Can I Move My Website From Squarespace to Shopify?
Yes, you can move your website from Squarespace to Shopify. However, the process involves several key steps, and what you’ll need to do depends on the type of content you have—whether it’s a full website with pages and blog posts or an e-commerce site with products, customer data, and orders.
How to Migrate: A Step-by-Step Guide
1. Pre-Migration Considerations
Before you start, think through these important questions:
What content do you need to move?
Pages & Blog Posts: Do you have custom pages and blog content?
Products & E-Commerce Data: Are you running an online store that includes products, customer accounts, or order history?
Custom Integrations or Features: Are there any third-party integrations, custom code snippets, or unique features that need attention?
Design:
Do you want to replicate your current design exactly, or are you open to using a new theme on Shopify?
Technical Options:
Do you prefer a manual migration (copy-pasting content, using CSV exports) or an automated approach using Shopify’s Store Importer app or a migration service?
Backup:
Make sure to back up your Squarespace content (via export or manual backup) before making any changes.
2. Exporting Your Data from Squarespace
a. Exporting Site Content (Pages & Blogs):
Access the Export Tool: In Squarespace, go to Settings > Advanced > Import/Export.
Export Your Content:
Click Export (usually via the WordPress icon) to generate an XML file containing your pages and blog posts.
Download the XML file to your computer.
Note:
Not all content (like some custom code or galleries) may export, so be prepared to re-create or manually adjust this content later.
b. Exporting E-Commerce Data:
Products:
In your Squarespace Commerce panel, export your product list as a CSV file.
Customers & Orders:
Similarly, export customer data and order history as CSV files if needed.
3. Importing Data into Shopify
a. Setting Up Your Shopify Store:
Create Your Store: Sign up for Shopify if you haven’t already.
Access the Shopify Admin: This is where you’ll manage your store and perform the import.
b. Using Shopify’s Store Importer:
Install the Store Importer App:
From the Shopify App Store, install the Store Importer (it’s often free and made by Shopify).
Select Squarespace as Your Source:
When prompted, choose Squarespace as your migration source.
Upload Your Files:
Upload the XML file for your pages/blog posts and the CSV files for products, customers, and orders.
Run the Import:
Follow the prompts to complete the import process. Shopify will create products, pages, and customer profiles based on your uploaded data.
Manual Adjustments:
Review the imported data. Some items might need manual adjustment or additional formatting.
4. Redesigning Your Site on Shopify
a. Choose a Shopify Theme:
Browse Themes:
In Shopify’s Online Store > Themes, choose a theme that suits your brand.
Customize:
Use Shopify’s Theme Editor to adjust colors, fonts, and layout to match your branding.
Rebuild Pages:
Recreate or adjust pages (like “About” or “Contact”) using the content from your export.
b. Set Up Navigation:
Menus:
Rebuild your site’s navigation in Online Store > Navigation so that all important pages and collections are easily accessible.
5. Domain Transfer
a. Preparing Your Domain:
Unlock and Obtain Authorization:
In Squarespace, unlock your custom domain and get the transfer (EPP) code.
b. Transfer or Connect the Domain:
Transfer to Shopify:
In Shopify, go to Settings > Domains and choose Transfer Domain. Follow the prompts by entering your domain name and authorization code.
Alternatively, Connect Your Domain:
If you prefer not to transfer the domain registration, update your DNS settings to point to Shopify’s servers (e.g., setting the A record to Shopify’s IP address and the CNAME record to
shops.myshopify.com).
6. SEO Considerations
a. Preserve Your SEO:
Set Up 301 Redirects:
If your URL structure changes, use 301 redirects to send old URLs to the new ones. This helps preserve your search rankings.
Transfer Metadata:
Ensure meta titles, descriptions, and alt text for images are recreated or transferred on Shopify.
Analytics:
Set up Google Analytics and update your Google Search Console settings with your new sitemap (Shopify auto-generates a sitemap at
/sitemap.xml).
7. Testing and Going Live
a. Pre-Launch Testing:
Preview Your Site:
Navigate through your Shopify site in preview mode to check that all pages, products, and links work correctly.
Test on Multiple Devices:
Ensure your site is responsive by testing on desktop, tablet, and mobile devices.
Test E-Commerce Functionality:
If you’re running an online store, do a test checkout using Shopify’s Bogus Payment Gateway or a real payment method to verify order processing.
b. Launch Your Site:
Remove Password Protection:
Once testing is complete, remove any password protection in Online Store > Preferences.
Double-Check Domain Settings:
Ensure your custom domain is properly connected and set as the primary domain.
8. Post-Migration Checklist
✅ Content Check: Verify that all pages, blog posts, products, and customer information have been correctly imported.
✅ Link Verification: Test all internal links and menus to ensure there are no 404 errors.
✅ SEO and Redirects: Confirm that 301 redirects are working as expected and monitor Google Search Console for any crawl errors.
✅ Analytics Verification: Check that Google Analytics (or other tracking tools) are capturing visitor data correctly.
✅ Finalize Domain & Email: Ensure your email settings (MX records) are correct if you use a custom email domain.
✅ Ongoing Monitoring: Keep an eye on site performance, customer feedback, and order processing for a few weeks after launch to address any issues promptly.
By following these steps and referring to official Shopify and Squarespace documentation for the most up-to-date instructions, you can successfully move your website from Squarespace to Shopify without relying on any single third-party source. If you have any specific questions about any of these steps, feel free to ask!