Moving from Wix to Squarespace: What to Plan Before Switching
A Wix to Squarespace migration usually involves rebuilding the website’s presentation and reviewing how content and business functions will move. It is not a transfer of the complete Wix design into the Squarespace editor.
Wix explains that its websites rely on Wix’s infrastructure and proprietary technology. That is why moving to another platform should be planned as a new implementation, with content and data handled according to their type. Wix’s explanation of external hosting
Before switching, confirm that Squarespace fits the way your business operates. A successful migration preserves the information and functions customers need while giving your team a website it can manage confidently.
Decide what the move should improve
Write down the reason for changing platforms. It might be a simpler editing experience, a different design approach or a better fit with your content workflow.
Then distinguish platform limitations from problems that could exist anywhere. Unclear service descriptions, weak photography and confusing navigation will still need attention after a move.
If the existing website performs an important task reliably, include that task in your requirements. The new site should not lose a useful function merely because the replacement design looks more polished.
Inventory the website before designing the replacement
Create a list of pages, blog posts, products, downloadable files, forms and connected services. Include pages outside the main navigation that may still receive visitors.
For each item, record whether it should be retained, improved, combined or retired. Identify the person responsible for approving changes.
Give particular attention to pages that attract search traffic, enquiries or backlinks. Their wording, purpose and URL history may have value even if their design is outdated.
A content inventory also helps estimate the work. Moving a small brochure site is a different project from rebuilding a store with customer records, recurring payments and a large article archive.
Review business features individually
Do not treat a website as a collection of visible pages only. It may also contain operational systems your team relies on every day.
| Current feature | Question to resolve before migration |
|---|---|
| Enquiry forms | Where should submissions go, and what information is required? |
| Booking | Which appointments, staff calendars and policies must be retained? |
| Online store | How will products, variants, orders and customer records be handled? |
| Membership | What happens to access, passwords and recurring billing? |
| Email marketing | Which lists, consent records and automations must remain available? |
| Downloads | Which public links need to keep working? |
Some items may be copied manually, some may have suitable export and import routes, and others may require a replacement workflow. Verify the current options for each content type before promising an automatic transfer.
Plan content cleanup without losing useful information
A migration is an opportunity to improve content, but rewriting everything at once can make review harder.
Start with factual accuracy: current services, business details, contact information and portfolio permissions. Then improve unclear headings, repetitive sections and missing answers.
Keep a record of significant changes. If an old page explains a service that still exists, its replacement should continue to answer that need, even if the layout is completely different.
For images, locate original files where possible. Small compressed images downloaded from the old page may not be suitable for a larger new layout. Confirm that you still have permission to use every asset.
Separate the website, domain and email decisions
These are related services, but they are not the same thing. Changing the website platform does not necessarily mean changing the domain name, registrar or email provider.
Record where the domain is managed, where email is hosted and who has authorized access to both accounts. Before changing domain settings, preserve a record of the existing configuration and identify the records supporting email and other services.
Agree on a launch plan with the person managing the domain. Avoid making unrelated account changes during the same window when a simpler connection change will achieve the goal.
After launch, test incoming and outgoing business email as well as the website itself.
Map URLs and redirects before launch
For every important old URL, identify the corresponding destination on the new website. Retain suitable existing paths where practical.
When a URL changes permanently, implement an appropriate permanent redirect to its closest equivalent. Do not send every retired page to the homepage. Google’s migration guidance recommends mapping old URLs, testing the new site and monitoring the move. Google’s site-move guidance
For example, an old wedding photography service page should lead to the relevant new service page, not a general contact form. The visitor should still find the information the original link promised.
Check navigation, article links, downloadable documents and social profile links against the final addresses.
Test the replacement before switching traffic
Build a short acceptance checklist based on real customer tasks. A visitor should be able to understand the offer, find relevant proof and complete the intended action.
Test enquiry delivery, booking confirmations, product options and purchase flows where relevant. Check pages on a real phone as well as a desktop.
Review SEO titles, descriptions, image text alternatives and launch visibility settings. Confirm that analytics are connected to the intended property and that internal test traffic is understood when reviewing early results.
Keep the old website and source material available until the migration has been checked and any required records have been preserved.
Monitor the first weeks after launch
Maintain a short issue log covering broken links, missing content, form problems and unexpected customer questions. Assign an owner and resolution date to each issue.
Compare search visibility and enquiries with a documented baseline, allowing for seasonality and campaign changes. A platform move alone does not establish why a metric rose or fell.
If an important old address stops working, investigate promptly. If the site receives visits but few enquiries, review the new content and customer journey rather than assuming the platform is responsible.
Frequently asked questions
Can I keep my domain when moving from Wix to Squarespace?
Usually, yes. Plan how the existing domain will connect to the new website and check account eligibility and access. Moving the domain registration is a separate decision from connecting the website.
Will all my Wix features transfer automatically?
Do not assume so. Audit each feature and data type. Store records, memberships, automations and booking systems need their own migration decisions and testing.
Will switching improve my SEO?
It is not guaranteed. Search performance depends on the resulting content and implementation, among other factors. Protect useful pages and address specific issues instead of relying on a platform change alone.
Plan your Wix to Squarespace move
Kalana Square provides Squarespace migration services for businesses that need a considered transition and a well-organized replacement website.
Schedule a consultation with your current website link and a list of essential features. We can review the scope, identify migration risks and plan the right next step.
