (cPanel or a custom interface).

3. Use One-Click WordPress Install (if available)

• Most hosting providers offer a one-click WordPress installation feature.
• Look for the WordPress icon or a “WordPress” section in your control panel.

4. One-Click Installation Steps

• Select WordPress: Click on the WordPress icon or the “Install” button.
• Choose Installation Location: Select the domain or subdomain where you want to install WordPress.
• Enter Site Details: Provide a site title, admin username, password, and email address.
• Install: Click the “Install” button to start the installation process.
• Completion: Once the installation is complete, you will receive a confirmation message with login details.

5. Manual Installation (if One-Click is not available)

1. Download WordPress: Go to the official WordPress website (wordpress.org) and download the latest version of WordPress.
2. Upload WordPress Files:
   • Access Your Server: Use an FTP client (like FileZilla) to connect to your hosting server.
   • Upload Files: Upload the extracted WordPress files to the public_html directory (or the directory where you want WordPress installed).
3. Create a Database:
   • Access Database Management: In your hosting control panel, find the database management section (usually under MySQL Databases).
   • Create Database: Create a new database and a database user. Assign the user to the database with all privileges.
4. Run the Installation Script:
   • Access the Installation URL: Open your browser and go to your domain (e.g., http://yourdomain.com).
   • Configuration File Setup: Follow the on-screen instructions. Enter the database name, username, password, and database host (usually ‘localhost’).
5. Complete Installation:
   • Site Information: Enter your site title, admin username, password, and email.
   • Install WordPress: Click the “Install WordPress” button to complete the installation.

Configuring Basic Settings

1. Log In to Your WordPress Dashboard

• After installation, log in to your WordPress admin dashboard by going to http://yourdomain.com/wp-admin.

2. Configure General Settings

• Site Title and Tagline: Go to Settings > General to set your site title and tagline.
• Time Zone and Date Format: Set your time zone, date format, and time format.

3. Set Permalinks Structure

• Permalinks: Go to Settings > Permalinks and choose the desired URL structure, such as Post name, for SEO-friendly URLs.

4. Update Your Profile

• User Profile: Go to Users > Profile to update your admin profile, including your name, contact info, and password.

5. Install Essential Plugins

Plugins: Go to Plugins > Add New to install essential plugins such as:

• Yoast SEO: For search engine optimization.
• Akismet: For spam protection.
• WP Super Cache: For caching and improving site speed.
• Jetpack: For enhanced security and site performance.

6. Choose and Install a Theme

• Themes: Go to Appearance > Themes > Add New to browse and install a theme that fits your site’s design needs.
• Customize Theme: Use the Customize option to adjust the theme settings, such as colors, fonts, and layout.

7. Create Essential Pages

• Pages: Go to Pages > Add New to create essential pages such as Home, About, Contact, and Blog.

8. Configure Reading Settings

• Reading Settings: Go to Settings > Reading to set your homepage and posts page, if necessary.

9. Set Up a Menu

• Menus: Go to Appearance > Menus to create and organize your site’s navigation menu.

10. Ensure Your Site Is Indexed

• Search Engine Visibility: Go to Settings > Reading and ensure that the “Discourage search engines from indexing this site” option is unchecked.

Migrating Content

Exporting Data from Your Current CMS

Specific Steps for Common CMSs

1. Joomla

• Exporting Data:
  • Log in to your Joomla admin panel.
  • Go to Components > Joomla! Extensions > Manage > Export Content.
  • Select the content types you want to export (articles, categories, menus, etc.).
  • Click “Export” to generate an XML file containing your site’s data.

2. Drupal

• Exporting Data:
  • Log in to your Drupal admin panel.
  • Go to Structure > Views > Add new view.
  • Create a view to export the content you need.
  • Install and enable the Views Data Export module.
  • Use this module to export your content into a CSV or XML file.

3. Wix

• Exporting Data:
  • Wix doesn’t offer a direct export feature.
  • Manually copy text content from each page and paste it into a document.
  • Download images and media files from the media library.
  • Use third-party tools or services to assist with exporting data if needed.

4. Squarespace

• Exporting Data:
  • Log in to your Squarespace account.
  • Go to Settings > Advanced > Import/Export.
  • Click “Export” and select the WordPress icon to generate an XML file.
  • Note that not all content types are exported; manual export may be needed for some content.

Tools and Plugins to Simplify the Process

• CMS2CMS: An automated migration service that supports various CMS platforms. It simplifies the transfer process and reduces manual effort.
• FG Joomla to WordPress: A WordPress plugin that facilitates the migration of content from Joomla to WordPress.
• WordPress Importer: For importing content from platforms like Squarespace, use the built-in WordPress Importer tool.

Importing Data into WordPress

Using WordPress Import Tools

1. WordPress Importer
   • Install the WordPress Importer plugin by going to Tools > Import > WordPress and click “Install Now.”
   • After installation, click “Run Importer.”
   • Upload the XML file you exported from your previous CMS.
   • Assign authors, import attachments, and click “Submit.”
2. CMS2CMS
   • Register on the CMS2CMS website.
   • Follow the guided steps to connect your source and target websites.
   • Select the content you want to migrate and initiate the migration.

Manual Import Methods

1. Manual CSV Import
   • Convert your exported data into CSV format if necessary.
   • Install the “WP All Import” plugin.
   • Go to All Import > New Import and upload your CSV file.
   • Map the CSV columns to WordPress fields and run the import.
2. Copy and Paste
   • For small websites, you may manually copy content from your old site and paste it into the WordPress editor.
   • Upload media files directly into the WordPress media library.

Dealing with Content Formatting and Structure

1. Formatting Issues
   • After importing, review each page and post to fix any formatting issues.
   • Use the WordPress editor to adjust headings, lists, images, and other content elements.
2. Permalinks and URL Structure:
   • Go to Settings > Permalinks and set the desired URL structure.
   • Ensure that the imported URLs match your existing structure to maintain SEO.
3. Categories and Tags
   • Import categories and tags from your previous CMS.
   • Use the Categories and Tags Converter plugin if needed.
4. Custom Post Types
   • If your previous CMS used custom post types, you might need to create corresponding post types in WordPress.
   • Use a plugin like Custom Post Type UI to create and manage custom post types.
5. Internal Links
   • Update internal links to ensure they point to the correct pages within your WordPress site.
   • Use a plugin like Velvet Blues Update URLs to automate this process.

Migrating Media Files

Exporting Media Files

Locating and Exporting Media from Your Current CMS

1. Joomla

• Locate Media Files: Media files in Joomla are typically stored in the “images” directory.
• Export: Use an FTP client to download the entire “images” directory to your local machine.

2. Drupal

• Locate Media Files: Media files are stored in the “sites/default/files” directory.
• Export: Use an FTP client to download the “files” directory.

3. Wix

• Exporting Media: Download images and media files manually from the Wix media manager. Right-click on each file and select “Save As.”

4. Squarespace

• Exporting Media: Download images and media files manually from the Squarespace content manager. For blog posts, export via XML and manually download other media.

Tools for Bulk Media Export

• FTP Clients: FileZilla, Cyberduck, or WinSCP can be used to download entire directories of media files from your server.
• CMS2CMS: This migration tool can assist in exporting and importing media files in bulk during the migration process.

Importing Media Files into WordPress

Uploading Media Files to WordPress

1. Direct Upload:
   • Log in to your WordPress admin dashboard.
   • Go to Media > Add New.
   • Drag and drop your media files or use the “Select Files” button to upload them.
2. FTP Upload:
   • Use an FTP client to upload media files to the “wp-content/uploads” directory on your WordPress server.
   • Use a plugin like “Add From Server” to import these files into the WordPress media library.

Organizing Media in the WordPress Media Library

1. Media Library:
   • Go to Media > Library to view and organize your uploaded files.
   • Use folders and tags to categorize media files for better organization.
2. Plugins:
   • Media Library Folders: Allows you to create folders within the media library.
   • Enhanced Media Library: Adds categories and tags to media files for better organization.

Setting Up Themes and Plugins

Criteria for Selecting a Theme

• Responsiveness: Ensure the theme is mobile-friendly.
• Customizability: Look for themes with customizable options.
• Speed: Choose a lightweight theme for faster loading times.
• SEO-Friendly: Select themes built with SEO best practices.
• Support and Updates: Ensure the theme is regularly updated and supported by its developers.

Recommendations for Versatile and Popular Themes

• Astra: Lightweight, customizable, and SEO-friendly.
• GeneratePress: Fast, responsive, and highly customizable.
• Divi: Versatile and feature-rich with a built-in page builder.
• OceanWP: Flexible and suitable for various types of websites.
• Neve: Fast, customizable, and suitable for small businesses and blogs.

Installing and Configuring Plugins

Essential Plugins for Migrated Sites

• Yoast SEO: For search engine optimization.
• Akismet: For spam protection.
• WP Super Cache: For caching and improving site speed.
• Jetpack: For enhanced security, performance, and site management.
• UpdraftPlus: For backups and restoration.

Plugins for SEO, Security, and Performance

• SEO: All in One SEO Pack, Rank Math.
• Security: Wordfence, Sucuri Security.
• Performance: WP Rocket, Smush for image optimization.

Maintaining SEO and Traffic

Redirects and URL Structure

Setting Up 301 Redirects

• Use a plugin like Redirection or Simple 301 Redirects.
• Map old URLs to new URLs to maintain SEO rankings.

Ensuring URL Consistency to Maintain SEO Rankings

• Go to Settings > Permalinks and set the desired URL structure.
• Match the URL structure to your previous CMS if possible.

Updating Internal Links

Finding and Updating Broken or Outdated Links

• Use a plugin like Broken Link Checker to find broken links.
• Manually update internal links to point to the correct pages.

Tools to Automate Internal Link Updates

• Velvet Blues Update URLs: Automatically update URLs in content and settings.
• Better Search Replace: Perform a search and replace in the database.

Submitting Sitemap to Search Engines

Creating a Sitemap in WordPress

• Use a plugin like Yoast SEO or Google XML Sitemaps to generate a sitemap.

Submitting the Sitemap to Google Search Console and Other Search Engines

• Go to Google Search Console and select your site.
• Navigate to Sitemaps and enter the URL of your sitemap (e.g., yourdomain.com/sitemap.xml).
• Repeat the process for Bing Webmaster Tools and other search engines.

Testing and Launching Your New Site

Testing Your Website

Checklist for Pre-Launch Testing

• Functionality: Test all forms, links, and interactive elements.
• Performance: Check site speed and responsiveness.
• SEO: Ensure meta tags, titles, and descriptions are properly set.
• Browser Compatibility: Test across different browsers and devices.

Testing Tools and Methods

• Performance: Google PageSpeed Insights, GTmetrix.
• SEO: Yoast SEO, SEMrush.
• Browser Compatibility: BrowserStack.

Fixing Common Issues

Addressing Common Migration Problems

• Broken Links: Use a link checker and update URLs.
• Formatting Issues: Manually adjust content formatting.
• Missing Media: Re-upload any missing media files.

Resources for Troubleshooting

• WordPress Codex: Official documentation and guides.
• WordPress Support Forums: Community support for common issues.
• WPBeginner: Tutorials and troubleshooting guides.

Launching Your Website

Final Steps Before Going Live

• Backup: Take a final backup of your site.
• Security: Ensure all security measures are in place.
• SEO: Verify that search engines can index your site.

Announcing the Launch to Your Audience

• Email Newsletter: Send an announcement to your subscribers.
• Social Media: Promote your new site on social media channels.
• Blog Post: Write a blog post about the migration and new features.

Conclusion

Remember, the transition doesn’t end at migration. Ongoing management, regular updates, and continuous optimization are essential to keep your WordPress site performing at its best. Take advantage of the vast array of resources available, including the WordPress Codex, support forums, and community blogs, to stay informed and resolve any issues that may arise.

We encourage you to share your migration experiences and any challenges you faced in the comments below. Your insights can help others who are considering making the switch to WordPress. If you have any questions or need further assistance, feel free to ask—our community is here to support you.