How to Migrate from GoDaddy to Squarespace: Complete Migration Guide
Moving from GoDaddy to Squarespace involves recreating your site content, transferring domains, and maintaining SEO. Here's how to do it effectively:
What Can Be Transferred
- Domains: Transfer existing GoDaddy domains to Squarespace
- Website Content: Must be manually recreated (direct imports not possible)
Before You Start
Keep your GoDaddy site active until the new one is complete. To avoid duplicate sites:
- Set your new Squarespace site to private
- Add a password protection
- Only publish once ready to switch
Step-by-Step Migration Process
- Create Your New Squarespace Site
- Start a 14-day free trial (no credit card required)
- Choose a template or start from scratch
- Add necessary pages and navigation
- Upload your content
- Customize design through Site Styles
Content Migration Tips:
- Remove formatting when copying text
- Optimize images for responsive design
- Handle Domain Transfer Options:
- Transfer existing GoDaddy domain to Squarespace
- Connect domain without transfer
- Register a new Squarespace domain (free for 1 year with annual plans)
- Upgrade to Paid Service
- Choose appropriate plan
- Select monthly or annual billing (annual saves money)
- Keep site private until fully ready
- Cancel GoDaddy Service
- Wait until new site is live and tested
- Maintain domain registration if using connected domain
- Cancel unnecessary services
SEO Considerations
Expect temporary ranking fluctuations when switching platforms. Minimize impact by:
- Maintaining existing URLs when possible
- Setting up 301 redirects
- Preserving meta descriptions
- Keeping important content intact
Mobile Optimization
Squarespace automatically optimizes for mobile devices with:
- Responsive design
- Built-in mobile styles
- Preview tools for different screen sizes
Additional Features
- Collaborator access with permission levels
- Custom code capability (CSS and HTML)
- Built-in SEO tools
- Professional design services available through Squarespace Experts
- 24/7 customer support
Remember to thoroughly test your new site before going live and maintain backups of your original content during the transition.
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