How to Migrate from WordPress to Strapi: A Step-by-Step Guide

As recent as 2021, WordPress websites accounted for 90% of all CMS-based security vulnerabilities.

Therefore, switching from WordPress is becoming a pressing issues for many businesses - and we have just the thing. Migrating from WordPress to Strapi comes with numerous benefits that we will go over in an objectivr fashion in this article.

In brief:

• Strapi simplifies content management with its headless architecture for easier scaling.
• Permission-based features and reduced plugin reliance make Strapi a safer alternative to WordPress.
• Strapi allows tailored content models, avoiding WordPress’s rigid predefined structures.
• The open-source model reduces costs tied to licenses and frequent updates, offering better ROI.

Introduction to Migrating from WordPress to Strapi

Moving from WordPress to Strapi can provide more flexibility and control over your content. Understanding the key differences between these platforms is important for a smooth migration.

WordPress is a traditional CMS that combines backend and frontend functions. It's widely used for creating websites and blogs, with themes and plugins for customization.

Strapi is an open-source headless CMS that separates the backend from the frontend, providing content through APIs. By using a headless CMS, developers can choose any frontend framework, like React, Vue.js, or Angular, to deliver content to websites, mobile apps, and IoT devices.

Key differences:

• Architecture: WordPress handles both content management and presentation, while Strapi focuses on content management and APIs.
• Flexibility: Strapi allows more flexibility in choosing frontend technologies and customizing content structures.
• Technology Stack: WordPress is built with PHP; Strapi uses Node.js and JavaScript.

Reasons to Migrate to Strapi

Migrating to Strapi offers several benefits:

• Developer-Friendly Environment: Strapi provides tools and APIs that let you use your preferred frontend frameworks and create custom user interfaces.
• Improved Performance: Strapi's lightweight design and optimized queries can enhance site performance, especially for complex applications.
• Customization and Scalability: Strapi gives you control over content models, APIs, and data structures, allowing you to tailor the CMS to your requirements and scale as needed.
• API-First Approach: By adopting an API-first approach, Strapi simplifies content delivery to multiple platforms, ensuring a consistent user experience.

Security and Performance Advantages to Strapi

Strapi offers substantial security benefits compared to WordPress, which is often targeted due to plugin vulnerabilities. Its API-driven architecture incorporates permission-based access, reducing exposure to unauthorized changes and data breaches. Strapi’s lightweight framework ensures faster load times, as it’s optimized for modern frontends like React and Vue.js.

By decoupling content from presentation, Strapi eliminates inefficiencies commonly found in WordPress themes. These features not only enhance security but also boost overall website performance, providing users with a faster and more reliable browsing experience while ensuring sensitive data remains protected.

Understanding the benefits of headless CMS can help you plan effectively for the move from WordPress to Strapi.

How to Prepare for Wordpress to Strapi Migration

Before migrating, prepare thoroughly to ensure a smooth transition.

Assessing Your WordPress Setup

Start by reviewing your current WordPress site. Examine the content structure, including pages, posts, custom post types, and taxonomies. Identify custom fields and plugins that add functionality. Take inventory of media files, user roles, and any custom code that may need special attention during migration.

Identifying Required Features in Strapi

Identifying required features in Strapi is crucial when selecting a headless CMS. Determine the content types and fields to match your WordPress setup. Consider how custom fields and plugins will translate to Strapi's content types. Plan for media management by understanding how images and files will be organized in Strapi's media library. Outline the user roles and permissions, aligning them with Strapi's role-based access control.

Planning the Migration Process

Plan your migration strategy with clear objectives and timelines. Migrating to headless CMS involves outlining the steps for exporting content from WordPress and importing it into Strapi. Decide on the tools or scripts for data transformation and migration. Allocate time for setting up Strapi, including installation, database configuration, and creating content types. Schedule testing phases to verify data integrity and functionality. Ensure your team is informed and prepared for their roles.

Setting Up Strapi

Set up Strapi on your local machine or server by installing it, configuring your database, and creating content types to match your WordPress data.

Installation and Configuration

1. Install Strapi Ensure Node.js and npm are installed. Open your terminal and run:

npx create-strapi@latest strapi-blog

During setup, you can choose "Custom (manual settings)" for more control over the installation process. 2. Configure the Database Choose your preferred database. Strapi supports various databases such as SQLite, PostgreSQL, and MySQL. 3. Start Strapi Navigate to your project directory and start the development server:

cd strapi-blog
yarn develop

Strapi will open the admin panel at http://localhost:1337/admin. 4. Create an Admin User In your browser, access the admin panel and create an administrator account. This account lets you manage content types and settings in Strapi.

Creating Content Types and Fields

Now, define the content structure to match your WordPress data.

1. Open the Content Type Builder In the Strapi admin panel, go to the Content Types Builder.
2. Create a Content Type Click on Create new collection type and name it "Post" or "BlogPost".
3. Add Fields Add fields that correspond to your WordPress post data, such as:
   • Title: Text field, required.
   • Slug: UID field, based on the title.
   • Content: Rich Text field.
   • Excerpt: Text field.
   • Featured Image: Media field.
4. Save Save your content type. Strapi will restart to apply the changes.
5. Set Permissions (Optional) To interact with your content via API during migration:
   • Go to Settings > Roles > Public.
   • Under your content type (e.g., Post), enable permissions like "find", "findOne", or "create". By completing these steps, you have set up Strapi and defined the content structure needed to migrate your WordPress content.

Data Migration From WordPress to Strapi

Now, export your content from WordPress:

Exporting Content from WordPress

1. Use the Export Tool: In your WordPress admin dashboard, go to Tools > Export and select All Content. This creates an XML file with all your data.
2. Use the WordPress REST API: To work with JSON data, fetch your content using the REST API at https://your-wordpress-site.com/wp-json/wp/v2/posts.

Importing Content into Strapi

Next, import your content into Strapi.

1. Set Up Content Types: In the Strapi admin panel, create content types that match your WordPress data. For example, create a Post content type with fields like title, slug, content, and image.
2. Prepare Your Data: If you have an XML file, convert it to JSON using tools like fast-xml-parser. Organize the data, separating content types if needed.
3. Import Content Using Strapi's API: Write a script to import your content. Authenticate with Strapi to get a JWT token. Then, read your JSON data and use HTTP POST requests to create entries via Strapi's REST API. You can use libraries like axios.

Alternatively, you can create a custom route and controller in Strapi to handle the import.

Handling Media Files and Assets

To migrate media files:

1. Download Media Files: Use the WordPress REST API at https://your-wordpress-site.com/wp-json/wp/v2/media to get URLs of your media files. Use a script or tool to download them.
2. Upload Media to Strapi: Use Strapi's Upload API to add media files. Write a script to upload your downloaded files, with proper authentication.
3. Update Content References: When importing posts and pages, associate the media files with each entry. Update references in your content to point to the new media URLs in Strapi.

Customizing the Strapi Backend

After migrating, customize the Strapi backend to fit your needs.

Configuring User Roles and Permissions

Manage user access with role-based access control in Strapi.

1. Open Roles and Permissions: In the Strapi admin panel, go to Roles & Permissions.
2. Set Up Roles:
   • Public Role: For all unauthenticated users.
   • Authenticated Roles: Strapi allows you to create custom roles like Editor, Author, or Admin, based on your team's structure, as part of its Role-Based Access Control feature.
3. Assign Permissions:
   • For each role, select the content types they can access and actions they can perform, such as create, read, update, or delete.
   • Map WordPress roles to Strapi roles for a familiar workflow.
4. Apply Role-Based Access Control:
   • Ensure only authorized users can access sensitive content or features.

By setting up roles and permissions, you enhance security and ensure team members have appropriate access.

Setting Up Custom Plugins

You can extend Strapi's functionality with Strapi plugins.

To set up custom plugins:

1. Identify Needed Features:
   • List any custom functions from your WordPress site to implement in Strapi.
2. Explore Existing Plugins:
   • Check Strapi's marketplace for plugins that meet your needs.
3. Develop Custom Plugins:
   • If needed features aren't available, create your own plugins.
4. Test and Deploy:
   • Test your plugins thoroughly in a development environment.

By adding custom plugins, you tailor Strapi to your project's needs.

Frontend Integration

With your content in Strapi, integrate your frontend application. Strapi lets you choose any frontend framework and fits well within modern web development practices, including a microservices architecture.

Choosing a Frontend Framework

Strapi works with various frontend frameworks. Choose based on your project's needs and your team's expertise. Popular options include:

• React: JavaScript library for building user interfaces.
• Vue.js: Progressive framework for building user interfaces.
• Angular: Platform for building web applications using TypeScript.
• Next.js: React framework for server-side rendering and static websites.
• Remix: Full-stack web framework focusing on performance and server rendering.
• Eleventy (11ty): Static site generator offering full control over code.

Consider frontend framework considerations such as scalability, performance, community support, and team familiarity when selecting a framework.

Connecting Strapi API with Frontend

Connect your frontend application to Strapi's API to fetch and display content:

• Use Strapi's REST or GraphQL API: Strapi generates APIs for your content types.
• Fetch Data: Use your frontend framework's data fetching methods to consume the Strapi API.

When migrating to Strapi, some developers choose to set up a Remix application and use the Strapi API to display their content.

Optimizing Performance

To optimize Strapi performance:

• Implement Caching: Reduce server load and improve response times.
• Optimize Assets: Compress and size images properly for faster loading.
• Code Splitting and Lazy Loading: Split code into chunks that load on demand.

By focusing on these areas, you can improve your application's speed and responsiveness.

Testing and Optimization

Ensure everything works as intended by verifying data integrity, conducting performance tests, and addressing SEO and accessibility.

Ensuring Data Integrity

Check that all content has been accurately transferred. Verify that posts, pages, custom fields, and media files are correctly displayed in Strapi.

Performance Testing

Test your new site to identify bottlenecks:

• Load Testing: Simulate user traffic to assess performance.
• Optimization: Optimize your frontend and Strapi backend.

Regular assessments help keep your site responsive.

SEO and Accessibility Considerations

Maintain your site's SEO rankings:

• URL Structure and Redirects: Keep URLs the same. If changes are needed, set up redirects.
• Meta Tags and Content: Ensure title tags, meta descriptions, and Open Graph tags are preserved by following Strapi SEO practices. If your audience includes multiple languages, implement multilingual SEO practices.
• Sitemap and Search Console: Generate a new sitemap and submit it to Google Search Console.
• Localization: Consider ways to localize content to reach global audiences.

By addressing these areas, you help maintain search engine visibility and accessibility.

How to Go Live With Strapi

Now, prepare to launch your new website.

Final Checks

Before making your website public:

• Verify Content: Review all content in Strapi to ensure accurate import.
• Adjust Permissions: Set appropriate access levels in "Roles and Permissions".
• Meta Tags and SEO: Confirm meta tags are correctly implemented.

Launching the Strapi Website

To launch:

• Deploy Strapi: Choose a hosting provider such as Strapi cloud to host your Strapi project.
• Update Frontend: Modify your frontend application to fetch content from Strapi.
• DNS Settings: Update DNS records if needed.

Post-launch Monitoring and Support

After launching:

• Monitor for Errors: Track error logs and address issues.
• Search Console: Use Google Search Console to check indexing and crawl errors.
• Performance Monitoring: Review performance metrics and optimize as needed.

Troubleshooting Common Migration Issues

Any migration can present certain challenges. These are the possible ones.

Dealing with Data Discrepancies

Address data discrepancies between WordPress and Strapi:

• Analyze Content Structures: Examine your WordPress content types and custom fields. Map them to Strapi's content models.
• Manually Adjust Content Types: Set up corresponding content types manually in Strapi.
• Test the Migration: Perform a test migration with some data to identify issues early.

Resolving API Integration Problems

To resolve API integration problems:

• Update Frontend Code: Make sure your frontend consumes data from Strapi's API.
• Test API Endpoints: Use tools like Postman to test API endpoints.

Addressing Security Concerns

For best practices on headless CMS security, consider the following steps:

• Configure Roles and Permissions: Adjust roles and permissions in Strapi.
• Secure API Access: Implement authentication for API access.
• Apply Updates: Keep Strapi updated with the latest security patches.

Our Take on How to Migrate from WordPress to Strapi

Migrating from WordPress to Strapi v5 is not just a technical upgrade; it’s a strategic decision to future-proof your content management. WordPress’s reliance on plugins can introduce vulnerabilities and performance bottlenecks.

Strapi, with its headless architecture, offers a more flexible, secure, and scalable solution. While migration requires careful planning, the long-term benefits include tailored content structures, streamlined workflows, and enhanced user experiences. The shift to Strapi allows businesses to align their CMS with modern technology stacks, creating a platform that grows alongside their digital needs.

Embrace the Future with Strapi

In this guide, we have looked at how to migrate from WordPress to Strapi. Migrating from WordPress to Strapi enhances flexibility and scalability. Strapi offers a flexible content structure and supports robust security, customization, and collaboration, making it suitable for unique business needs. Explore Strapi's plans to find what fits your requirements.