How to Migrate from Sitecore to WordPress: A Complete Step-by-Step Guide

Sitecore to WordPress Migration

When you want to grow your business, your Sitecore CMS platform can sometimes seem complex and expensive. Then, you need a free and flexible platform like WordPress.

However, converting Sitecore to WordPress is indeed a smart move, and it can be beneficial for enhancing your online visibility and driving business expansion. WordPress is a free platform that has the power to make your brand’s voice unique and elevate it to the next level.

Here, we have shared a detailed guide on converting a Sitecore website to a WordPress website. Read this blog and strive to thrive in your business.

Why Migrate Sitecore to WordPress?

Converting from Sitecore to WordPress is good for your brand and online visibility. However, Sitecore is a complex and robust platform, but WordPress is more flexible and easier to use for business purposes.

Let’s see the beneficial factors of moving Sitecore to WordPress.

Cost-effective

Sitecore has a license price and advanced CMS developments, while WordPress provides these facilities at no cost. That tends to save money for owners and businesses.

Easy to Manage

When a business seeks to grow and expand, any CMS platform can enhance its online presence. WordPress comes into play. It is flexible, user-friendly, and offers you unlimited customised themes and plugins.

Planning Your Sitecore to WordPress Migration

To migrate from Sitecore to WordPress, you need to prepare accordingly. Here are some steps you should be aware of.

Evaluate your current Sitecore Setup:

Content Framework – Review the volume of content, including blog posts, pages, and media assets.
Customised features – Create a list of customised features and third-party integrations. That will be copied into WordPress.
Recent SEO Performance – Monitors your website’s current SEO to ensure rankings and traffic remain stable during migration.

Select the Accurate WordPress Hosting

What content to migrate: You need to choose which type of content you want to move, such as blogs, media, and product pages.
User and Data Migration – You should decide on the User accounts, comments, and any other data you want to migrate.
Feature Duplication – You need to evaluate whether customised Sitecore features can be achieved with WordPress Plugins.
Selective migration – You need to migrate important elements of the migration first, such as blogs and e-commerce.

Select the right WordPress Hosting.

Conducted hosting- Some tools managed any kind of hassle-free conduct. And built-in security also. The examples are WP Engine and SiteGround.
Self-hosting provides more flexibility, but requires a technical expert. Like tools are AWS and Digital Ocean.

WordPress Cloud Hosting offers numerous advantages, including improved scalability, enhanced SEO performance, and streamlined management. The examples are- Google Cloud and AWS.

Selecting the right Tools and Methods for Migration

Converting Sitecore Websites to WordPress can be accomplished through manual migration or the use of automated tools. Let’s see the criteria,

Manual Migration vs. Automated tools

Manual Migration

The positive side is that it gives you full authority over the content and ensures that every piece of content is converted according to your needs.
On the negative side, it requires more technical expertise and is indeed a time-consuming process.

Automated Tools:

The advantageous side is that these tools are great for large websites. And these are more efficient and faster.
The disadvantage is that you didn’t get control over custom elements.

How to Migrate Content from Sitecore to WordPress

Migrate Content

Website pages and blog posts: You can utilise effective migration tools, such as CMS2CMS and WP, to transfer pages and posts.

Customised Contents: Your custom content should be migrated from Sitecore to WordPress; you must have a plan in place for customising it. Custom contents are- product pages and custom types.

SEO Considerations: Ensure that all meta descriptions and titles are well-preserved. You need to use plugins like Yoast SEO.

How to Convert a Sitecore Website to a WordPress Site

Here, we have outlined some essential and effective steps for a seamless migration. Yet, if you don’t have any technical knowledge, you can go for expert help. Who can handle all of your issues related to Sitecore to WordPress migration?

Step 1: Plan & Access

Before starting the migration process, it is essential to conduct thorough planning. This important planning process can help focus on crucial elements, making the migration process smoother and more time-saving.

Summary of the Content:

Create a list of all your website content and categorise it by type, which helps during the migration process.

Recognise irrelevant Content:

You should remove unnecessary content, as not every piece of content is suitable for migration.

Purpose of the Websites:

First, clearly define in your mind what the purpose of your website is. Is it for lead generation, for enhanced engagement or e-commerce?

2. Set up WordPress

Once your migration plan is complete, it’s time to set up your WordPress website. Let’s see,

Select Hosting

Now, you can choose a hosting provider that meets your website’s needs.

Installing WordPress

You need to select your hosting provider and then utilise its one-click option, following the guide provided by the hosting company.

Arrange Essential Settings

Now, you have to enter WordPress settings and customise its titles, meta tags, time zone, and permalink structures.

Install important Plugins

Depending on your website’s needs, you have to choose essential plugins,

• SEO Optimisations: Rank Math, Yoast SEO
• Contact Forms: Contact Form 7, WPForms
• Security: Sucuri Security, Wordfence Security
• Social media integration: Hubspot, Buffer, Sendible

Step 3: Export Sitecore Content

Select Export method: You can opt for Sitecore Experience Accelerator (SXA), which is a built-in exporting tool. It also helps to configure exporting tools and select specific content sets.

Also, you can opt for third-party migration plugins, such as Migrate Guru, UpdraftPlus, and Duplicator.

SEO Considerations During Migration

Implementing 301 redirects

It helps with SEO ranking and completely changes the URLS. During the migration, it is indeed helpful to preserve SEO.

Retaining page URLS or properly structuring new ones

You should retain existing link equity and maintain better search engine rankings.

Migrating meta titles, descriptions, and schema markup

To maintain your website’s SEO performance, it is essential to implement meta titles and descriptions strategically. Especially during the migration, be aware that the structures of schema markup, meta titles, and descriptions remain unchanged from those on the old site.

Using SEO plugins (Yoast, Rank Math)

These Plugins are easy to use and effective for maintaining accurate SEO, ensuring that all data is migrated properly.

Submitting the new site to Google Search Console

You should update your new address and ensure that you implement accurate SEO.

Post-Migration Checklist

After the migration process is done, you have to perform some crucial post-migration tasks. To make sure that your WordPress website is completely optimised and runs with ease.

Restore Internal Links

• You must check for broken links and review the internal links to ensure they are accurate and up-to-date.
• Update them, as internal links have been disputed. During the migration
• If any URLS were changed during the migration, correct them.

Optimise Content and SEO

• You should recheck all of your on-page SEO elements to ensure they are optimised, such as meta titles, descriptions, and headers.
• Ensure that schema markup and metadata are properly configured for optimal search engine rankings.
• You must review your content again, focusing on readability, SEO performance, formatting, and making necessary management adjustments.

Observe Analytics

• On your new website, verify that any tracking tools are integrated properly. The example is Google Analytics.
• You should monitor your website’s traffic sources and other key metrics to ensure they are performing as expected.

Common Challenges When You Convert from Sitecore to WordPress

Generally, the process of converting a Sitecore site to WordPress is straightforward. Yet, there are some common challenges you might have to face. Let’s identify those mistakes,

Data loss

Challenge: In the migration process, there is always a probability of data loss or content corruption. If the website is large, the chances are higher.

Solution:

• Make a full backup of your website before the migration.
• Always use reliable Plugins and ensure that content export and import procedures are performed properly.
• You should monitor the content after the migration; it appears perfect.

SEO Impact

Challenge: Migration can cause a decline in SEO rankings due to changes in broken links, missing meta tags, and URL structures.

Solutions:

• You should set up the 301 redirects from your Sitecore’s URLS to WordPress URLS. To keep SEO better.
• You can use SEO Plugins, such as Yoast SEO.
• It is to make sure that on-page SEO is optimised properly after migration.
• You must ensure that search engines completely index the new website and check the rankings during the migration process.

Time Management

Challenge: Long migrations can be time-consuming procedures that require specific resources, which can be a challenge for large websites.

Solutions:

• Establish a realistic timeline for migrations based on the website’s size and complexity.
• First, focus on the important elements for migration, such as SEO content and high-traffic pages.
• To lower the risk of migration and to speed up the migration process, you can opt for a WordPress migration agency or hire a professional.

Conclusion

Migrating from Sitecore to WordPress is a strategic and smart approach for driving business growth. However, the process needs proper planning, guidance, and certain technical knowledge.

This detailed guided blog clarifies your understanding of the migration. So, convert your website to be more flexible, productive, and unique with WordPress.