We convert a lot of Joomla! websites over to use WordPress for a wide variety of reasons. There’s nothing wrong with Joomla!, however, over time it has slipped to being used less than 2% of all website CMS usage.
Source: https://w3techs.com/technologies/details/cm-joomla
This means that it is getting difficult to find quality plugins, components or commercial applications that can be used to extend functionality of Joomla!.
Getting started
Joomla and WordPress are two of the most popular content management systems (CMS) available today. However, there may come a time when you want to convert your Joomla website to WordPress. This could be due to various reasons such as better features, user-friendliness, or simply personal preference. Whatever your reason, this article will guide you through the steps to convert a Joomla website to WordPress.
Before you begin the conversion process, there are a few things you need to keep in mind. Firstly, you should backup your Joomla website and keep a copy of it in case something goes wrong during the conversion. Secondly, you need to understand that the conversion process will not be perfect, and you may lose some data or functionality in the process. Lastly, you should have a basic understanding of WordPress and its features.
Step 1: Export Joomla content
The first step to converting a Joomla website to WordPress is to export your content from Joomla. To do this, go to the Joomla administrator panel and select ‘System’ > ‘Global Configuration’ > ‘Server’ > ‘Database’. Then, click on the ‘Backup’ tab and select ‘Full Backup’. This will create a backup file of your Joomla website.
Step 2: Install WordPress
The next step is to install WordPress on your server. You can either install WordPress manually or use a one-click installer provided by your hosting provider. Once WordPress is installed, you can access the WordPress dashboard by logging in with your admin credentials.
Step 3: Install Joomla to WordPress plugin
To import your Joomla content into WordPress, you need to install the Joomla to WordPress plugin. This plugin will help you transfer your Joomla content to WordPress. You can search for the plugin in the WordPress plugin directory or download it from the official website.
Step 4: Configure Joomla to WordPress plugin
After installing the Joomla to WordPress plugin, you need to configure it to import your Joomla content. To do this, go to the WordPress dashboard and select ‘Tools’ > ‘Import’ > ‘Joomla’. Then, enter your Joomla website details such as the database name, database username, and password. Once you’ve entered the details, click on ‘Test Database Connection’ to ensure that the connection is working properly.
Step 5: Import Joomla content
After configuring the Joomla to WordPress plugin, you can import your Joomla content into WordPress. To do this, click on ‘Start Importing’ and wait for the process to complete. The time taken for the import process will depend on the size of your Joomla website.
Step 6: Set up WordPress permalinks
Once the import process is complete, you need to set up WordPress permalinks to match your Joomla website. This will help maintain your SEO rankings and ensure that your website URLs remain consistent. To do this, go to the WordPress dashboard and select ‘Settings’ > ‘Permalinks’. Then, select the ‘Custom Structure’ option and enter the following code: /%postname%/. This will ensure that your WordPress URLs match your Joomla URLs.
Step 7: Test your website
After completing the conversion process, you should test your WordPress website to ensure that everything is working properly. Check all your pages, posts, images, and links to ensure that they are functioning as expected. You should also check your website’s SEO rankings and make any necessary adjustments.
Converting a Joomla website to WordPress may seem like a daunting task, but it is actually quite simple. By following the steps outlined above, you can easily transfer your Joomla content to WordPress and maintain your SEO rankings. However, it is important to keep in mind that the conversion process may not be perfect, and you may lose some data or functionality in the process. Therefore, it is always a good idea to do several backups of both your Joomla website as well as the new WordPress installation before starting the conversion process.
If you would like to talk to someone knowledgeable about WordPress and Joomla! – reach out to us using the form below.
