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Why You Need To Migrate From Drupal To WordPress?

Drupal to WordPress Migration

If you are planning to migrate from Drupal to WordPress, this blog will help you make an informed decision.

Drupal is an open-source CMS to build customized websites and web applications. Released in 2001, it is written in PHP language. Big enterprises that get high traffic chose Drupal for complex web development. Hence, web development using Drupal costs much more than WordPress including maintenance. But why would you pick Drupal when you have a CMS that is cost-effective, easy to use, and does everything Drupal does at a much lower cost? Presenting you – WordPress.

Looking to Migrate From Drupal to WordPress?

So if you’re thinking about Drupal to WordPress Migration, you are in the right direction. While both WordPress and Drupal are open-source CMS, WordPress came 2 years later. Even then, the WordPress CMS has occupied more than 60% of CMS websites on the internet. Here you will know exactly why WordPress is the right choice for your business over Drupal.

Top 3 Reasons Why You Need Drupal to WordPress Migration

While Drupal is known for its features for big enterprises, let’s see why still 40% of the websites on the internet are powered by WordPress. Here are the top reasons why you need Drupal to WordPress migration.

Functionality and Usage

WordPress: As soon as the installation is complete, it is ready to use and doesn’t require any complex setups. WordPress also has amazing themes designed for beginners as well as for advanced users. With even little to no experience, WordPress is a ready-to-go platform for any kind of business. 

Drupal: It is not as simple as WordPress and requires some time to figure out core functionality. That being said, Drupal is not an ideal CMS for beginners. The highly customizable features would require an experienced web developer for it to function at its full potential. Drupal can be hard to learn as it requires more expertise.

Cost Effectiveness

While the setup & web hosting costs are almost the same for both Drupal and WordPress websites, the maintenance cost varies for both poles apart distance.

Since Drupal requires technical expertise, the maintenance cost is much more expensive. You need to hire experts to explore Drupal’s full functionality. Even after the web development with Drupal is complete, any more support requires extra cost. 

Charges are almost sky-high because of the small size of the Drupal community. Another big reason why you’re thinking right about Drupal to WordPress migration.

On the other hand, WordPress maintenance doesn’t cost as much and it is quite pocket friendly even for small businesses. Seahawk lists $70-100 per hour retail for WordPress development which is way less than Drupal’s maintenance cost.

SEO 

Matt Cutts, the former head of the Google webspam team, has said that Google loves WordPress. Well, there’s a reason for it. 

SEO revolves around core responsiveness & user experience. WordPress has both. 

Responsive mobile friendliness, themes & plugins make WordPress websites SEO-friendly which climbs the ladder of search engine rankings. 

When it comes to Drupal, the heavy loads of systems and modules require additional time to load most of the time, making it non-optimized for the search engine. The speed of the website plays an important role in deciding SEO-friendliness, and there Drupal steps back a little.

Read: PSD To WordPress Conversion Guide With Video Tutorial

Ready To Upgrade Your Drupal Website To WordPress?

Seamlessly migrate from Drupal to WordPress and elevate your website’s performance and usability with our worry-free Drupal to WordPress migration service!

Drupal vs WordPress Comparison and Myths

Want more reasons why you should migrate from Drupal to WordPress? Let’s have a look at some comparisons & burst some myths.

Drupal to WordPress Features Comparison

Number Comparison: Drupal vs WordPress

Launched 2 years later than Drupal, still to date WordPress acquired more than 60% of the world’s CMS websites. Whereas, Drupal’s number is only 4%.

Huger enterprises like Facebook, The New York Times, Bloomberg, etc, are running on WordPress. 

Drupal is not even closer to WordPress’ share in the market but still, to mention, its circle includes websites like- Cisco, NBC, The Economist, etc

Out of all websites on the internet, more than 40% are run on WordPress. Whereas, Drupal’s share is only 1.7%

Debunking 2 Biggest Myths: WordPress vs Drupal

Myth 1: WordPress is Only for Small Businesses

Well, it is already mentioned and clear that big business websites run on WordPress. It is right that WordPress is ideal for small businesses, people just starting out in WordPress development, and bloggers, however, in no way it means that big websites cannot run on WordPress effectively. 

Rather it is an added advantage on the WordPress end that this platform is for both small & big enterprises. 

Myth 2: Multilingual is an Issue With WordPress

Yes, Drupal 8, has inbuilt multilingual capabilities, however, even with WordPress, you can build a hassle-free multilingual website to your SEO advantage. 

Google loves WordPress because of its SEO-friendliness. Why not double the love by making a multilingual WordPress website? 

There are various ready-to-go plugins like WPML and MultilingualPress to achieve multilingual functionality and content localization on WordPress. 

Learn More: 6 Common WordPress Myths Debunked

Consider These Before Migrating From Drupal to WordPress

Before you migrate from Drupal to WordPress or covert Drupal content to WordPress, there are a few important things to consider. Let’s take a look at two of them:

Finding a New Reliable WordPress Web Host

When it comes to web hosting, not all providers are created equal. If you’re switching from Drupal to WordPress, you’ll need to find a new WordPress web host that’s reliable and compatible with the platform.

Look for a host that offers 24/7 support, fast load times, and regular backups. Some popular web hosts for WordPress include DreamHost and Convesio.

Related: Best Cloud Hosting Providers 2023

Back Up Your Drupal Data

Before you make any changes to your website, it’s crucial to back up your data. This includes all of your content, media files, and any custom code you may have added to your Drupal site. A backup ensures that you have a copy of your data in case anything goes wrong during the migration process.

Learn: Sitecore to WordPress Migration Service

How to Take a Backup of Your Drupal Website?

Drupal has a module called Backup and Migrate that allows you to create backups of your website. To use this module, you’ll need to install and enable it on your Drupal site. Once the module is enabled, go to Configuration > Backup and Migrate to access the module’s settings. From there, you can create a backup of your database and files.

Use a Third-party Backup Tool

There are many third-party backup tools available for Drupal that can help you create backups of your website. Some popular options include Backup and Migrate and Backup Database. These tools allow you to create automatic backups on a regular schedule or manually create backups as needed.

Use Backup Services of Your Web Hosting Provider

If your website is hosted by a web hosting provider, check to see if they offer backup services. Many hosting providers include backup services as part of their hosting plans. If your hosting provider offers backups, make sure to understand their backup process and how to access your backups if needed.

Drupal to WordPress Migration: 3 Step Simple Guide

Now, let’s finally come to Drupal to WordPress Migration, follow these 3 simple steps using a WordPress plugin.

Install FG Drupal to WordPress plugin

Login to your new WordPress website and in the dashboard, go to Plugins > Add New, and search for FG Drupal to WordPress. Click Install Now, and once it’s done, Activate.

FG Drupal to WordPress

Get Your Drupal Information

To get this information, go into the settings.php file using an FTP client (usually found here: drupal/sites/default/settings.php).

Next, follow these instructions:

  • Download and install the FTP client of your choice
  • Go to your site’s default directory
  • Open the settings.php file
  • Copy the hostname, database name, username, password, and Drupal table prefix
  • Paste it into a text file and save it for later.

Import Drupal Content to WordPress

You are almost there with Drupal to WordPress Migration.

  • In your WordPress dashboard, click on Tools > Import.
  • Following step 1, you will see Drupal in the table. Click on Run Importer.
  • This will take you to a page where you can set all options for the migration of your data.
  • There, you will see a button – Empty WordPress content. This will delete your entire WordPress Content (all posts, pages, categories, etc.). If you have a test page made, this will delete that data.
  • In the Drupal website parameters section, enter the URL of your current Drupal website. This will be used to extract data from your current site.
  • Under the Drupal database parameters section, paste the information about your old database that you copied from your settings.php file.
  • Once you’ve entered the details, click on test the database connection to ensure it’s working.
  • Next is, the behavior section. Here, specify the items you’d like to import in addition to your Drupal posts and pages.
  • Once you’ve configured everything, click the Start the import button and Drupal to WordPress Migration will begin.
  • You will see a bar that tracks the migration process & in case of any problem, it will show up in the box.
  • You will see a success message once Drupal to WordPress migration is complete. But, wait that’s not the end.
  • Scroll down to the ‘After Migration’ section and click on ‘Modify Internal Links’. This feature helps to update the new WordPress permalink structure. Make sure to check a few pages to ensure the internal links are working smoothly.

Know: How To Migrate From Joomla To WordPress

What to do After Drupal to WordPress Migration is Complete?

Congrats on the successful migration from Drupal to WordPress! Here’s what you should do after completing the Drupal to WordPress migration:

Point Your Domain Toward WordPress

After the migration is complete, you’ll need to point your domain toward your new WordPress website. This involves changing the DNS settings for your domain to point to your WordPress hosting provider. You can usually do this through your domain registrar’s control panel.

Once you’ve updated your DNS settings, it can take some time for the changes to propagate, so be patient and check back periodically to ensure that your website is accessible.

Choose a Theme for Your WordPress Website

WordPress offers a wide range of themes to choose from, so you’ll want to select one that fits your website’s design and functionality needs. You can browse the WordPress theme repository or purchase a premium theme from a third-party website.

Once you’ve chosen a theme, install and activate it on your WordPress site. You can then customize the theme settings and design to match your brand.

Take Full Advantage of WordPress Features

WordPress is a powerful platform that offers many features and options for customizing your website. Take advantage of these features by installing plugins and optimizing your site for search engines.

There are many free and paid plugins available for WordPress that can help you enhance your website’s functionality and improve its performance. Some popular plugins include All in One SEO for search engine optimization, Jetpack for security and performance, and WPForms for creating custom forms.

Read: How To Migrate From Webflow To WordPress

Professional Drupal to WordPress Migration Service

Even though we have included the steps you need in Drupal to WordPress migration, it’s always a better idea to pick the experts to do the work for you. This ensures safe data transfer & smooth migration process. Even a tiny mistake in doing Drupal to WordPress migration can cost you long-term damage. 

But, you don’t have to worry about that. 

Seahawk is dedicated & passionate about WordPress. We are fully white-label WordPress service providers and provide PRO WordPress Services for revolutionary pricing at $70-100 per hour retail for our partners. 

From WordPress support to UI design and hacked site repairs to WordPress outsourcing, we take care of all on your behalf. Our retention services that prevent customer churn for web hosts make us unique in the market. 

Over 1000+ businesses like Clean Juice, GoDaddy, etc trust Seahawk with WordPress services. 

It’s your time to join and scale your business with us. Contact us now for further personalized details. 

Drupal to WordPress Migration FAQs

Why should I consider migrating from Drupal to WordPress?

Migrating from Drupal to WordPress offers several benefits such as a more user-friendly interface, a larger community of developers and resources, a vast library of themes and plugins, easier content management, and better integration with popular tools and services.

What happens to my Drupal website during the migration process?

During the migration process, your Drupal website will remain intact until the migration is complete. We will create a backup of your Drupal site before initiating the migration. Once the migration is successfully completed and you have thoroughly tested the migrated WordPress site, you can switch your domain or URLs to point to the new WordPress installation.

Is the migration process from Drupal to WordPress complicated?

The complexity of the migration process depends on the size and complexity of your Drupal website. Seahawk is here to help you with Drupal to WordPress migration, so sit back worry-free and let us handle the technicalities of the migration.

Are there any costs associated with migrating from Drupal to WordPress?

The costs associated with migrating from Drupal to WordPress can vary depending on factors such as the size and complexity of your website, customizations etc. Connect with us to get a quote for professional Drupal to WordPress migration services.

Can I keep my existing domain name and URLs intact after migrating to WordPress?

Yes, you can keep your existing domain name and URLs intact after migrating to WordPress. To ensure continuity, we will set up proper redirects from the old Drupal URLs to the corresponding new WordPress URLs. This helps maintain your website’s search engine rankings and ensures that visitors are automatically redirected to the appropriate content on the new platform.

Will migrating from Drupal to WordPress affect my website’s performance?

Migrating from Drupal to WordPress may have an impact on your website’s performance, but it can vary depending on various factors. WordPress is known for its optimized performance and caching capabilities, which can improve the speed and responsiveness of your website. Do not worry; Seahawk also offers site speed optimization service for that blazing-fast website performance.

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