Squarespace to WordPress Migration Made Easy

Squarespace to WordPress Migration is a common move for businesses seeking more flexibility and control.

Squarespace is a user-friendly website builder with beautiful templates and drag-and-drop tools, ideal for creating sites without technical skills.

However, as businesses grow, many switch to WordPress for its scalability and customization options.

Powering over 40% of the web, WordPress offers endless possibilities through themes, plugins, and full code access, making Squarespace to WordPress Migration a smart choice for long-term growth.

Common reasons for migrating from Squarespace to WordPress

Many website owners outgrow Squarespace as they look for greater flexibility and control. Key reasons for switching include:

• Complete ownership of website files and content.
• Enhanced SEO options with tools like Yoast SEO.
• Unlimited customization through themes, plugins, and direct code access.
• Faster site performance and improved loading speeds.
• Expanded third-party integrations for marketing, analytics, and e-commerce.

Squarespace to WordPress Migration: Step-by-Step Guide 

1. Getting Ready for the Migration

Before starting the technical steps, take some time to plan the structure and design of your new WordPress website.

Think about how you want your pages, menus, and content to be organized. Make a note of any custom features or functionalities you want to recreate in WordPress.

A little planning upfront can save you time, effort, and money in the long run, making the migration process much smoother.

2. Set Up Your WordPress Site

• Select a Hosting Provider: Sign up for a plan with a reliable hosting provider to ensure optimal performance.
• Secure Your Domain: Transfer your existing Squarespace domain or register a new one.
• Set Up WordPress: Follow your hosting provider’s instructions to install and configure WordPress on your domain.

3.  Assessing Your Current Squarespace Site

• Pages, blog posts, images, videos, and files.
• Contact forms, e-commerce sections, and any other special functionalities.
• Custom CSS or code injections used on your site.
• Review your site’s structure and content on Squarespace before exporting.

4. Exporting Content from Squarespace to WordPress

Navigate to Import & Export Content:

To start the export process, navigate to Settings > Import & Export Content in your Squarespace dashboard. Choose the template you want to export, finalize your design, and then proceed with the export.

Select Export Option:

Click on the Export button. A pop-up will appear asking where you want to export your content. Choose WordPress as the export destination.

Export Process:

Once you select WordPress, Squarespace will begin processing the export. It will process all your pages, blog posts, and content included in the export.

Download the Export File:

After processing is complete, you will see a Download button. Click it to download the exported XML file, which you will use to import content into WordPress.

Once the file is downloaded, verify that the export file has been saved to your computer. This file will have an .xml extension and is necessary for WordPress import.

5. Import Images from Squarespace

Since Squarespace does not automatically include images in the XML export file, you need to manually transfer them. You can use the Auto Upload Images plugin to efficiently import images.

Steps to Import Images with Auto Upload Images

1. Install the Plugin

• Go to Plugins > Add New in WordPress.
• Search for Auto Upload Images and install it.
• Click Activate after installation.

2. Run the Image Import Process

• Go to Posts > All Posts or Pages > All Pages.
• Select all posts/pages with missing images.
• Click Edit > Update without making changes—this triggers the plugin to fetch and store images locally.

3. Verify Imported Images

• Navigate to Media > Library to check if images have been imported.

6. Customize Your WordPress Website

• Select a Theme: Choose a WordPress theme that closely matches your Squarespace site’s design or hire a web designer for a custom theme.

• Set Up Your Website: Adjust your theme, menus, and widgets to make your site look and work the way you want.
• Add Custom Features: If your Squarespace site had special features, use WordPress plugins or a developer to recreate them easily.

7. Importing a Squarespace Website into WordPress

 Access WordPress Import Tool:

1. Log in to your WordPress admin dashboard.
2. Go to Tools > Import.
3. Look for the WordPress importer and click Install Now if it is not installed.
4. Once installed, click Run Importer.

Upload the Exported Squarespace File:

1. Click Choose File and select the .xml file you downloaded from Squarespace.
2. Click Upload file and import.

Assign Content to Users:

1. WordPress will ask you to assign authors to the imported content.
2. You can assign content to an existing user or create a new user.
3. Make sure to check the option Download and import file attachments to import images and other media.
4. Click Submit to start the import process.

Verify Imported Content:

1. Once the import is complete, go to Pages and Posts in WordPress to confirm that all your Squarespace content has been imported successfully.
2. Check your website’s front-end to ensure everything appears correctly.

Configure Permalinks and Design:

1. Go to Settings > Permalinks and choose a structure that matches your old Squarespace URLs (e.g., Post name).
2. Customize your theme and install necessary plugins to replicate your old site’s design and functionality.

8. Set Up URL Redirects (SEO Maintenance)

Create Redirects: Use a redirection plugin to seamlessly direct visitors from your old Squarespace URLs to your new WordPress URLs, ensuring a smooth transition without broken links.

This step helps preserve website traffic and search engine rankings.

9. Test Your Website

• Thoroughly Test Functionality: Ensure all pages, links, forms, and interactive elements work correctly.
• Address Issues: If any plugins or features are not working, update them or seek professional help if needed.

10. Launch Your WordPress Site

• Final Review: After finalizing your site’s design and features, it’s time to launch it and make it live.
• Monitor Performance: Keep an eye out for any issues post-launch and ensure WordPress, themes, and plugins are regularly updated for smooth performance.

By following these steps, you can successfully move your website from Squarespace to WordPress, gaining more flexibility, customization options, and growth potential!

Conclusion

Migrating from Squarespace to WordPress opens up endless possibilities for customization, control, and growth.

While the process may seem overwhelming, the long-term benefits of owning a fully flexible, high-performance website make the transition worthwhile.

With WordPress, you have complete control over your site’s design, functionality, and SEO, allowing for better scalability and future enhancements.

Plus, with thousands of plugins and themes available, you can easily customize your site to fit your exact needs.

Ready to make the switch? Let us handle your Squarespace to WordPress migration — so you can focus on growing your business without the technical hassle.