How to Seamlessly Transfer Your Content from Joomla to WordPress
Migrating your website from Joomla to WordPress is a strategic decision that can transform your online presence and streamline your content management. As websites evolve and business needs change, many organizations find themselves seeking more flexible, user-friendly content management systems with broader support and integration options.This guide will walk you through the entire process of transferring your content from Joomla to WordPress while preserving your SEO value, content integrity, and user experience.
Why Migrate from Joomla to WordPress?
Before diving into the technical aspects of migration, it’s important to understand why WordPress has become the preferred platform for so many website owners. The decision to migrate from Joomla to WordPress should be based on your specific business needs, but there are several compelling advantages worth considering.
Market Share and Popularity
The content management system (CMS) landscape clearly shows WordPress’s dominance. WordPress currently holds 62.7% of the CMS market share, while Joomla holds just 2.4%.This substantial market gap has significant implications for website owners. A larger market share translates to a more extensive ecosystem of developers, plugins, themes, and resources available to support your website’s growth and maintenance.Why Market Share MattersA CMS with higher market share typically offers better long-term stability, more regular updates, extensive security support, and a larger community of experts available for assistance when needed.
User-Friendly Interface
One of the most significant advantages of WordPress is its intuitive editor and dashboard, which reduces the learning curve compared to Joomla. This user-friendliness makes content creation and website management more accessible to team members regardless of their technical expertise.The WordPress block editor (Gutenberg) provides a visual, drag-and-drop approach to content creation that many find more intuitive than Joomla’s interface. This accessibility can lead to more efficient content workflows and reduced training time for new team members.
Extensive Plugin Ecosystem
WordPress offers over 70,000 free plugins available in its official repository.This vast ecosystem allows you to extend your website’s functionality without custom development in most cases. From SEO tools to e-commerce capabilities, form builders to security enhancements, the WordPress plugin directory has solutions for virtually any feature you might need.
Enterprise-Grade Scalability
WordPress is used by high-traffic publishers like TIME Magazine and TechCrunch, demonstrating its ability to handle significant traffic and content demands.This scalability makes WordPress suitable for businesses of all sizes, from small blogs to enterprise-level websites with millions of monthly visitors.
E-commerce Capabilities
If your website includes or will include e-commerce functionality, WordPress offers robust solutions. WooCommerce, the leading WordPress e-commerce plugin, powers 17% of all e-commerce sites on the web. This mature e-commerce platform provides extensive customization options, payment gateway integrations, and shipping solutions for online stores of all sizes.
Preparing for Migration: Pre-Migration Steps
A successful migration requires thorough preparation. Before beginning the technical process of transferring content from Joomla to WordPress, complete these essential pre-migration steps to ensure a smooth transition.
Backing Up Your Joomla Website
Before attempting any migration, create a complete backup of your Joomla website. This critical step provides a safety net in case anything goes wrong during the migration process. Tools like Akeeba Backup provide comprehensive backup solutions for Joomla websites.A complete backup should include:
Database contents – All your articles, users, categories, and settings
Media files – Images, videos, documents, and other uploaded content
Template files – Theme layouts and design elements
Extensions – Any installed modules, components, or plugins
Configuration files – Your site’s core configuration settings
Auditing Your Current Content and Structure
Before migration, take inventory of your existing Joomla content and structure. This audit helps identify what needs to be transferred and uncovers potential migration challenges before they occur.Create a spreadsheet documenting:
Content types – Articles, custom post types, landing pages
Content organization – Categories, sections, tags
User accounts – Admin, editor, contributor roles
Extensions – Active plugins and their WordPress equivalents
Custom functionality – Any custom-coded features
Forms and interactive elements – Contact forms, calculators, etc.
URLs and permalink structure – For redirect planning
Setting Up a Development Environment
We recommend performing the migration in a staging environment rather than directly on your live site. This approach allows you to test and refine the migration process without affecting your current website’s availability.Your development environment should include:
A separate subdomain or local development setup
A fresh WordPress installation
Access to your Joomla database
Migration tools and plugins installed
Professional Migration RecommendationWhile DIY migration is possible, working with experienced WordPress migration specialists can save time, reduce risks, and ensure all content and functionality transfers correctly. Professional migration services typically include testing, SEO preservation, and post-migration support.
Choosing the Right Migration Method
There are several approaches to migrating from Joomla to WordPress. The best method depends on your website’s complexity, your technical comfort level, and your timeline requirements.
Using Automated Migration Plugins
For most standard Joomla websites, automated migration plugins offer the simplest and most efficient transfer method. These tools handle much of the heavy lifting by automatically mapping Joomla content structures to appropriate WordPress equivalents.Common migration plugins include:
FG Joomla to WordPress – A popular plugin that transfers articles, categories, images, and more
CMS2CMS – A premium migration service with automated tools
WP All Import – For importing XML exports from Joomla
The automated approach works well for standard Joomla installations without extensive custom development. However, custom content types, complex relationships, and highly customized sites may require additional manual intervention even when using these tools.
Manual Migration Process
For websites with extensive customization or specific migration requirements, a manual migration process may be necessary. This approach typically involves:
Exporting content from Joomla in a structured format (SQL, XML, CSV)
Creating equivalent content structures in WordPress
Importing and mapping the content to WordPress
Manually transferring media and additional assets
Recreating functionality using WordPress plugins or custom code
While more time-intensive, manual migration offers complete control over how content is transferred and structured in the new WordPress environment.
Hybrid Approach
Many successful migrations use a hybrid approach – leveraging automated tools for standard content while manually handling custom elements. This balanced method often provides the best results, especially for medium to large websites with some customization.
Migration Method
Best For
Limitations
Automated Plugins
Standard Joomla sites with typical content types
May struggle with custom content types and relationships
Manual Migration
Highly customized sites requiring precise control
Time-intensive, requires technical expertise
Hybrid Approach
Medium to large sites with some customization
Requires planning to determine what to automate vs. manual transfer
Below is a detailed walkthrough of the migration process using the FG Joomla to WordPress plugin, one of the most comprehensive tools for this specific migration path.
Setting Up Your WordPress Environment
Before beginning the content transfer, properly configure your WordPress installation:
Install WordPress – Set up a fresh WordPress installation on your development server
Choose and install a theme – Select a theme that can accommodate your content structure
Configure basic settings – Set up permalinks, user accounts, and reading settings
Install essential plugins – Add core functionality plugins needed for your site
For optimal results, configure your WordPress permalinks to match your Joomla URL structure as closely as possible. This helps maintain SEO value and prevents broken links after migration.
Install and activate the plugin in your WordPress dashboard
Navigate to Tools → Import → Joomla (FG)
Enter your Joomla database connection details:
Database host (usually localhost)
Database name
Database username
Database password
Table prefix (typically jos_ or j_)
Configure import options:
Select content types to import (articles, categories, users)
Choose media import settings
Set author mapping preferences
Configure redirect options
Run a test import to check for any issues
Execute the full import process
The import process duration depends on your website’s size. For larger sites, the process might need to be run in segments to avoid timeout issues.
Moving Media Files and Attachments
Media files require special attention during migration:
Configure media settings in the migration plugin to import images
Verify media paths are correctly mapped from Joomla to WordPress
Run the media import process after content migration
Check for missing images after import and manually transfer if needed
Update image references in content if paths have changed
After import, review your media library in WordPress to ensure all files transferred correctly and image references in content are working properly.
Post-Migration Tasks
After transferring your content, several crucial tasks will finalize your migration and ensure your new WordPress site functions correctly.
Checking and Fixing Broken Links
Content migration often results in some broken internal links due to structural differences between Joomla and WordPress:
Scan for broken links using tools like Broken Link Checker plugin
Fix internal links pointing to old Joomla paths
Update menu structures to reflect your new WordPress organization
Check media embeds for broken references
Setting Up Redirects
Preserving SEO value requires proper redirection from old Joomla URLs to new WordPress URLs:
Create a comprehensive URL mapping of old to new URLs
Implement 301 redirects using .htaccess (for Apache) or web.config (for IIS)
Use a redirection plugin like Redirection or Simple 301 Redirects to manage redirects
Test redirects from various old URL patterns
SEO-Friendly Migration StrategyWhen possible, maintain the same URL structure or implement proper 301 redirects from old URLs to new ones. This approach preserves your search engine rankings and ensures users following old links still reach your content.
Testing Your New WordPress Website
Thorough testing is essential before launching your migrated WordPress site:
Functionality testing – Verify all features work as expected
Content review – Check that all content transferred correctly
Design consistency – Ensure theme properly displays your content
Form testing – Verify contact forms and other interactive elements
User account verification – Test user roles and permissions
Mobile responsiveness – Check performance across devices
Performance testing – Measure load times and optimize as needed
Enhancing Your New WordPress Website
After completing the core migration, take advantage of WordPress’s capabilities to enhance your website.
Essential WordPress Plugins
Consider adding these core plugins to improve functionality:
Even with careful planning, you may encounter challenges during migration. Here are solutions to common issues:
Handling Custom Content Types
Joomla’s custom content types don’t always have direct equivalents in WordPress:
Challenge: Complex content structures in Joomla extensions
Solution: Use Custom Post Types in WordPress to recreate similar structures
Tools: Custom Post Type UI plugin or custom code to define content types
For very complex content relationships, consider using Advanced Custom Fields or Pods Framework to recreate customized content structures in WordPress.
Resolving Theme and Design Inconsistencies
Visual presentation often requires adjustment after migration:
Challenge: Design differences between Joomla template and WordPress theme
Solution: Customize your WordPress theme or choose a theme closer to your original design
Approach: Use a child theme for customizations to maintain compatibility with theme updates
Migrating from Joomla to WordPress is a significant undertaking that requires planning, technical knowledge, and attention to detail. However, the benefits of WordPress’s user-friendly interface, extensive ecosystem, and ongoing development make it a worthwhile investment for most website owners.By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can successfully transfer your content while maintaining SEO value and improving your content management capabilities. Whether you choose to perform the migration yourself or work with professionals, understanding the process helps ensure the best possible outcome.Remember that migration is also an opportunity to evaluate and improve your website structure, content quality, and user experience. Use this transition to build a stronger digital presence on the WordPress platform.Ready to Migrate?If you’re considering a migration from Joomla to WordPress, our team of custom WordPress website design specialists can help you plan and execute a seamless transition. Contact us for a free migration consultation to discuss your specific requirements and timeline.
