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If you’re debating whether to move your Squarespace site to WordPress, you’re not alone my friend. Many business owners, bloggers, and ecommerce entrepreneurs face this decision as they scale their online presence. We’ll also preface this by saying; we’re not necessarily pro one or the other – we don’t like to think of there being one platform that works for everyone. But it depends on where you are in your business. So, let’s break down the entire process to help you decide if making the switch is the right direction for your business now.
Why Consider Switching to WordPress?
WordPress is by far the most popular CMS in the world for good reasons. It offers unmatched customization options, scalability, and advanced developer tools that make it a really great option for business owners who want full control over their websites. However, moving from Squarespace to a self-hosted WordPress site involves some work and planning, so it’s worth weighing the pros and cons before taking the next step.
Can’t Debate These: Key Benefits of WordPress
There are a number of features that WordPress simply does best. And we’re confident that no matter who you ask, they’ll agree. Here are some of our favourites and why we often choose or suggest WordPress for clients.
- Customization: You can create and do just about anything on a WordPress site. Customizations are endless and if you’re working with a developer, they can truly customize every little detail on your site. You’ll never be limited by templates or design constraints.
- Advanced Features: WordPress supports plugins for everything from SEO to Google Analytics integration, giving you more tools to grow your website. It’s also industry-famous for integrating with just about anything or anyone!
- Cost-Effectiveness: A WordPress hosting plan paired with free or paid themes often costs less than Squarespace’s tiered pricing model. Shocked? We were too, but it’s true. You’re actually paying less – but of course, there are design fees that you need to take into account. More on that in a minute.
So Then, When is Switching a Good Idea?
While we do love Squarespace and work with many clients on the platform for a number of reasons – speed, DIY-friendly, visually pleasing… there is a moment when moving to WordPress is often a better choice. I’d consider it if you:
- Need an e-commerce store with advanced tools and Shopify just isn’t cutting it.
- Want more control over your URL structure, content and integration.
- Require extra functionality like complex email marmeting, customizable forms, dynamic blog posts, or a robust content management system (CMS).
However, the learning curve can be steep for new users, and the migration process involves several steps.
Migrating from Squarespace to WordPress – How We Can Help!
Here’s a step-by-step guide to ensure a smooth transition, which we do seamlessly for you:
1. First Step: Export Content
We start by exporting everything that we can from your Squarespace account. One of the downsides to a fully-hosted site is that you don’t own everything, so there will be elements that will not come with us! Note that not all elements (like certain index pages or event pages) transfer perfectly.
2. Set Up Your New WordPress Site
We’ll migrate your domain, content and anything else you want to take with you over to your freshly pressed and ready to go WordPress platform on our web hosting partner, who we love and trust with all we got! It includes a free SSL certificate and solid customer support.
3. WordPress Site Design
We’ll then import all your content into WordPress and start designing your new site. This process can take anywhere between one to six weeks, depending on the complexity of your business and pages you need to have.
4. Customize and Add Functionality
Working with you very closely, we’re going to create a branding kit that tells your unique business story. We’ll apply that to your new site and then work on creating magic – copywriting, marketing, linking, graphics, integrations and SEO.
7. Test and Launch
Before launching your new WordPress website, we’ll check for any broken links, mismatched old Squarespace URLs, and other potential issues. We’ll then make necessary adjustments in the WordPress dashboard and ensure your website is mobile-friendly across all mobile devices.
It’s Only Fair Though, Squarespace is also a Great Option!
Squarespace is an excellent website platform for specific use cases and types of users. Here’s when Squarespace might be the best choice for you:
1. If You Value Ease of Use
Squarespace is a beginner-friendly website builder with an intuitive drag-and-drop interface. It makes getting a site up and running incredible easy, which isn’t a bad thing! It’s ideal if you:
- Want to build a website quickly with minimal technical skills.
- Prefer an all-in-one platform where hosting, templates, and tools are seamlessly integrated.
- Need a straightforward solution with fewer moving parts compared to WordPress or other platforms.
2. If You Prioritize Beautiful Design
Squarespace’s pre-designed templates are stylish and professional, we admit! We love some of their templates and have created wonderful sites with their various sections and design options. They’re especially catered towards:
- Creative professionals (e.g., photographers, designers, artists).
- Businesses that need visually stunning websites but what to DIY it.
3. For Small Businesses with Simple (Not A Bad thing!) Needs
If you’re a small business owner or solopreneur who doesn’t require advanced customizations, Squarespace can be a good idea. It’s particularly suited for:
- Businesses that don’t plan to scale extensively or need advanced features.
- Local businesses needing an elegant and simple online presence.
Squarespace is perfect for those who want an easy, do-it-yourself visually appealing solution for personal, business, or creative websites. If your needs fit within its capabilities, it’s a better choice for simplicity and style. However, if your website goals include significant customization, scalability, or advanced features, you might eventually outgrow Squarespace and consider other platforms, if not now than maybe sometime in the future. And that’s ok too!
Join The Good Canvas
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Book a free discovery call where we can have a chat, learn about your business and answer any questions you may have.
GUIDES AND RESOURCES
- Curious to Learn How To Add Links To Your Site? Download our Free Internal Linking Checklist
- Download Our Free Pinterest Guide – How to Create, Schedule and Post Pins
- How To Index Your Website With Google
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ABOUT THIS POST
This post is written by Donata Delano – A Web Designer, Professional Artist and Architect based in Burlington, Canada. She specializing in visual communication and web design, creating branding solutions and websites that are thoughtful, unique and aesthetically pleasing.
