WordPress vs Storyblok

How to Migrate WordPress to Storyblok: The Ultimate Guide

April 14, 2025

The Ultimate Guide to Migrate WordPress to Storyblok Efficiently

As more organizations look to modernize their digital presence, many are opting to migrate WordPress to Storyblok, a headless CMS that provides flexibility, performance, and a user-friendly interface. Unlike traditional monolithic CMS platforms, Storyblok’s headless architecture separates content management from presentation, allowing developers to build blazing-fast front ends with frameworks like Astro, Vue, and Next.js.

This step-by-step guide outlines the migration process from a WordPress site to Storyblok’s headless CMS. Whether you're a marketer, content editor, or developer, this article will walk you through how to migrate all the content—from blog posts and media files to pages and SEO data—into a future-proof CMS setup.

Why Migrate from WordPress to Storyblok?

1. Modern Content Management

Storyblok offers a flexible content management system with a visual editor, allowing content creators to manage dynamic content through reusable components, multi-option fields, and nested blocks. Compared to the rigid template structure of a typical WordPress admin, Storyblok’s visual editor makes content editing easier and more intuitive.

2. Headless Setup for Faster Websites

By adopting a headless approach, you decouple content from your front-end project. This allows your development team to build faster, scalable experiences using modern frameworks. No more relying on slow plugins or bloated themes.

3. Seamless Multi-Language Support

With Storyblok folders, content types, and localization tools, global businesses can easily manage translations across multiple platforms. This is significantly easier to maintain than plugin-dependent translation tools in WordPress.

4. Performance and Security

By eliminating server-side rendering from WordPress and removing reliance on plugins, a headless setup dramatically improves your site's performance and security. All content delivery is served from a read-only API, making your site less vulnerable.

Pre-Migration Planning

Before beginning the content migration, you need a solid migration plan. Here’s what to include:

Audit Your Existing WordPress Content

Start by analyzing:

  • Existing content and custom post types
  • SEO metadata, slugs, and permalinks
  • All relevant media files in the /wp-content/uploads directory
  • Plugins that handle dynamic functionality
  • Any content structure established through ACF or Gutenberg blocks

Define the Destination Structure in Storyblok

Plan out your new content types in Storyblok:

  • Page, Article, Blog Post, etc.
  • Modular components like Hero, RichText, Gallery, SEO, etc.
  • Multi-option fields for categories, tags, or topics

Each of these will live inside a Storyblok space, organized with a Storyblok folder structure that mirrors the layout of your site.

Choose the Right Tools

For this migration, you'll likely need:

  • WordPress REST API to extract content
  • A migration script using Node.js, Python, or PHP
  • The Storyblok Management API to push content into your new space
  • Tools for redirect mapping and SEO preservation

Choose a Frontend Framework

Popular options:

  • Astro for speed and performance
  • Next.js for hybrid rendering
  • Vue.js for dynamic, reactive frontends

Step-by-Step Migration Process

Step 1: Export Content from WordPress

Option A: Use WordPress REST API

Access content via:

https://yourdomain.com/wp-json/wp/v2/posts

Paginate using ?page=2, etc. Include ACF, tags, categories, and featured media using _embed.

Option B: Use WP All Export Plugin

Export custom fields, taxonomies, and structured data as CSV or JSON.

Step 2: Model Content in Storyblok

Create Storyblok components:

  • Page
  • Article
  • Hero, TextImage, Testimonial, Gallery
  • Services, SEO, Navigation, CTA blocks

Use nestable blocks to give marketers layout control and flexibility.

Step 3: Migrate Content to Storyblok

Manual Entry (for small sites)

Copy/paste text, upload media, and rebuild layouts using the visual editor.

Automated Migration (for larger sites)

Use the Storyblok Management API:

const axios = require("axios");

const postData = {
 name: "Sample Post",
 slug: "sample-post",
 content: {
   component: "article",
   title: "Sample Post",
   body: "<p>This is the migrated content</p>",
 },
};

axios.post("https://mapi.storyblok.com/v1/spaces/{SPACE_ID}/stories", { story: postData }, {
 headers: { Authorization: "YOUR_MANAGEMENT_TOKEN" }
});

Loop through posts, map fields, and push to Storyblok.

Step 4: Build the Frontend

Use your chosen framework and the Content Delivery API:

const storyblokApi = useStoryblokApi();
const { data } = await storyblokApi.get('cdn/stories/home', { version: 'draft' });

Use data to populate Astro, Vue, or React components.

Step 5: Handle SEO and Redirects

  • Maintain existing slugs
  • Use 301 redirects to prevent broken links
  • Build a reusable SEO component
  • Regenerate sitemap.xml dynamically

Step 6: Rebuild Forms and Integrations

  • Use Formspree, Netlify Forms, or custom APIs
  • Integrate Google Analytics or CRMs via frontend or serverless functions

Step 7: Optimize Media

Upload used images to Storyblok's asset manager. Leverage their CDN:

https://img.storyblok.com/1000x800/f/123456/myimage.jpg

Enable image resizing, format switching, and lazy loading.

Step 8: Set Up Localization (Optional)

  • Use folders for locales (/en/, /de/)
  • Localize fields in blocks
  • Implement fallback strategies

Insights from Storyblok’s Official Guide

Use the Storyblok CLI

Quickly scaffold and connect your local project:

npx storyblok init

Map WordPress Fields Thoughtfully

WordPress: For those looking to improve SEO on their WordPress site, consider SEO services specifically tailored for WordPress sites.

  • post_title → title
  • content → richtext
  • excerpt → short_description
  • featured_media → image

Use the Management API for Bulk Import

Leverage axios or another HTTP client to send batch content into Storyblok, automatically creating structured stories.

Rebuild with Editors in Mind

Use bloks fields for layout. Avoid over-engineering with rigid templates. Let editors build pages from flexible building blocks.

Recreate Tags and Categories

Use multi-option fields to tag articles. Rebuild filters in your frontend. Use these fields to enhance UX and SEO.

Build an SEO Component

Include:

  • Title
  • Description
  • OG image
  • Canonical URL

Make this a reusable block in every content type.

Bonus: Sample Node Script

Loop through your posts, map data, and push to Storyblok. Add pagination and error handling for production use.

Post-Migration Checklist

After migrating content to your new CMS, run these quality checks:

Performance Testing

Ensure all assets and scripts are optimized. Use Lighthouse and PageSpeed Insights.

SEO Validation

Check meta tags, canonical URLs, schema markup, and slug consistency.

Content Verification

Confirm that all the content—including rich text, images, and links—migrated accurately into your Storyblok space.

Functionality Testing

Rebuild or replace plugins with modern APIs or serverless functions. Re-test form submissions and integrations.

Editorial Workflow Setup

Train your team to use the visual editor, create content, and collaborate inside the Storyblok dashboard.

Final Steps Post-Migration

Test Everything

After migration, it's critical to validate that your new Storyblok-powered site performs well and functions exactly as expected. We recommend running a comprehensive post-launch checklist that includes:

  • Performance testing: Use tools like Google Lighthouse, PageSpeed Insights, or WebPageTest to analyze load times, Core Web Vitals, and frontend performance.
  • SEO validation: Check for missing meta tags, broken internal links, or canonical issues using tools like Ahrefs, Screaming Frog, or Sitebulb.
  • Content verification: Make sure all key content—especially blog posts, pages, and structured data—has been properly migrated and renders correctly on the frontend.
  • Forms and integrations: Submit test entries in any contact forms or third-party embeds to verify data is flowing correctly to CRMs or email platforms.
  • Cross-browser and mobile testing: Use tools like BrowserStack or real devices to ensure your site looks and behaves correctly across common screen sizes and browsers.

Train Your Team

Provide training for editors. Storyblok has a learning curve, but it’s loved for its visual editing power.

Set Up Workflows

Assign roles and permissions. Use staging workflows. Leverage versioning and content scheduling.

When Not to Migrate (Yet)

  • If your team lacks frontend developers
  • If your stack relies heavily on WordPress plugins like WooCommerce
  • If your content model is not well-defined

Wait until you're ready to rebuild with a component-first mindset.

Ready to Migrate from WordPress to Storyblok?

Our agency helps teams re-platform with minimal disruption and maximum results. Contact us today to start your migration journey.

How We Make Storyblok Migrations Painless

We specialize in making migrations from WordPress to Storyblok as seamless as possible. Here’s how we help:

  • Custom Migration Plan: We tailor every migration to your site's size, structure, and content types.
  • Automated Scripts: Our dev team writes custom migration scripts to handle everything from data transformation to uploading media files.
  • Structured Content Modeling: We build reusable components and define a clean content structure in your new headless CMS.
  • SEO and Redirects: We map every slug and set up 301 redirects to preserve rankings.
  • Training and Support: We don’t just hand off the site—we help your editors feel confident in the new system.
  • Post-Migration Optimization: We tune performance, integrate analytics, and monitor everything for stability.

Whether you're migrating a blog, a marketing site, or a complex monolithic project, our goal is to make the transition from WordPress to Storyblok smooth, strategic, and future-ready.

Conclusion: A Strategic Upgrade

If you’re looking to migrate from WordPress to a modern headless CMS, Storyblok is an ideal destination. With its user-friendly interface, flexible content management model, and robust developer tools, it’s built to scale your content across multiple platforms and teams.

A well-planned content migration ensures a future-proof foundation for your site—one that’s easier to maintain, more secure, and built for speed.

WordPress to Storyblok Migration FAQs

What is the easiest way to migrate WordPress to Storyblok?

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The easiest way to migrate WordPress to Storyblok is by using the WordPress REST API to extract your WordPress content, then writing a migration script that sends your data to the Storyblok Management API. With a proper migration plan, structured content types, and a clear content structure, you can automate most of the content migration process while preserving SEO, media, and page layouts. For small sites, a manual copy-paste method via the Storyblok dashboard may also work.

Why choose Storyblok over WordPress for content management?

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While WordPress is a traditional content management system, Storyblok offers a headless CMS approach, separating content from the frontend. This enables developers to build custom front end projects using frameworks like Astro or Next.js, while content creators use a user-friendly interface with a live visual editor. Unlike the WordPress admin, Storyblok provides more scalable, modular components, better support for dynamic content, and simplified localization via Storyblok folders.

What are the steps in a typical WordPress to Storyblok migration process?

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A standard migration process includes:

  1. Auditing your existing WordPress site
  2. Planning your Storyblok space and content types
  3. Exporting data via the REST API
  4. Writing a migration script using your OAuth token and Storyblok API
  5. Creating components like article, page, and hero
  6. Uploading media files to the new system
  7. Rebuilding routes, slugs, and redirects
  8. Training your team on the Storyblok dashboard

Each step is designed to enable a seamless migration with minimal disruption to your digital presence.

Can I migrate all my existing WordPress content, including categories and images?

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Yes, you can migrate all the content from your WordPress site, including blog posts, pages, ACF fields, SEO metadata, media files, and categories. Categories and tags can be stored in a multi-option field inside a component and linked to related pages. During the migration, ensure that each field inside your exported data is mapped properly to a Storyblok schema using dot notation.

What are the benefits of migrating content to a headless CMS like Storyblok?

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Migrating to Storyblok’s headless CMS offers several advantages:

  • Faster content delivery via CDN
  • Better frontend performance
  • Scalability across multiple platforms
  • A visual editor for non-technical teams
  • Rich integration with modern APIs
  • Support for structured dynamic content
    These benefits allow your development team to build smarter, while marketers enjoy a streamlined content management experience.

What tools or APIs are needed for a smooth WordPress to Storyblok migration?

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You’ll typically need the following tools for a smooth WordPress to Storyblok migration:

  • WordPress REST API to extract content
  • Storyblok Management API to insert content
  • A scripting tool like Node.js or Python
  • Tools like Ahrefs, Sitebulb, or PageSpeed Insights for post-migration audits
  • Redirect tools or .htaccess mapping to preserve SEO
    With the right tools, you can migrate your WordPress content to a modern headless CMS with ease.

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