SellerDeck to Squarespace Migration - Step-by-Step Guide & Expert Services

Preparing for Your E-commerce Journey: SellerDeck to Squarespace Migration

Transitioning your e-commerce store is a pivotal step towards enhancing your online presence and unlocking new growth opportunities. If you're currently operating on SellerDeck and considering a move to Squarespace, you're looking to upgrade to a modern, design-centric platform renowned for its intuitive interface and robust features. This comprehensive guide will walk you through every stage of migrating your valuable store data, including products, customers, and orders, from SellerDeck to Squarespace. Given that SellerDeck doesn't offer direct API integration with most modern migration tools, we'll leverage a highly effective CSV-based approach, ensuring a smooth and accurate data transfer.

We understand that moving platforms can feel daunting, but with the right strategy and tools, your replatforming process can be efficient and stress-free. Let's delve into how to successfully transfer your digital assets, maintaining data integrity and minimizing downtime.

Prerequisites for a Smooth Migration

Before initiating the data transfer, careful preparation of both your source (SellerDeck) and target (Squarespace) stores is crucial for a successful transition.

SellerDeck Store Preparation (Source)

• Data Backup: Always begin by creating a full backup of your SellerDeck store's database and files. This serves as a safety net for any unforeseen issues during the migration.
• Export Data to CSV: Since SellerDeck is not directly supported by most migration tools via API, you will need to export your store's data into CSV (Comma Separated Values) files. This typically includes:
  • Products: Ensure all product details, including SKUs, variants, images, descriptions, and pricing, are accurately exported.
  • Product Categories: Organize your category hierarchy.
  • Customers: Include customer names, email addresses, and shipping/billing information.
  • Orders: Export all order details, statuses, and associated customer information.
  • Reviews and Blogs (if applicable): Export any additional content you wish to migrate.
• Data Review: Thoroughly review your exported CSV files for any inconsistencies, missing data, or formatting issues. Clean and organize your data to ensure it's ready for import.

For more detailed guidance on preparing your source store, refer to our How to prepare Source store for migration? FAQ.

Squarespace Store Preparation (Target)

• Set Up Your Squarespace Site: Create a new Squarespace account and set up a basic e-commerce site. Choose your desired template and ensure your store is ready to receive data.
• Install Cart2Cart Squarespace Migration App: According to our data, the Cart2Cart Squarespace Migration App is required for a successful transfer. Ensure this app is installed and configured within your Squarespace site.
• Obtain API Access Credentials: Squarespace primarily relies on API for data connection. You will need to generate or locate your Squarespace API key, API secret, access token, and refresh token. While some services might request admin email and password for initial connection, underlying API access is fundamental for data exchange. Be aware of Squarespace's API rate limits.
• Enable HTTPS: Squarespace sites automatically include an SSL certificate, ensuring HTTPS is enabled, which is a requirement for API connections and secure data transfer.
• Review Target Store Options: Familiarize yourself with Squarespace's structure for products, categories, customers, and orders, as this will be essential during the data mapping phase.

For further assistance on target store preparation, visit our How to prepare Target store for migration? guide. For details on credentials, see The Short & Essential Guide to Access Credentials for Cart2Cart.

Performing the Migration: A Step-by-Step Guide

Once your stores are prepared, you can proceed with the migration using a specialized tool like Cart2Cart, which streamlines the process for complex data transfers.

Step 1: Get Started with the Migration Wizard

Begin by navigating to the migration service's website. You'll typically find an option to start a new migration. This initial step sets the stage for your data transfer.

Step 2: Connect Your SellerDeck Store (via CSV File)

As SellerDeck is not directly integrated through an API, you'll select 'CsvToCart' as your Source Cart type. This indicates that your data will be uploaded via CSV files.

You will then be prompted to upload the CSV files you exported from your SellerDeck store (products, customers, orders, categories, etc.). Ensure your files are correctly formatted according to the migration tool's specifications.

Learn more about this method through our CSV.File Data Migration service.

Step 3: Connect Your Squarespace Store

Next, select 'Squarespace' as your Target Cart type. You will need to provide the necessary connection details to establish a link between the migration service and your new Squarespace store.

Input your Squarespace Admin URL. Depending on the specific integration requirements and the Cart2Cart Squarespace Migration App, you may need to provide your administrator's email and password or more specifically, your API keys (apiKey, apiSecret, accessToken, refreshToken). Ensure all details are accurate to avoid connection issues.

Step 4: Select Data Entities for Transfer

This critical step allows you to choose exactly which types of data you wish to migrate from your SellerDeck CSV files to Squarespace. You can select all entities or pick specific ones based on your requirements.

Supported entities for Squarespace typically include:

• Products
• Product Categories
• Product Reviews
• Customers
• Orders
• CMS Pages
• Gift Cards
• Coupons
• Blogs Posts

Step 5: Configure Additional Migration Options

The migration wizard offers a range of additional options to customize your data transfer. These settings are vital for preserving SEO value, maintaining data integrity, and tailoring the new store experience.

Key options to consider include:

• Preserve Order IDs: This option helps maintain the original order numbers from SellerDeck in Squarespace, which can be important for accounting and record-keeping. Read more about How Preserve IDs options can be used?
• Migrate Images in Description: Ensures that product images embedded within product descriptions are also transferred.
• Create 301 SEO URLs: Crucial for maintaining your search engine rankings. This option creates redirects from your old SellerDeck URLs to the new Squarespace URLs, preserving link equity and preventing 404 errors.
• Clear Target Store Data: If your Squarespace store already contains demo data or old information, this option allows you to clear it before the migration, ensuring a clean slate. See Clear current data on Target store before migration option for details.
• Migrate All Categories: Ensures your complete category structure is moved.

Step 6: Map Your Data Fields

This step involves matching the customer groups and order statuses from your SellerDeck CSV files to their corresponding equivalents in Squarespace. Accurate data mapping ensures that customer roles, order processing stages, and other specific data points are correctly categorized in your new store, preserving data consistency.

Step 7: Run a Free Demo Migration and Launch Full Migration

Before committing to a full data transfer, it's highly recommended to perform a free demo migration. This allows you to migrate a limited number of entities (e.g., 10-20 products, customers, and orders) to your Squarespace store. Review the demo results thoroughly to ensure data integrity, correct formatting, and proper functionality.

Once you're satisfied with the demo, you can proceed with the full migration. At this stage, you may also consider selecting a Migration Insurance Service, which provides options for additional remigrations within a certain period, offering peace of mind. Learn more about How Migration Insurance works?

For a detailed preview of your migration, explore our Migration Preview Service.

Post-Migration Steps: Securing Your Squarespace Success

After the data transfer is complete, several crucial steps are required to ensure your new Squarespace store is fully operational and optimized.

• Thorough Testing: Meticulously test all aspects of your Squarespace store. Verify product displays, pricing, inventory levels, customer accounts, checkout process, payment gateways, and any newly migrated reviews or blog posts.
• Configure SEO: If you used the 301 redirect option during migration, verify that all redirects are functioning correctly to preserve your SEO rankings and link equity. Update your sitemaps in Google Search Console and check that meta titles and descriptions are properly displayed.
• Update DNS Records: Once you're confident in your Squarespace store, update your domain's DNS records to point to your new Squarespace site. Plan this carefully to minimize downtime for your customers.
• Install and Configure Apps: Re-install and configure any necessary Squarespace apps or plugins that replicate the functionality of your previous SellerDeck setup.
• Inform Your Customers: Announce your new platform to your customer base. Highlight any new features or improved user experience.
• Monitor and Optimize: Keep a close eye on your store's performance, user engagement, and sales data. Optimize as needed to maximize your Squarespace store's potential.
• Consider Recent Data Migration: If new orders or customer data appeared on your old SellerDeck store after the initial migration, consider using a Recent Data Migration Service to transfer this latest information.

Migrating from SellerDeck to Squarespace is a strategic investment in your e-commerce future. By following this expert guide, you can confidently navigate the transition, ensuring your store is ready to thrive on its new, powerful platform.