How to Migrate Godaddy to Shopify with LitExtension?

Migrate from GoDaddy to Shopify DIY Option

Going DIY means full control—no agency fees, no fluff. It takes effort, but it’s absolutely doable. Here’s the no-BS guide to moving your store, products, domain, and SEO from GoDaddy to Shopify:

Step 1. Audit & Prep Your Data

Review & Backup your GoDaddy data:

• List all key assets: Products, product listings, pages, posts, media, customer info, order history, and SEO metadata like titles, descriptions and URLs.
• Create a full backup of product, customer, order, blog, SEO, media assets, etc. using GoDaddy, WordPress exporting tools, or manual via cPanel. Store encrypted copies off-site—external drive + cloud storage is best.
• Remove outdated or low-performing items before exporting (products not selling, obsolete customer records, old blog drafts). Clean data means faster import, less clutter, and better performance.
• Compare data formats between GoDaddy and Shopify: e.g. product data (GoDaddy CSV) vs Shopify CSV template; SEO metadata; blog structures; page formats. Use spreadsheets so you can map IDs, URLs, and SEO fields ahead of time.
• Export your current URLs (site map, Google Search Console). Plan for 1:1 mapping of old GoDaddy URLs to new Shopify ones—prepare for 301 redirects.

Decide what you actually need. Purge old data. Less baggage = faster migration. And don’t forget to let customers know if you’re moving platforms and how their data will be handled.

Step 2. Shopify Setup

• Create your Shopify account/store. Follow the checklist to finish setting up your Shopify store. Or else, you can browse our comprehensive Shopify tutorial for detailed instructions.
• Choose a plan later—as a move to Shopify, pick the theme and install necessary apps early. Browse our list of top Shopify themes to find one that fits your brand and enhances user experience.
• Set your store password to restrict access during migration.
• Disable customer accounts until post-launch.

Step 3. Migrate Your Products (CSV Export → Shopify Import)

Step A. Export from GoDaddy:

• Export a full products CSV from GoDaddy’s Commerce → Products → Import/Export → Export. Check your inbox and spam.
• Disable order emails before migration. GoDaddy’s export can trigger Shopify to treat all historical orders as new, flood of notifications if not paused mid-transfer.

Step B. Edit to Shopify CSV format:

• Use Shopify’s sample product CSV template as your guide. Match all fields exactly (e.g. Name → Title, Description → Body (HTML), SKU → Variant SKU).
• Strip or replace special characters in the Handle (URL field). Shopify hates spaces, slashes, or non‑ASCII in URLs.
• Manually re-add images if the GoDaddy CSV lacks image URLs; Shopify often misses additional images or alt text. Upload images separately after import.
• Insert SEO data and metafields if applicable. Shopify doesn’t support custom fields natively—use metafield tags or an import app like Matrixify if you’ve got custom GTIN or review data.

Step C. Import into Shopify:

• Import via Shopify Admin > Products > Import, uncheck “Publish to all channels” if you’re not ready to go live yet. Preview the upload report.
• Inspect common errors: missing variants, zero inventory, or missing prices. Fix these manually if a row fails.
• Create collections/tags manually or via CSV post-import to organize your catalog. This speeds up navigation and SEO alignment.

Step 4. Rebuild Pages & Media by Hand

If you used GoDaddy Website Builder:

• Copy text manually into Shopify > Pages.
• Upload images to Shopify’s Files and insert them.
• Recreate navigation menus under Online Store > Navigation.

If you used WordPress via GoDaddy: Export via WordPress Tools > Export, then paste into Shopify.

Step 5. Domain: Connect or Transfer?

Option A: Connect your GoDaddy domain to Shopify (easier, less risk)

• In Shopify admin → Settings > Domains → Connect existing domain.
• Enter your domain; choose Connect automatically. Shopify will update DNS.
• Verification takes up to 48h.

Option B: Transfer your domain into Shopify (full control)

• Unlock your domain in GoDaddy; disable privacy or lock.
• Get your EPP/authorization code.
• In Shopify → Settings > Domains → Transfer it to Shopify.
• Enter your domain (without “www”), input auth code, approve transfer and renewal fee (~$14/yr).
• Transfer can take up to 20 days, and domain stays active throughout.

Bonus: Make a copy of current DNS settings so you can replicate any custom MX, TXT, or MX records after transfer. Shopify doesn’t copy them automatically.

Step 6. Configure Shopify Settings (Tax, Shipping, Payment)

Shopify admin → Settings:

• Taxes, Shipping, Payment provider. For multiple fulfillment zones (e.g. US and EU/Canada), assign tax zones to the correct warehouse location to avoid charging taxes on international orders erroneously. Enable “Charge tax on shipping rates” if it’s a requirement in your regions—but watch out: Shopify’s EU model sometimes applies a blended rate that may not be compliant in certain cases (especially for mixed VAT baskets)
• Define Shipping Zones tied to your fulfillment locations and ensure correct tiers and rates are set for domestic/international customers. Shopify now supports prepaid shipping labels and delivery duty-paid options, so you can absorb duties/taxes if needed—especially useful for cross-border fulfillment.
• Choose at least two payment methods—Shopify Payments plus PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay, or local wallets—based on your target market’s preferences. Lack of options leads to lost sales. If using Shopify Payments, enable Shopify Tax/Duties tools (now available to all merchants), which makes cross-border duties visible and payable upfront at checkout—transaction fee as low as 0.5%

Add test orders to ensure checkout works.

Step 7. SEO & Redirects

• Set up 301 redirects if old GoDaddy URLs change to preserve SEO. Make sure Shopify URLs match legacy ones as closely as possible—especially product handles. Use a redirect mapping spreadsheet to track old vs. new URLs before you import.
• Re-enter meta titles & descriptions for pages and products.
• Submit updated sitemap.xml in Google Search Console post-launch.

Step 8. QA & Launch

• Verify domain status (connected or transferred).
• Browse store on desktop & mobile.
• Run a live test with a small purchase.
• Once happy, launch and promote.