How Do I Move From WordPress to Squarespace?

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Migrating a self-hosted WordPress site to Squarespace may seem overwhelming, but with careful planning and execution, you can transition smoothly. This guide will take you through every step — from preparation and content migration to SEO preservation, design adjustments, and launching your new site.

Whether you're a Squarespace web designer helping clients migrate or a business owner looking to simplify website management, this guide will help you move from WordPress to Squarespace seamlessly while maintaining your content, search rankings, and functionality.

Pre-Migration Preparation

Before starting the migration, take time to evaluate your website and back up everything. Moving platforms is like moving to a new house—you need to know what to bring and how to arrange it in the new space.

Understanding the Differences: WordPress vs. Squarespace

WordPress (self-hosted via WordPress.org) is an open-source CMS that requires separate hosting, plugins, and theme management. Squarespace, on the other hand, is a hosted website builder that provides built-in tools and hosting in one package.

Key Differences:

  • Customization: WordPress offers full flexibility with themes, plugins, and code, whereas Squarespace has a structured, drag-and-drop editor with limited third-party integrations.

  • Hosting & Maintenance: WordPress requires separate hosting and maintenance, while Squarespace includes secure hosting, SSL, and automatic updates.

  • Plugins & Features: WordPress has thousands of plugins for added functionality, but Squarespace offers a curated set of built-in features.

Knowing these differences will help you set the right expectations for your new site.

Assessing Your WordPress Site

Before migration, take an inventory of your website:

  • Pages & Blog Posts: List all pages and blog posts that need to be transferred.

  • Media Files: Identify images, videos, and downloadable files.

  • Plugins & Integrations: Note which WordPress plugins you use and find Squarespace alternatives.

  • Navigation & Menus: Document your site's menu structure and internal linking.

  • SEO Data: Record your meta titles, descriptions, and permalinks.

Backing Up Your WordPress Site

Always create a full backup before migrating:

  • Use WordPress Export Tool: In your WordPress dashboard, go to Tools > Export > All Content and download the XML file.

  • Backup Media & Database: Use a plugin like UpdraftPlus or All-in-One WP Migration to back up files and database.

  • Screenshot Key Pages: This helps for reference when recreating design elements in Squarespace.

Setting Up a Squarespace Trial Site

Before making your site public, build it in a private Squarespace trial. Sign up at Squarespace.com and choose a starting template that closely matches your desired layout. Remember:

  • All Squarespace 7.1 templates share the same customization options—so pick based on structure, not just style.

  • Enable Site Password under Settings > Website Availability to keep your work private during setup.

Content Migration: Moving Pages, Posts, and Media

Now that your Squarespace site is ready, it's time to move your content.

Importing Content from WordPress to Squarespace

Squarespace provides an import tool to transfer your blog posts and pages:

  1. Go to Settings > Import/Export.

  2. Choose WordPress as the source.

  3. Upload your WordPress XML file.

  4. Select "Advanced Import" to ensure all content types are included.

  5. Wait for processing and review imported content.

Manual Adjustments After Import

Not everything transfers perfectly—after the import, manually check for missing elements:

  • Fix Formatting Issues: Clean up any strange spacing or formatting.

  • Recreate Navigation Menus: Manually set up menu structures and internal links.

  • Upload Missing Media: Some images won’t transfer, so re-upload where necessary.

  • Rebuild Forms & Widgets: WordPress plugins (like contact forms) need replacement with Squarespace’s Form Blocks.

Handling Shortcodes, Custom Post Types, and Attachments

  • WordPress Shortcodes won't work in Squarespace. Replace them with Squarespace’s Code Blocks or native features.

  • Custom Post Types (e.g., portfolios, testimonials) should be recreated as standard pages or blog categories.

  • PDFs & Downloads need to be manually uploaded to Squarespace and relinked.

Design and Layout Transition

Since WordPress themes can’t be imported, you’ll need to rebuild your site’s design using Squarespace’s customization tools.

Choosing a Squarespace Template

All Squarespace 7.1 templates share the same features, so pick one that closely matches your old site’s layout and structure.

Customizing Styles

Adjust your Squarespace template to match your brand:

  • Site Styles: Change fonts, colors, and spacing (Design > Site Styles).

  • Logo & Branding: Upload your logo and favicon.

  • Homepage Sections: Use Squarespace’s Section Editor to recreate layouts.

  • Galleries & Sliders: Rebuild image galleries using the Gallery Block.

Navigation and Site Structure

  • Delete Placeholder Pages and arrange your pages in the correct hierarchy.

  • Rebuild Dropdown Menus using Folders in the Pages panel.

  • Adjust Footer Content to match your old WordPress site.

SEO and URL Structure: Preserving Search Rankings

Setting Up 301 Redirects

Ensure your old WordPress URLs properly redirect to your new Squarespace site:

  1. In Squarespace, go to Settings > Advanced > URL Mappings.

  2. Enter old-to-new redirects in this format:

    /old-page -> /new-page 301

  3. Test your redirects using Google Search Console.

Optimizing SEO Settings

  • Update Meta Titles & Descriptions for all pages (Page Settings > SEO tab).

  • Submit Your Sitemap (yourdomain.com/sitemap.xml) to Google Search Console.

  • Ensure Proper Heading Tags (H1, H2, H3) for readability and SEO.

  • Enable SSL for security and better rankings (Settings > Security & SSL).

Going Live: Launching Your Squarespace Site

Connecting Your Custom Domain

  • Option 1: Transfer Domain to Squarespace (Recommended for simplicity).

  • Option 2: Keep Domain with Your Current Registrar and update A Records & CNAME in your DNS settings.

Final Launch Checklist

Before making your site public:

✅ Test all links and forms

✅ Check mobile responsiveness

✅ Monitor traffic in Google Analytics

✅ Announce the migration to your audience

Post-Migration Considerations

  • Monitor Google Search Console for errors

  • Update social media links & email signatures

  • Encourage visitors to explore the new site

  • Regularly publish content to maintain SEO rankings

Resources for a Smooth Migration

  • Squarespace Help Center: https://support.squarespace.com

  • CMS2CMS Migration Service: Automates content transfer for large sites.

  • Google Search Console: Track SEO performance post-migration.

  • MemberSpace: Adds membership functionality to Squarespace.

Final Thoughts

Migrating from WordPress to Squarespace is a major change, but with this guide, you can ensure a smooth transition while maintaining SEO, design integrity, and functionality. Enjoy the simplicity and power of Squarespace!

If you found this guide helpful, feel free to share it with others making the switch!

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