For many mid-cap and enterprise-level companies, choosing a content management system (CMS) is a significant decision that has long-lasting implications. Adobe Experience Manager (AEM) and WordPress are among the top choices, each with its own set of advantages. However, if you find that WordPress better meets your company’s needs for flexibility, ease-of-use, and cost-effectiveness, you may be considering a migration from AEM to WordPress.
The migration process might seem daunting, but with proper planning and execution, it can be a smooth transition. In this post, we’ll outline the steps to efficiently migrate from AEM to WordPress, minimizing downtime and ensuring a seamless user experience.
Table of Contents
Pre-Migration Considerations
Assess Your Current Content
Conduct a thorough content audit on your AEM site. Identify what will move to WordPress and what won’t. This includes text, images, metadata, user roles, and any custom post types.
Define Your Requirements
Determine the features, functionalities, and design elements you’ll need on your WordPress site. Will you need to custom-build any features, or can existing WordPress plugins handle your needs?
Choose the Right Hosting Plan
WordPress has different hosting requirements than AEM. Make sure your new hosting solution is optimized for WordPress and can handle your traffic levels.
The Migration Process
Step 1: Set up a Staging Environment
Before making any changes to your live site, set up a staging environment where you can test the migration process and resolve any issues that arise.
Step 2: Data Export from AEM
Export your data from AEM in a format that can be easily imported into WordPress. XML is generally a good choice.
Step 3: Data Import to WordPress
WordPress has built-in import functionality for XML files. Go to Tools -> Import -> WordPress and upload your XML file. You can also use plugins like WP All Import for more complex imports.
Step 4: Migrate Design Elements
Your AEM design will likely not be directly transferable to WordPress. You’ll either need to select a new WordPress theme or create a custom theme that replicates your AEM design.
Step 5: Test
Once your content and design elements are in place, rigorously test the site to ensure everything is working as expected. Pay special attention to links, images, and other media files.
Step 6: Implement 301 Redirects
To maintain your SEO rankings, implement 301 redirects from your old AEM URLs to the corresponding new WordPress URLs.
Step 7: Go Live
Once you’re satisfied that everything has been successfully migrated to the staging site, it’s time to make it live. Monitor the site closely for any issues.
Post-Migration
Review SEO Settings
Verify that metadata, as well as on-page SEO elements like headers and alt tags, are correctly transferred. You might need an SEO plugin like Yoast SEO to help with this.
Monitor Performance
Use tools like Google Analytics and Google Search Console to monitor site performance. Look out for any sudden changes in traffic or search rankings.
Inform Stakeholders
Once you’re confident that the migration was successful, inform all relevant stakeholders about the transition.
Conclusion
Migrating from Adobe Experience Manager to WordPress is a significant project that requires meticulous planning and execution. But the benefits — like increased flexibility and reduced costs — often make the endeavor worthwhile. By following these steps and best practices, you can ensure a smooth and efficient migration process.
If you’re looking for an experienced team to assist in migrating from AEM to WordPress, don’t hesitate to reach out to us at Silicon Dales. Our specialized expertise in WordPress makes us the ideal partner for such critical projects.