You’re here because your built your author website on SquareSpace (maybe “just to get it over with,” I hear that alot) and now you feel stuck. You like how the site looks, but you feel trapped by the monthly fees and you don’t know what step to take next. Or maybe you were fine with your website (because you didn’t know it could be cheaper) until you read this article, and now you have buyer’s remorse and want to move it.

I get it!  I’m here for you.  I want you to have a website you like and are in total control of (meaning, it is your actual firstnamelastname.com) that is also budget-friendly.  While I do think your website is a super important part of your author platform, I don’t think you’re going to use it a ton (at least at first), and I definitely don’t want you paying something crazy like $30/ month for it. At the beginning of your writer career at least, you’re just putting your website in place as one of the puzzle pieces, mostly to take over that space in the search engines and to give people the opportunity to sign up for your email list. I feel like those requirements can be met for about $5/ month, honestly.

Where do you even start with this?

Good question. To be totally honest with you, migrations are always kind of a chaotic, frustrating mess. That’s a “you don’t know what you don’t know” situation, and the more built up the site is, the more loose ends you’ll end up having to chase down. It helps to keep reminding yourself that ultimately, the headache is going to be worth it to save all that money.

I would start with your domain. The first thing to do is transfer your domain away from SquareSpace so you can control the DNS (where the domain actually points to). SquareSpace counts on you not wanting to know that much about the inner workings of your website, so they maintain control over that part of it (and charge you a premium for that privilege, for whatever reason). If you’ve been exclusively in the SquareSpace world, you might not even be aware of the fact that you can (and should!) register your domain somewhere else for less money. My “best practice” domain registrar is NameCheap, and here’s the thing– once you transfer your domain over there, you can always point it back to SquareSpace if you decide not to do the migration.  So, let’s tackle that one first just to save you some money.

What we’re doing here is moving your website over from SquareSpace to NameCheap, with WordPress.org (a software) as the back-end.  Once your site is built out of WordPress (rather than SquareSpace’s technology), it will look completely different, so start mentally preparing for that now. I know you like the SquareSpace design, but you can’t take it with you (sorry!). This is about saving you money.

How to Transfer Your Domain from Squarespace to NameCheap

Before You Start

Make sure your domain meets these requirements:

• At least 60 days old (ICANN rule)
• Not expired
• Domain lock is disabled
• You have access to the email address listed on the domain

If your domain doesn’t meet all of these requirements yet (like, because you just registered it at SquareSpace), that is totally fine!  Bookmark this post and come back to this later.

Step 1: Prepare Your Domain in Squarespace

1. Log in to your Squarespace account
2. Go to Settings > Domains
3. Click on your domain name
4. Disable domain lock if enabled
5. Request an authorization code (EPP code)
   • Click “Get Authorization Code”
   • Squarespace will email this code to you
   • Keep this code handy – you’ll need it for NameCheap

Step 2: Start the Transfer at NameCheap

1. Go to NameCheap.com
2. Go to Domains> Transfer
   3. Type in your domain name. It will give you some information about whether the domain is “eligible for transfer,” which is just referring to whether it is technically “old enough” to be moved. Do not let any of the language alarm or confuse you. You’re doing great!

4. Add the transfer to your cart

5. Complete the checkout process (transfers typically cost around $10-15)

Step 3: Enter Authorization Code

1. After purchase, go to your NameCheap dashboard
2. Find the domain under “Domain List” > “Transfer Domain”
3. Enter the authorization code from Squarespace
4. Follow the prompts to confirm domain ownership

Step 4: Approve the Transfer

1. Check the administrative email address associated with your domain
2. Look for an email requesting transfer approval
3. Click the approval link or follow instructions to approve
4. The transfer process will begin

Step 5: Wait for Completion

• Transfer typically takes 5-7 days
• Both Squarespace and NameCheap will send status updates
• Don’t cancel your Squarespace domain service until the transfer is complete

Step 6: Update DNS Records (If Needed)

Once the transfer is complete:

1. Log into your NameCheap account
2. Go to Domain List > Manage
3. Click “Advanced DNS”
4. Add any necessary DNS records for:
   • Website hosting
   • Email services
   • Third-party services

Important Notes

• Keep your Squarespace account active during the transfer
• Save copies of your current DNS records before the transfer
• The transfer fee typically includes one year of domain registration
• Your website might experience brief downtime during DNS propagation

Troubleshooting Common Issues

If it seems like SquareSpace doesn’t want you to leave:

1. Stay positive and persistent. This is happening
2. Tell them “It’s fine, I’m just moving my domain over to a less expensive registrar. I still like you.”
3. Keep saying “No thank you” until they give you the damn code already.

If your transfer gets stuck:

1. Take several deep breaths and remind yourself that this is going to be worth it.
2. Verify your domain is unlocked
3. Verify the authorization code is correct
4. Ensure your contact information is accurate
5. Contact NameCheap support if needed (they have wonderful chat support)

After the Transfer

1. Verify your domain works correctly
2. Update contact information if needed
3. Set up auto-renewal if desired
4. Save your NameCheap login information
5. Go back and cancel your Squarespace domain service

Step 2:  Get (Cheap) Hosting, Install WordPress

Once the domain is settled (so to speak), your next move is to get some hosting and install WordPress on it. I would recommend just using NameCheap’s hosting because it is the easiest to set up, and frankly, you have enough to worry about right now and are probably just about over this process already.

So, go back over to NameCheap, click on “Hosting,” then “Shared” and choose one of these options:

I would love for you to pick “Stellar Plus” (the one in the middle) or “Stellar Business” (the one on the right) because those give you the option of hosting more than one website and I want you to leave your options open for growth, but honestly, if the $2/ month option is looking super appealing right now because of what you’ve been paying SquareSpace, I get it!  Do that!!

When that’s done (and remember, your site still “lives” at SquareSpace so it will look like it always did), that is all you can do on the NameCheap side, so you’ll need to go back over to SquareSpace and start packing up your virtual boxes in preparation for your big move.

Don’t stress!  This is going to work out!

Step 3:  Go to SquareSpace, export your site

The process of moving your content from Squarespace to WordPress involves several key steps. First, you’ll need to export your Squarespace content. Go to Settings > Advanced > Export in your Squarespace dashboard. This will create an XML file containing your pages, posts, and some basic content structure.

However, be aware that not everything will transfer perfectly. You’ll likely need to manually move or recreate:

• Custom page layouts
• Contact forms
• Image galleries
• Product listings (if you have an online store)
• Email newsletter integrations

Now’s the time to really go through the site and go on a copy/ paste frenzy, man. Back that entire site up, one page at a time, and save it somewhere like Google Docs. That way, even if the XML import doesn’t work, you can rebuild by hand.

Step 4:  Set Up WordPress

Now, it’s time to get WordPress up and running so you can begin the import process.

1. Install WordPress on Your Host: Most hosting providers have a one-click install option. Follow their instructions to set up WordPress.
2. Access Your WP Dashboard: Typically, you’ll go to yourwebsite.com/wp-admin to log in. Enter the credentials you created during the install.
3. Pick a Theme: While you can start with a default WordPress theme, you might want to explore themes specifically for authors. Look for something that’s responsive (mobile-friendly) and suits your brand. You can always switch themes later.

Note: Don’t sweat the design details too much yet. You can fine-tune your theme and layout after the content is in place. Just make sure to take a bunch of screenshots of your SquareSpace site so you can find a WordPress theme that looks vaguely similar.

5. Import Your Squarespace Content into WordPress

Now for the fun part—bringing your blog posts and pages to their new home.

1. In WordPress, Go to Tools → Import: You’ll see a list of options for importing.
2. Install the WordPress Importer Plugin: If you haven’t already, WordPress will prompt you to install this. It’s free and quick to set up.
3. Upload Your Squarespace XML File: Select the file you downloaded from Squarespace, and hit Upload and Import.
4. Assign Authors: If you’ve got multiple authors or want to assign a specific user to the imported posts, you can handle that here.
5. Wait for the Process to Complete: Once it’s done, you’ll see a success message. Congratulations—your basic content is now in WordPress!

Warning: Some elements—like photo galleries, forms, or custom code blocks—won’t come through. Make a note of these so you can re-create them.

6. Rebuild and Tweak Your Pages

Time to roll up your sleeves and ensure everything looks good on your new WordPress site.

1. Compare Pages: Remember the content inventory you made in Step 1? Go through each page in WordPress and see what’s missing or needs updates.
2. Set Up Navigation: In Appearance → Menus, create or edit your main menu so that it mirrors (or improves upon) your old Squarespace menu.
3. Add Missing Images and Graphics: Some images may not have transferred. Re-upload them to your Media Library (via Media → Add New), then insert them into your pages/posts.
4. Recreate Forms: If you had a contact or newsletter form, install a WordPress form plugin (like Contact Form 7, WPForms, or Gravity Forms) and rebuild those forms.
5. Tidy Up Formatting: Check for any stray formatting quirks. Sometimes paragraphs or headings might need a bit of cleanup.

Pro Tip: If you had a newsletter signup on Squarespace, integrate a WordPress-compatible email marketing plugin or embed the signup form from your chosen email service provider so you can continue to capture subscribers.

7. Design and Branding

Your author website should reflect who you are as a writer and what visitors can expect from your books.

1. Customize Your Theme: Head to Appearance → Customize to play with fonts, colors, and layout options.
2. Install Essential Plugins:
   • SEO Plugins (Yoast SEO or Rank Math): Helps improve your discoverability on search engines.
   • Caching Plugins (WP Rocket or W3 Total Cache): Speeds up your site’s performance.
   • Security Plugins (Wordfence or Sucuri): Helps protect against hacks and malware.
3. Test Your Site on Mobile: Make sure your new WordPress site is mobile-friendly. Most modern themes are responsive, but it’s always good to double-check.

Bonus Tip: Consider a page builder like Elementor, Beaver Builder, or Gutenberg blocks if you want more drag-and-drop flexibility in designing your pages. This can be particularly helpful if you’re not super techy but still want a custom look.

8. Point Your Domain to Your New WordPress Site

Once your site is looking good on WordPress, it’s time to make it live for the world to see. This is where you’ll connect (or “point”) your domain to your new hosting.

1. Log into Your Domain Registrar: (in this case, NameCheap)
2. Update DNS Settings: Change your nameservers (or A record) to the ones your new hosting provider gave you.
3. Allow Time for Propagation: It can take anywhere from a few minutes to 24-48 hours for your new site to appear under your domain across the internet.

9. Run Final Checks

Once your domain is pointing to your new site, do a thorough review.

• Check All Pages: Is the layout correct? Are images showing up?
• Test Links: Make sure internal links work properly and external links open as expected.
• Review SEO Settings: Ensure you have the right title tags, meta descriptions, and alt text for images.
• Enable Backups: Set up a regular backup system using a plugin or your host’s built-in backup service.

Reminder: This is the perfect time to share your new website with a few trusted friends or beta readers. Have them poke around and let you know if they spot any issues or typos.

10. Announce Your New Site

You’re live, so it’s time to celebrate—and let your audience know.

1. Send an Email to Your List: Announce your new site to your mailing list, highlighting any cool new features (like a brand-new freebies section or updated book page). Dude!  This is why I am always going on and on (and on) about building an email list!
2. Post on Social Media: Show off screenshots or a behind-the-scenes look at your design journey. Invite readers to comment on the new look.
3. Update Links: Make sure all your social media bios (Twitter/X, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, etc.) point to the correct domain.

Extra Touch: Offer a small giveaway or bonus chapter as a “housewarming” treat to encourage folks to stop by the new site and poke around.

11. Maintain & Grow

Your WordPress site is up and running (and you have hopefully stopped being mad at me for how difficult this process turned out to be), but your journey doesn’t end here.

• Keep Plugins and Themes Updated: This helps protect against security issues.
• Regularly Publish Blog Posts or Book Updates: Keep your content fresh and your readers engaged.
• Monitor Performance: Use Google Analytics or a similar tool to track traffic and see how visitors interact with your site.
• SEO & Marketing: Continue optimizing your site for search engines, and ramp up your marketing efforts to bring new readers on board.

Pro Tip: Consider installing a plugin like Broken Link Checker to make sure your site remains healthy over time. It alerts you if any links stop working, so you can fix or remove them quickly.

Final Thoughts

Migrating from Squarespace to WordPress can feel like a big leap, but with a bit of planning and some careful execution, you’ll land on your feet with a shiny new author site that gives you more customization and control. Now, you can flex your creative muscles beyond what Squarespace offered—and really make your online author platform your own. Plus, think of all that money you’re saving!

Good luck, and happy building!