Squarespace to Webflow Migration

Squarespace is a popular website builder known for being simple but lacks the advanced customization options that Webflow provides.

Many users migrate from Squarespace to Webflow to get more robust design features, better scalability and more control over their website’s functionality. This is seen as an upgrade for businesses looking for a more professional and customizable online presence.

Migrating from a Squarespace site to a Webflow site gives you more flexibility, design capabilities and website performance.

About Squarespace

Squarespace is an all-in-one platform that allows users to create professional looking websites with no coding knowledge. Founded in 2003 by Anthony Casalena and headquartered in New York City, it’s a popular choice for individuals and businesses looking for a simple website solution. However Squarespace’s limitations in design customization and functionality often prompts users to migrate Squarespace content to a more versatile platform like Webflow.

When exporting your content from Squarespace, make sure to look for the WordPress icon as this option will export your site data in the correct format for migration.

Why Migrate Squarespace to Webflow

Migrating your Squarespace website to Webflow has many benefits:

• Advanced customization options: A Webflow website lets you design and develop a fully custom site with complex animations, responsive design and custom elements that go beyond Squarespace’s template restrictions, more advanced customization and design flexibility.
• Empower your team with control: Unlike relying on developers for every update, Webflow’s user friendly interface allows your team to manage content creation, contact forms and design changes directly within the Webflow platform. Managing dynamic content through the Webflow CMS makes it easier to update and personalize website elements and manage SEO, including meta tags and on-page factors.
• Faster website performance: Webflow has clean code and faster load times which improves SEO rankings and overall user experience.
• Webflow websites are SEO optimized: Features like auto-generated sitemaps, semantic HTML5 tagging, fast load times and mobile-friendliness helps Webflow websites rank better in search engines.
• Seamless integration and scalability: Webflow supports third-party integrations and advanced features making it easier to scale your online presence.

Webflow releases new features regularly including accessibility improvements that follow WCAG guidelines so your website remains functional and inclusive.

Free Resource

Migration: Squarespace to Webflow

Move your site from Squarespace to Webflow with ease using this simple guide.

• Layout conversion
• Interactive elements setup
• Speed & SEO boost

Get The Guide

Common Challenges in the Squarespace Domain to Webflow Migration Process

Migrating content to Webflow involves several challenges to consider. It is often a time consuming process that requires careful attention to detail to ensure all elements and functionalities are transferred effectively:

• Learning curve: The Webflow platform is more complex than Squarespace, requiring time to understand its project settings and customization options.
• Design and content migration: You will need to manually recreate design elements, portfolio pages, gallery pages, and media such as audio blocks, as well as reimport your content from the Squarespace XML file.
• URL and SEO management: Webflow uses a different site structure and DNS settings, so setting up 301 redirects for old URLs and updating meta tags and page specific headers is a crucial step to maintain SEO rankings.
• Custom code adaptation: Any custom code or scripts from your Squarespace site must be recreated or updated to work within Webflow’s environment.
• Forms and integrations: Contact forms and third-party integrations need to be reconfigured in Webflow to ensure functionality.
• Domain management: If you use a Squarespace domain or custom domain, you may need to transfer it via a domain registrar and update DNS records to point to your new Webflow site.

Consulting Webflow experts can help address these challenges and ensure a smooth migration.

Transfer Domain from Squarespace to Webflow

Follow these steps to migrate your Squarespace site:

Step 1: Export content from Squarespace

• Log in to your Squarespace account.
• Go to Settings > Advanced > Import / Export.
• Click Export and download the XML file in WordPress format, which contains your Squarespace content and site structure.

Step 2: Import content into Webflow

• Log in to your Webflow account and create a new project.
• In the CMS tab, use the import content feature to upload the XML file. Click import to bring your content into Webflow.
• Map the fields from your Squarespace to the corresponding Webflow collections. If a suitable collection does not exist, create a new collection in Webflow before mapping.

Step 3: Recreate or customize the design

• Use Webflow’s design tools to build your site layout, replicate portfolio pages, index pages, events pages, cover pages and album pages as needed.
• Add complex animations and responsive design elements to enhance user experience.
• Update meta descriptions for each page to improve SEO during the migration.

Step 4: Migrate media files

• Download all media assets from your Squarespace site.
• Upload these files into your Webflow project, place them in gallery pages and other relevant sections.

Step 5: Update custom code

• Recreate or adjust any custom code snippets from your Squarespace site to fit Webflow’s clean code standards.
• Review and update meta descriptions for all pages to further enhance search engine optimization.

Step 6: Reconfigure forms and integrations

• Set up contact forms and third-party integrations anew in Webflow to maintain functionality.

Step 7: Configure hosting and domain

• Set up your custom domain or transfer your Squarespace domain through a domain registrar.
• Update DNS records and DNS settings to point to your new Webflow site.

Can I migrate Squarespace to Webflow?

Yes, you can migrate from Squarespace to Webflow. The migration process involves exporting your Squarespace content, importing it into Webflow and rebuilding your design and functionality on the Webflow platform.

How long does it take to migrate Squarespace to Webflow?

Timeframe depends on the size and complexity of your Squarespace site. Simple sites may take a few days, larger sites with multiple blog pages, complex animations and custom code may take several weeks to complete the migration process.

For professional help and a smooth transition, contact WebbyCrown Solutions, Webflow migration and website development experts. They will support you throughout the migration process, from content import to DNS configuration and SEO optimization.