How Do I Switch From Squarespace to Wix?
Switching from Squarespace to Wix involves several detailed steps to ensure a smooth transition without losing your website's data, functionality, or search engine rankings. Below are the comprehensive steps to help you switch from Squarespace to Wix:
1. Evaluate Your Current Website
Audit Your Content: - List your pages, blog posts, images, and any other assets. - Note any custom code or third-party integrations.
Map Your Site Structure: - Create a sitemap of your current Squarespace website for reference.
2. Prepare Your Content
Export Content from Squarespace (where possible): - Squarespace does not allow you to export all types of content easily. Generally, you can export: - Blog Posts: Use the Export option from your Squarespace Blog settings. - Pages: Manually copy and paste the text content. - Images and Videos: Download and save all media files.
Backup Your Content: - Store all copied content and media files in a dedicated folder on your computer or cloud storage.
3. Set Up Your Wix Account
- Sign up for a Wix account (if you don't already have one).
- Choose a plan that fits your needs. If you're moving a large site or need e-commerce functionalities, consider a premium plan.
4. Rebuild Your Website on Wix
Select a Template: - Choose a Wix template that closely matches your current design or the new look you want.
Recreate Pages: - Create new pages on Wix that match the structure of your Squarespace site.
Transfer Content: - Manually copy and paste text content into the new pages on Wix. - Upload your saved images and videos to the corresponding pages.
Configure Design and Layout: - Customize the design (fonts, colors, layouts, etc.) to match your original site or your new design intentions.
5. Reconfigure Functionality
Reintegrate Plugins/Input Widgets: - Use Wix’s App Market to find and install equivalent apps or widgets. - Ensure features such as contact forms, galleries, and social media integrations are reconfigured.
Recreate Custom Code: - If you had custom code in your Squarespace site, incorporate it into your new Wix site using the HTML embed elements or Wix Code (Velo).
6. SEO and Redirects
Set Up SEO: - Transfer meta descriptions, alt texts for images, and page titles from Squarespace to Wix. - Use Wix SEO tools to optimize your new site.
Set Up URL Redirects: - Create 301 redirects from your old Squarespace URLs to your new Wix URLs to maintain SEO rankings and ensure visitors reach the correct pages.
7. Test Your New Site
- Preview your site extensively.
- Test on various devices and browsers to confirm responsiveness and functionality.
- Click through each page and test contact forms, links, and any interactive elements.
8. Switch Your Domain
Update DNS Settings: - If you purchased the domain through Squarespace, you'll need to transfer it or update the DNS settings to point to your new Wix site. - Go to your Squarespace Domain settings. - Locate the DNS settings and update them to point to Wix’s nameservers. - If your domain is purchased through a third-party registrar, log in to your account and update the DNS settings to direct traffic to Wix’s servers.
9. Final Touches
Verify Your Site: - Verify your new site setup with Google Search Console and Bing Webmaster Tools. - Submit the new sitemap.
Announce the Transition: - Inform your audience about the transition. - If relevant, send out newsletters or social media updates with the new website information.
Limitations and Considerations
Data Loss: - Some data like comments, user accounts, or certain types of data might not migrate smoothly.
Downtime: - Plan for possible downtime during the transition period.
Learning Curve: - Familiarize yourself with Wix’s dashboard and features, which might be different from Squarespace’s platform.
Switching from Squarespace to Wix can be a meticulous process that requires attention to detail to avoid disruptions. However, with careful planning and execution, you can achieve a seamless transition.