How to switch from WordPress site to Squarespace?
Step 1: Backup Your Database
When migrating from WordPress site to Squarespace, ensuring the security of your data is crucial. At LitExtension, we prioritize the safety of your data throughout the migration process. Our services are designed to prevent any data loss or alterations, giving you peace of mind.
However, it’s always wise to create a comprehensive backup of your database before starting the migration. This step serves as a safety net, ensuring that you have a secure copy of your data in case any unexpected issues arise during the transition.
Keep in mind that each platform has its unique method for exporting and securing databases. For detailed instructions, refer to the official documentation of both WordPress and Squarespace to successfully back up your data.
Step 2: Set Up a New Store on Squarespace
Once your data is securely backed up, the next step is to set up a new store on Squarespace. Start by creating a new account on the platform and follow their setup instructions. During this process, you’ll need to provide essential information about your business and the products you intend to sell.
Setting up your Squarespace store is a straightforward process and should only take a few minutes. Completing this step will lay the foundation for your new online store, ready to receive the migrated content from your WordPress site.
By following these initial steps, you ensure a smooth and secure transition from WordPress store to Squarespace, setting the stage for a successful eCommerce migration.
Step 3: Identify Pages to Keep and Remove
It’s important to review your WordPress site and decide which pages should be migrated to Squarespace and which can be removed. This cleanup helps simplify the process and ensures that only relevant content gets transferred. Look for outdated posts, pages with low traffic, or redundant content that can be consolidated or discarded.
- Create a list of essential pages, blog posts, and any other content types that will be migrated.
- Review analytics to prioritize high-traffic pages and decide on any design changes that could benefit your new Squarespace site.
Step 4: Export Content from WordPress
- Log into your WordPress dashboard.
- Go to Tools > Export.
- Select the content you want to export (you can export all content or specific content such as pages, posts, etc.).
- Click Download Export File. This will create an XML file that contains your site content.
Note: WordPress content like posts, pages, and media can be exported, but some custom features or themes may not carry over directly. It’s important to be aware that dynamic content like plugins or widgets will need to be manually recreated on Squarespace.
Step 5: Import Content to Squarespace
- Log in to your Squarespace account, or create a new site.
- Go to Settings > Advanced > Import/Export.
- Select WordPress as the platform you’re migrating from.
- Upload the XML file you exported from WordPress and follow the prompts to complete the import process.
Step 6: Transfer SEO Settings Manually
SEO settings, such as metadata, URL structure, and alt tags, won’t automatically transfer from WordPress to Squarespace. This step is crucial to maintain your search engine rankings.
- Copy the meta titles and meta descriptions from WordPress.
- Navigate to the appropriate page or post in Squarespace.
- Manually paste the meta information into SEO settings under each page.
While Squarespace is SEO-friendly, you’ll need to adjust URL slugs if they differ from WordPress to maintain the SEO integrity of your pages.
Step 7: Move Domain to Squarespace
- In Squarespace, go to Settings > Domains.
- Choose whether you are transferring an existing domain or connecting one from another provider.
- Follow the step-by-step instructions from your domain registrar to point your domain to Squarespace.
Note: Ensure the DNS settings are updated to reflect your new Squarespace website. This may take some time to propagate, but once complete, your domain will point to the new site.
Step 8: Redirect Pages with URL Changes
If your URLs change in the migration, set up 301 redirects to prevent broken links and ensure visitors (and search engines) are redirected to the correct pages.
Go to Settings > Advanced > URL Mappings in your Squarespace dashboard.
Create 301 redirects for any pages where the URL structure has changed. The format should look like this:
bash:
/old-url -> /new-url 301
Step 9: Test for Broken Links
- Use tools like Google Search Console or online broken link checkers to crawl your site.
- Manually check important pages to ensure they are working as expected.
- Fix any broken links or missing images that you discover during the testing phase.
Final Check: Ensure all internal links, navigation menus, and redirects work properly before launching the new Squarespace site live.
Migrating from WordPress to Squarespace with LitExtension
LitExtension provides an automated process for transferring content, saving time, and reducing errors. Here’s how you can migrate from WordPress to Squarespace following these steps:
Step 1: Set Up WordPress and Squarespace Store
Before initiating the migration, you need to prepare both your WordPress site and your new Squarespace store.
Source Cart Setup
- Log in to your LitExtension account and start a new migration.
- In the Source Cart dropdown list, select WooCommerce (or WordPress if WooCommerce is not installed).
- Enter your WordPress store URL and follow the brief instructions to set up the WooCommerce migration process. This will involve installing the LitExtension Connector on your WordPress site, which allows the service to access and migrate your data.
Target Cart Setup
- Choose Squarespace as the Target Cart.
- Provide your Squarespace account information to allow LitExtension to transfer the selected data directly into your new Squarespace site.
Step 2: Select Data You Want to Migrate from WordPress to Squarespace
Once your stores are set up, it’s time to choose which specific data you want to transfer from WordPress to Squarespace. LitExtension allows you to migrate a wide range of data entities, which is especially useful for eCommerce sites.
Select Data Entities: During the migration setup, you will be able to choose which elements of your WooCommerce site to transfer, including:
- Products: Product names, descriptions, prices, images, SKUs, and variants.
- Categories: Product categories and subcategories, preserving the organizational structure of your store.
- Orders: Historical order data, including order IDs, customer details, products purchased, and payment information.
- Customers: Customer information such as names, email addresses, and account creation dates.
- SEO URLs: Keep your original WordPress URLs intact to preserve SEO rankings.
- Other Content: You can also migrate blog posts, pages, media files, and other website content if needed.
Advanced Options: LitExtension also offers options to migrate additional settings such as product reviews, tax rules, and even multi-language support. Configure these options based on your specific migration needs.
Step 3: Perform Full Replatforming to Squarespace
Start the Migration: Once everything is configured, begin the migration by clicking the Start Full Migration button. The process will now move all your selected data from your WordPress WooCommerce store to your Squarespace site.
- The migration process runs in the background, meaning you can close your browser or continue working on other tasks while LitExtension handles the heavy lifting.
- You can monitor the progress of the migration through the LitExtension dashboard. Depending on the size of your store, the migration might take some time, but the system will notify you once it’s complete.
Verify and Finalize the Migration:
- Once the migration is complete, review your Squarespace store to ensure all data, products, categories, and orders have been successfully transferred.
- Test important functions, such as your store’s checkout process, customer account pages, and any other crucial elements.
- You may need to tweak the design or formatting of content to better fit Squarespace’s platform and templates.
How It Works
