How Do I Move My Website From GoDaddy to Squarespace?

Moving your website from GoDaddy to Squarespace can be a straightforward process if you follow the steps carefully. Here’s a detailed guide to help you through the transition:

Step 1: Evaluate Your Current Website

Before initiating the move, evaluate your current website's content and functionality on GoDaddy. Note down the elements you need to migrate, including text, images, videos, customer data, and any e-commerce functionality.

Step 2: Create a Squarespace Account

1. Sign Up: Go to Squarespace.com, click on “Get Started,” and sign up for an account.
2. Choose a Template: Select a template that closely matches your existing website or choose a new look if you want a redesign. Remember, you can further customize the template later.

Step 3: Build Your New Website on Squarespace

1. Familiarize Yourself with Squarespace: Spend some time understanding the interface and tools available.
2. Recreate Pages: Manually recreate the pages from your GoDaddy site on Squarespace by copying the text, images, and other media.
3. Import Blog Content: If you have a blog, you can import your posts into Squarespace. Go to Settings > Advanced > Import/Export > Import, and follow the prompts to import your content.
4. Set Up E-commerce (Optional): If you have an online store, you’ll need to set it up on Squarespace. Go to Commerce > Inventory and start adding products, setting up payment gateways, and configuring shipping options.

Step 4: Verify and Customize

1. Check Functionality: Make sure that all forms, buttons, and interactive elements on your new Squarespace site work correctly.
2. Customize Design: Use Squarespace’s design tools to adjust colors, fonts, and layouts according to your brand guidelines.

Step 5: Domain Transfer from GoDaddy to Squarespace

1. Unlock Your Domain: Log in to your GoDaddy account, go to Domain Settings, and make sure your domain is unlocked for transfer.
2. Obtain EPP Code: Still in GoDaddy, request the EPP (Authorization) code. This will be sent to your registered email address.
3. Initiate Domain Transfer in Squarespace:
4. Go to Settings > Domains > Use a Domain I Own.
5. Enter the domain name you want to transfer and click on Next.
6. Choose Transfer Domain.
7. Follow the prompts to enter the EPP code and complete the transfer process.

Step 6: Update DNS Settings (If Not Transferring)

If you prefer to keep your domain registered with GoDaddy, you’ll need to update your DNS settings to point to Squarespace: 1. Get DNS Records: In Squarespace, navigate to Settings > Domains > Use a Domain I Own > Connect Domain > DNS Settings. Note down the required CNAME and A records. 2. Update DNS in GoDaddy: - Log in to GoDaddy and go to Domain Settings. - Find the DNS Management section and update your DNS records as per the information provided by Squarespace. - Save your changes.

Step 7: Test Your New Website

• Preview and Test: Thoroughly review your new website on Squarespace. Check for broken links, formatting issues, and ensure that the website looks good on various devices (desktop, tablet, mobile).
• SEO Settings: Ensure you have set up the basic SEO settings in Squarespace. Go to Marketing > SEO and configure title tags, meta descriptions, and other SEO elements.

Step 8: Cancel GoDaddy Hosting (Optional)

Once you have confirmed that your new website is fully functional and the domain transfer or DNS update is successfully pointing to Squarespace, you can cancel your hosting plan with GoDaddy to avoid unnecessary charges.

Additional Considerations

• Email Accounts: If you have email accounts associated with your GoDaddy domain, consider setting them up with a new email provider (such as Google Workspace) if necessary.
• Downtime: There could be a brief period of downtime as DNS changes propagate. Typically, this can take up to 48 hours.
• Backup: Always take a backup of your website data before making significant changes or initiating the transfer.

Limitations

• Manual Work: Most content needs to be manually moved, which can be time-consuming for larger websites.
• Loss of Some Features: Custom functionalities on your GoDaddy site might not have direct counterparts on Squarespace, requiring potential reconfiguration or the use of different methods.

By following these steps, you can successfully move your website from GoDaddy to Squarespace with minimal disruption.