Wix To Squarespace Migration

How To Switch From Wix To Squarespace?

To ensure a successful move from Wix to Squarespace, you must plan ahead of time and execute the steps in sequence. Follow the precise instructions below to ensure a successful migration.

Step 1 – Build Your New Site

Signing up for a Squarespace account and selecting a template. Choose a design that aligns with your existing brand, or take the opportunity to refresh your site’s look. Customize the template by adding your pages, navigation structure, and any necessary features, such as galleries, blogs, or contact forms. Take time to explore Squarespace’s tools, which may offer design elements not available in Wix. Note:

• Use Squarespace’s drag-and-drop editor to adjust layout elements to match your desired design.
• Preview how your site will look on different devices to ensure a responsive experience.

Step 2 – Download Data from Wix

Download Blog Posts (via RSS)

• Access Your RSS Feed: Open your Wix site and add /blog-feed.xml to the end of your website’s URL (e.g., https://yoursite.com/blog-feed.xml).
• Download the XML File: Your RSS feed will appear as an XML file. Right-click the page and select “Save As…” to download the XML file to your computer. This file contains your blog posts, including titles, publication dates, and content.
• Use the Data: You can use an XML parser or RSS-to-CSV converter to make this data easier to manage and import into another platform.

Download Images

• Access Your Wix Media Library: In the Wix Editor, click on “Media” from the left-hand panel to open the Media Manager.
• Select and Download Images: Manually select each image, right-click on it, and choose “Download” to save them to your computer. Repeat this process for all your media files.
• Organize Files: Store your images in a structured folder format on your local drive to ensure easy re-uploading when building your new site on Squarespace or another platform.

Download Text Content

• Go to Each Page: In the Wix Editor, navigate to each page containing text content.
• Copy and Paste Text: Highlight the text you wish to download, right-click, and select “Copy.” Paste this into a text editor (such as Microsoft Word or Google Docs) to store it locally.
• Reorganize Content: Organize your text in separate documents by page or section to make it easier to import or rebuild your site later.

Download Form Data (Contacts, Submissions)

• Download Contact Information: Go to your Wix Dashboard > Contacts > Export Contacts. You’ll have the option to export your contacts to a CSV file.
• Download Form Submissions: For form submissions, go to the Wix Forms app on your dashboard, locate your forms, and manually download submission data by clicking “Download CSV.”

Step 3 – Import Data From Wix to Squarespace

Import Text Content

• Navigate to Pages: In Squarespace, go to the Pages section of the dashboard.
• Create New Pages: Add new pages that match your previous Wix site structure.
• Copy and Paste Text: Paste the text content from your documents (previously copied from Wix) into the relevant sections on each page in Squarespace.

Upload Images

• Access Media Library: In the Squarespace editor, go to any page or section where you want to insert an image.
• Upload Images: Click Add Image and upload your images one by one from the folder where you saved them from Wix.
• Organize Galleries: Use Squarespace’s gallery blocks to rebuild galleries, placing your images in the appropriate locations.

Recreate Blog Posts

• Go to Blog Page: In Squarespace, navigate to the Blog section (create one if necessary).
• Manually Add Posts: Click Add Post and copy the blog titles, content, and publication dates from the RSS feed XML or your manual backup.
• Upload Blog Images: If your posts had images, upload them as part of each post.

Rebuild Forms (for Contact and Form Submissions)

• Go to Form Block: In Squarespace, add a Form Block to any page where forms existed on your Wix site.
• Configure Fields: Customize the form fields to match the forms you had on Wix. You can refer to the CSV files you downloaded from Wix to ensure you capture all necessary fields.

Step 4 – Move Your Domain from Wix to Squarespace

If your domain is registered through Wix, you can transfer it to Squarespace. The process typically takes up to seven days, so plan for some downtime. Here’s how to do it:

• Unlock Your Domain: In your Wix account, go to “Domains” and unlock your domain.
• Get the Authorization Code: Request the authorization (EPP) code needed for the transfer.
• Transfer Domain to Squarespace: In your Squarespace dashboard, go to “Settings” > “Domains,” and select “Use a Domain I Own.” Enter your domain name and follow the prompts to initiate the transfer.

If you’re using a third-party registrar, you can simply update the DNS settings to point to your Squarespace site.

Step 5 – Cancel Service with Wix

After successfully transferring your domain and ensuring that your new Squarespace site is live, you can cancel your Wix account. Follow these steps:

• Back Up Any Remaining Data: Before canceling, make sure to back up any data you might need in the future.
• Cancel Premium Plan: In your Wix account, go to “Billing” and cancel your premium plan. You can continue to use your Wix site until the end of your billing cycle.
• Close Account (Optional): If you no longer need access to Wix, you can close your account completely.