Joomla and WordPress both are very good content management systems, each having its own benefits. However, WordPress, in recent years, has taken giant strides to move way ahead of its nearest rivals, including Joomla. In fact, it controls more than 60% of the CMS market whereas Joomla commands just about 3% share. This certainly doesn’t mean WordPress is better and everyone should embrace it. Which platform to choose depends on your requirements and therefore, you have to decide which one is more suited to your needs considering their distinct individual features and benefits.
Whatever the individual reasons might be, more and more people are switching from Joomla to WordPress. This article tries to explain the steps involved in the migration process.
Pre-migration
First, get a domain name and a hosting account. You can either use your current Joomla domain name or get a new one if you want to change your hosting provider. If you wish to use your current domain, you have to update it so that it is directed to the WordPress setup. Once you have got your domain and the hosting account, it’s time to install WordPress. Here, it’s important to note that the choice of the hosting service provider greatly impacts the performance of your website, therefore, choose your host carefully. Among the many, the benefits of cloud computing like scalability, cost-effectiveness, data security, easy accessibility, productivity, mobility, and website management cannot be neglected. Although, one has to undergo an Azure Course for the same.
The Migration Process is explained below.
Set Up the FG Plugin
Though WordPress allows import of content from multiple platforms, it unfortunatelydoesn’t support content import from Joomla. Therefore, you have to set up FG Joomla to WordPress Plugin to carry out the import. It’s not difficult though, you simply have to go the WordPress dashboard and set up the plugin from the Plugin>> Add New tab. Now install the plugin and activate it by following the instructions provided.
Getting the Joomla Database Parameters
For the plugin to copy your files and import the content, the Joomla database credentials would be required. To get that, you have to go to the Joomla control panel and select the System tab and choose Global Configuration option. You will find the Database settings in the server tab located in the next screen. The fields you are concerned with are the Host, Database name, Database Username, and Database Table Prefix.
Migrate Content
Go to Tools >Import tab in the WordPress dashboard, select FG Joomla and click Run Importer. Now, either merge the Joomla content with the existing posts, or set up everything anew. The second choice should be taken.
Enter your current URL in the Joomla website parameters section so that the plugin knows where to get the media files from. Now moving on to Joomla database parameter section, paste the Joomla values to their respective fields. Don’t fiddle with the Port and Database options.
To configure the remaining settings, scroll down to the behaviour. Whether you opt to import your Joomla content as pages or posts would depend on the type of the site you have been running. For instance, if your site is a blog, you need not exercise this option.
With everything done, click on the Start / Resume the import button and let the plugin do its work. To track and monitor the progress, watch the log section or the progress bar.
The migration usually goes off smoothly, but if there is any problem and WordPress struggles with the import, then it’s your hosting provider to blame. So, it’s crucial that you choose the right host and the right plan.
Once the success message appears on the logs section to indicate the completion of the migration process, you should take look at your new site’s pages and posts to make sure all your content has been successfully transferred.
Replace Your Internal Links
The internal links may not work as it should if it is still directed towards the Joomla site. You can get it rectified with the help of the same plugin. You have to follow the same path of Tools> Import and then run Importer. Now, straight away go to the After Migration section at the bottom and click on Modify Internal links. No internal links in the WordPress will now point towards Joomla.
The Domain
If you have used the same domain name as your Joomla site, you have to ensure that your visitors are directed towards your new site. Though you can register a new domain name, it is always better to use the current domain so that you don’t risk losing visitors.Domain settings can be changed in many ways, such as switching the Name Severs or using A Records.
Joomla to WordPress migration is now complete. If you have any apprehensions doing it on your own, you can always hire a WordPress expert to do the migration.
