Whether or not you’re a Wix person who’s determined emigrate to Shopify, or just personal a website you bought from Wix and wish to transfer it to Shopify earlier than constructing your retailer, that is the information for you. 

Right here’s a step-by-step information for how you can switch a Wix area to Shopify so you’ll be able to transfer your ecommerce retailer from one platform to the opposite.

 Wix vs. Shopify

Earlier than we dive into the switch course of, let’s take a look at a fast comparability of Wix vs. Shopify. Each are nice ecommerce platforms, however can’t be the right ecommerce answer for everybody. 

Each Wix and Shopify are hosted platforms, focused at these with little to no design expertise. You don’t should know coding and expertise to construct an efficient web site with both web site builder. Wix added ecommerce performance after the very fact, whereas Shopify had it built-into the platform straight away. 

Wix pricing ranges from $23 to $49/month, relying on the plan you select. Advertising options, like deserted cart restoration, are included in even the essential ecommerce plan. That mentioned, there are cupboard space and product limitations.

Shopify pricing ranges from $29 to $299/month, relying on the plan you select. Many advertising options, like good product search and subscription billing, require third-party apps, which price you more cash each month.

Ought to You Swap from Wix to Shopify?

BuiltWith knowledge exhibits Shopify accounts for 27% of all ecommerce web sites on-line right now, whereas Wix accounts for 12%.

Wix is a perfect possibility for a lot of on-line retailers, however it’s not proper for all enterprise fashions. Wix is healthier suited to shops which are simply beginning out, whereas a Shopify retailer could also be extra helpful for a longtime retailer that has outgrown the Wix platform. 

Shopify is much extra scalable, so when you discover that you simply’re reaching the higher restrict of your Wix plan and aren’t able to pay for his or her enterprise stage pricing at $500+, then investing in Shopify is smart.

Earlier than Getting Began

Earlier than you switch your area, you’ll must test to make sure it’s eligible for switch. For those who’re utilizing a co.uk or .ca area, you’ll be able to’t switch it to Shopify – however you’ll be able to nonetheless use it. You’ll simply should handle your area settings out of your present registrar, as a substitute of throughout the Shopify dashboard. 

Keep in mind, your Shopify subscription doesn’t embody e mail internet hosting. If you wish to use e mail in your customized area, you’ll must spend money on a third-party supplier for e mail. It may take as much as 20 days for the area switch to finish, so take into account this as you make plans on your on-line retailer.

Observe: For those who bought your area throughout the final 60 days, ICANN guidelines say that it can’t be transferred to a different registrar. You’ll have to attach your area to Shopify and switch the area when you’ve owned it for 60 days. Once you switch it, you’ll additionally must pay for one more yr of possession (presently priced at $14 per yr), which will likely be added to your complete possession time.

Step 1: Create Shopify Account

Earlier than you get began with transferring a website from Wix to Shopify, it’s essential to first have a Shopify account. You may join a free 14-day trial, however it’s essential to have a cost methodology on file earlier than you can begin promoting. 

Go to Shopify.com and enter your e mail tackle to start out your free trial. When you identify your retailer and full the essential account creation duties, you’ll want to attach your area to Shopify. 

This step is critical to keep away from service interruptions when you’re already utilizing the area to host a web site. For those who skip this, your web site guests could discover a damaged web site in the course of the switch course of.

Why join your present area earlier than you switch it to Shopify? Connecting it factors it to your Shopify URL in order that when somebody varieties in your area, it sends them to your Shopify retailer. 

Connecting Your Area to Your Shopify Account

Log into Shopify.

Go to Settings > Domains.

Click on Join Current Area. If this feature isn’t seen in your display screen, click on Actions first, then select the Join Current Area possibility.

Enter the area identify you’re connecting.

Click on View Directions. This may present you Shopify assist guides that will help you with the method. Your actual steps will differ relying on the area registrar you bought the area from.

Some registrars could make you alter the DNS settings or CNAME file to Shopify’s IP tackle. Others could require you to alter the A file to level the area to Shopify.

When you’ve accomplished the steps to attach your area, return to Shopify and click on Confirm Connection to make sure the method labored. Remember, the connection course of can take as much as 48 hours.

If the connection doesn’t work after two days, repeat the steps above, checking your area settings for errors. For those who can’t discover something incorrect, attain out to your area registrar for assist.

Step 2: Put together the Switch

After you’ve related your area to Shopify, it’s time to go to Wix to switch the area away from the account. (For those who first bought your area from someplace aside from Wix, you’ll want to go to your area supplier account for these steps. Verify your area supplier‘s switch coverage for extra info.)

1. Login to Wix > My Domains Web page and Choose Area
2. Superior > Switch Away from Wix
3. Choose EPP Code (also referred to as authorization code)

You’ll obtain the EPP code by e mail. If every part appears to be like good, specify the Shopify area switch route. The migration course of is full inside 7 days.

After you’ve confirmed your area is unlocked, log in to Shopify. 

Go to Settings > Domains.

Click on Switch Area. For those who can’t see this feature, click on Actions then select the Switch Area possibility.

Enter the area identify you’re transferring.

Enter your cost info to pay the $14 payment to register your area for one more yr.

To check the connection, press the Confirm area button. As soon as the area standing reads unlocked (it could take time to refresh the standing, so when you’ve just lately accomplished the steps, attempt once more in just a few hours. Remember the fact that it could take as much as 48 hours.

As soon as the area standing is Unlocked, you’ll be capable of click on Subsequent to proceed. If it nonetheless reads Area Locked, you’ll want to return and confirm you’ve accomplished the Put together for Switch steps above appropriately to unlock it. 

Enter the EPP or authorization code out of your area supplier. Click on Subsequent to proceed. 

Click on Purchase and switch.

Watch the e-mail account related together with your area intently. Relying on the registrar, you might must authorize the switch earlier than the switch course of can begin. You’ll obtain an e mail that has a hyperlink to Approve Switch/Verify Switch.

Whereas it will probably take as much as 20 days for the switch course of to finish, it’s usually finished properly earlier than then. When it’s completed, Shopify will e mail you, and also you’ll be capable of change your area settings from throughout the Area web page in your Shopify dashboard.

Observe: If for any cause the area switch fails, your renewal cost is refunded.

As soon as the switch is full, you’ll additionally obtain an e mail from Tucows, Inc – the dad or mum firm of OpenSRS – the area registrar Shopify makes use of – concerning your knowledge use consent preferences.

As soon as the switch course of is completed, you’ll be capable of arrange your e mail internet hosting, add sub domains, setup forwarding e mail addresses, add worldwide domains, and setup computerized area renewal.

Migrating Your Wix Retailer to Shopify

For those who’re prepared to maneuver from Wix to Shopify, comply with these steps to make the migration course of transfer easily.

Backup Wix Database

Earlier than making main adjustments, it’s at all times a good suggestion to again up your Wix net retailer knowledge, in order that if one thing goes incorrect, you’ll be able to at all times restore it to its present working state.

Wix has a built-in backup service that makes it simple to again up your info in just a few clicks. Any time you alter your web site, Wix creates a backup mechanically, in Website Historical past. For those who mess one thing up, you’ll be able to choose the earlier model of your website and restore it shortly.

It’s additionally potential to duplicate your website any time you need, to create a guide backup. That mentioned, the duplicate copy gained’t be up to date mechanically everytime you change your web site.

Customise Shopify Homepage

You need to use a free theme from the Shopify theme library, or select a premium theme from the theme retailer. For those who’re accustomed to Shopify or can rent a Shopify developer to edit the templates, you’ll be able to additional customise it to fulfill your wants. When you’ve settled on a theme, begin customizing the house web page as wanted to suit your model. 

Create Extra Pages as Wanted

After you’ve constructed the house web page, spend time creating the extra pages you might want to fill out your web site because it’s designed on Wix. On every of those pages, fill out the required fields, add content material and media, and interlink them the place acceptable.

Import Wix Knowledge to Shopify

Correctly transferring your retailer knowledge is essential to making sure every part runs easily in your new Shopify retailer. You may manually add your merchandise, content material, specs, pricing/price info, and web optimization info like web page titles and meta descriptions. This, nevertheless, is simply sensible in case you have just a few merchandise in your retailer. 

Exporting Wix Knowledge

For those who’ve bought a big quantity of merchandise, you’ll must export your Wix net retailer knowledge right into a CSV file. You are able to do this out of your Wix Dashboard.

Out of your Wix Dashboard:

1. Click on Retailer Merchandise > Merchandise.
2. Subsequent, click on the center icon. 
3. This may deliver up a window that asks you if you wish to export your merchandise. 
4. Click on Export to obtain the CSV file.

You need to use the identical course of to import buyer lists, order historical past, and different web site knowledge. 

To export your buyer lists:

Out of your Wix Dashboard:

1. Click on Contacts > Contacts.
2. Click on Extra Actions > Export Contacts.
3. Select your export choices. 
4. Click on Export.

This offers you a listing of everybody who has supplied their e mail tackle.

To export your orders:

Out of your Wix Dashboard, click on Orders > Orders.

Observe the steps above to export.

Importing Knowledge to Your Shopify Retailer

You’ll then import these recordsdata into your Shopify retailer, beginning with merchandise. 

Out of your Shopify Dashboard:

1. Click on Merchandise.
2. Click on Import within the higher proper hand nook. 
3. Add your Wix merchandise CSV file. Click on Add and proceed.
4. Verify the import for accuracy. Make any required adjustments manually to make sure every part is correctly.

Subsequent, import your clients. 

1. Click on Prospects. 
2. Click on the Import clients button, or click on Import within the higher proper hand nook. 
3. Add your Wix contacts CSV file. Click on Add and proceed.
4. Verify the import for accuracy. Make any required adjustments manually to make sure every part is correctly.

Remember the fact that you can’t export buyer account info from Wix, so after the migration to Shopify is full, you’ll be capable of ship invites to your present clients to ask them to create new buyer accounts.

Lastly, import your orders.

1. Click on Orders. 
2. Click on the Import orders button, or click on Import within the higher right-hand nook. 
3. Add your Wix orders CSV file. Click on Add and proceed.
4. Verify the import for accuracy. Make any required adjustments manually to make sure every part is correctly.

This method will be sophisticated and take some time, however when approached systematically, can guarantee every part strikes from Wix to Shopify simply. 

Check the Consequence

After getting every part imported, audit all the website. Guarantee all pages have the content material they’re imagined to. Check all of the hyperlinks. Overview merchandise, orders, clients, and many others. to verify every part is right. 

Pay particular consideration to your product descriptions and web optimization settings. Fill out extra detailed descriptions the place you see the necessity to take action. Ensure all product fields are crammed out and replace any lacking ones. When you have a big stock, use a Shopify app to test product availability and preserve monitor of inventory. 

Take loads of breaks to maintain your eyes from getting fatigued, as this may make it simpler to overlook smaller particulars. Have a buddy or colleague assessment every part earlier than pushing the location and eradicating your storefront password.

If the concept of manually shifting every part is a bit a lot for you, you may also use a Shopify migration service like Cart2Cart that will help you. It nevertheless, gained’t help with the area switch course of.

Able to Transfer Your On-line Retailer?

Transferring an present retailer from Wix to Shopify is time consuming, however usually price it. Once you switch a website to Shopify, you’ll be capable of deal with area administration from inside your Shopify admin panel. For those who can not switch the area since you just lately bought it, you’ll be able to nonetheless join the area to Shopify to make use of it together with your retailer. 

Have you ever migrated from Wix to Shopify earlier than? Are you pleased with the end result? We’d love to listen to from you.