Glossary of Terms
Before we delve into a more detailed description, let's clarify the terms you may encounter when transferring content to a website, which are sometimes confused with one another.
Content Migration
This refers to the entire process of moving content from an existing website to a new one. It is typically used for content sections of the website whose history we do not want to lose on the new site (blog, news, products, or branch map).
We performed the migration of products, second-hand products, and news as part of the project for the new Strom Praha website. For PPG People, we migrated blog articles from WordPress to the Kentico content management system.
Content Export
This is one component of migration, where the focus is on obtaining content for import into the new website. It usually has two possible forms.
- Either the client handles the export on their side and provides the supplier with data in usable formats such as CSV, XML, or JSON.
- Or the supplier downloads the content directly from the existing website. The quality of the exported data then depends on the quality of the website's processing and especially its structure.
Content Import
This is another component of content migration, where the supplier already has the data that needs to be transferred to the new website. If the client provides the exported data, the import is a separate service through which the supplier can expand the website with new content.
In this way, we populated the map with establishments on the Starobrno website.
Integration with Third-Party Systems (ERP – e.g., Helios or Pohoda)
Connecting the website with another system, from which product data is pulled, is generally more complex than content migration. Primarily, it involves a completely different type of work, which can be confused with content migration. Additionally, the command occurs regularly due to changes in inventory, prices, or discounts. It is commonly used mainly by e-shops due to the current product offerings.
How migration works
1. The provider will agree with the client on which types of pages or documents will be migrated to the new website (products, services, branches, articles, news, contacts, etc.)
2. A list of specific URLs of the pages from which we will need to export content will be prepared (if the client has not provided prepared data).
3. The programmer will set up an application that will go through each page on the list and download only the content we need to fill in according to predetermined rules (there is much more on the webpage that could be downloaded as content, but it would be useless to us).
4. The provider should prepare a conversion table that clearly states how the structure of the original page will be filled and subsequently displayed on the new page.
5. The programmer will create a content import based on this table, which will be set to fill the selected part of the article into a specific field in the website administration and display it, for example, as a lead. The same applies to other parts of the article. Then, the import will be launched for all pages for which migration was prepared in point 1.
6. Content is automatically filled into the new website. During the import, individual new product pages or blog articles are also automatically created.
7. Done. Finally, it is sufficient to verify through random checks that the migration was successful.
Is migration right for your website?
When it is worth it
- when you have a large amount of the same type of content on the website - for example, 100 blog articles
- when these articles have the same structure without exception, as migration is then straightforward
- when you do not want to pay for dozens of hours of manual filling – preparing the migration of one type of page can take approximately a day's work
When it is not worth it
- if you have a large number of diverse pages with different structures on the website
- when similarly typed pages are filled differently, as this leads to discrepancies and errors during automatic migration
- in cases where there are only a few dozen pages that can be filled manually in the same time
