TYPO3 to WordPress: why the switch is worth it

TYPO3 in everyday use: typical challenges

TYPO3 is without doubt a powerful enterprise CMS. Yet in the daily work of marketing leads, project managers and management, the following challenges often appear:

• High complexity in operation: the learning curve with TYPO3 is steep. Without technical training, editors find it hard to get their bearings. Simple content changes can take a disproportionate amount of time, because the backend interface is very powerful but also confusing for newcomers.

• Demanding updates and maintenance: major TYPO3 versions often require elaborate upgrade projects. Security updates have to be applied quickly, which usually requires a developer. That means higher ongoing costs for maintenance and a risk when updates are delayed.

• Limited extension options: TYPO3 does offer many extensions, but the selection is smaller than with WordPress. New functions often have to be programmed individually. Modern marketing tools or integrations (for example CRM connections, marketing automation) are not always available as a plug-and-play solution and instead require extra effort.

• Dependence on specialists: TYPO3 developers are a small, specialised group. For companies this can mean a strong dependence on a particular agency or individual developers. The community is smaller, and information or help is harder to find than in the huge WordPress community. When bottlenecks arise, this can quickly become critical.

These points mean that running a TYPO3 website is often less agile and cost-efficient than it could be. Many companies therefore ask themselves whether a more modern, more user-friendly system would not be the better solution.

WordPress as a modern alternative: the advantages at a glance

In a direct comparison, WordPress convinces with a range of advantages that are particularly important for marketing managers and decision-makers:

• Usability & intuitive operation: WordPress scores with an easy to understand interface. Content managers can create and update content without programming knowledge. The Gutenberg editor (block editor) allows visual editing of pages and posts by drag and drop. Training effort and onboarding time are minimal compared to TYPO3, your team will thank you for it.

• Maximum flexibility through plugins & themes: WordPress has a huge ecosystem of extensions. More than 50,000 plugins are available to add almost any conceivable function, from SEO optimisation through multilingual content to e-commerce. There are also thousands of professional design themes to build on. This variety makes it possible to adapt and extend websites very quickly, without having to develop everything from scratch.

• Cost and resource efficiency: because many functions in WordPress are already available "ready-made" as a plugin, you save development effort and therefore budget. Updates can usually be applied automatically. There are also far more WordPress developers on the market, which can lower the cost of further development and support. Overall, the TCO (total cost of ownership) of a WordPress site is usually lower than that of a comparable TYPO3 site.

• Active community & support: WordPress is used worldwide by millions of people, from the small blog to the corporate website. The community is correspondingly huge and helpful. For questions or problems, countless approaches, tutorials and forum posts can be found online. Further development is also secured by the open-source community and the WordPress Foundation, the CMS is continuously improved and extended with new features.

• SEO and marketing friendliness: WordPress is built to be search-engine friendly out of the box. With plugins like Yoast SEO, meta tags, sitemaps and the like can be managed easily. New content can be published and optimised quickly, which significantly eases content marketing. Integrating web analytics, conversion tracking (for example via Google Tag Manager) or newsletter tools is also very simple in WordPress. In short: your marketing department gets a tool with which it can work effectively and independently.

In summary, WordPress offers a modern, future-proof platform that is suitable for both small and large websites, from the company presence through to the extensive online portal. Even complex requirements (multilingual sites, protected areas, online shops and so on) can be implemented with WordPress, but in a far more user-friendly environment.

How a TYPO3 to WordPress migration with KOMMERS works

The decision to switch has been made, but how do you actually approach a CMS migration like this? As an experienced WordPress agency, we have already moved numerous projects from TYPO3 to WordPress. In doing so, a proven process in several steps has become established:

1. Analysis & consulting: first we analyse your existing TYPO3 website in detail. What content and functions are present? Which pages are particularly important for your business (for example landing pages, blog, forms)? Together with you we define the goals of the migration: should the site be rebuilt one to one, or is this part of a larger relaunch with a design refresh? In this phase we advise you transparently and honestly on whether and how WordPress can meet all your requirements.

2. Planning & conception: based on the analysis we create a migration concept. We plan the structure of the new WordPress site, the right theme (design) and the plugins needed for all functions (for example contact forms, event calendar, multilingualism). Special attention goes to the data transfer: we develop a strategy for how content, media and, where relevant, user data are exported from TYPO3 and imported into WordPress. Redirects are also planned so that no SEO rankings are lost later.

3. Implementation in WordPress: now our developers and designers begin the implementation. We set up a development environment and install WordPress. If a redesign is wanted, we create a modern, responsive layout in line with your corporate design. Otherwise we carry the existing look and feel over into the new system. We develop a tailor-made WordPress theme or adapt a proven standard theme. All required plugins are installed and configured. Individual functions (such as special data views or interfaces) we build to measure in WordPress if no suitable plugin is available.

4. Content migration & testing: once the structure is ready, the content is transferred. Using scripts and tools, we import pages, posts, images, downloads and other assets from TYPO3 into WordPress. Links and references are adjusted in the process. Intensive testing follows: do all forms work? Are all pages complete and displayed correctly? We check the new website on various devices and browsers. Particularly important: the SEO checks. We make sure that meta data has been carried over and that all relevant old URLs point to the new pages via 301 redirect, so that your Google rankings are preserved.

5. Training, go-live & support: before the new WordPress site goes live, we train your team on request in how to use the new CMS. Your staff learn how to adjust content, create new posts or edit page structures. Then we plan the go-live for the right moment. The move is carried out with minimal downtime: we transfer the WordPress site to the live server and make all final settings (domain, SSL, caching and so on). Even after the launch, KOMMERS does not leave you on your own, within maintenance contracts we take care of ongoing updates and monitoring and are available for further development or questions.

Through this structured process we ensure that the migration runs smoothly and that you keep an overview at all times. Our team speaks both "technical" and "business", we explain the steps clearly and take care of the complicated details in the background. You can sit back and relax while we lead your CMS into the next generation.

KOMMERS, your partner for a successful switch

As an agency for brands and web solutions, KOMMERS combines fresh ideas with many years of experience. We know both TYPO3 and WordPress in depth and understand what matters in a migration. Our WordPress experts have already delivered successful projects for numerous mid-sized and large companies. We focus on quality, transparency and future viability, your new WordPress system should be convincing not only today but also in the long term.

With KOMMERS as your partner you benefit from a well-coordinated team that speaks your language and understands your goals. We advise you individually, work in an agile way and value punctual, clean delivery. In short: we treat your project as if it were our own.

Conclusion: replace TYPO3 now and get going with WordPress

A switch from TYPO3 to WordPress can be the decisive step to take your website to the next level, in terms of usability, flexibility and efficiency. Of course a project like this needs to be well planned. With the right support, however, the CMS migration is not a risk but an opportunity to benefit quickly from all the advantages of WordPress.

If you are thinking about replacing your TYPO3 website, we are happy to support you. Contact us for a no-obligation consultation, together we will find out how a switch to WordPress can create the greatest possible value for your company.

Arrange a consultation now and set the course for your new WordPress web presence!