Transferring from Wix to Shopify , Steps and Guide

Wix and Shopify are two world popular website builders, each of which is the worthy and the most renowned representative of its niche. While Shopify is a trusted eCommerce software that works great for the development of small-to-large full-featured online stores, Wix is the all-in-one website builder, sphere of specialization of which goes down to the creation of all types of projects. Web stores are not an exception. When it comes to the creation of Wix-based online stores, though, there is one thing you should keep in mind. Despite the broad range of features and tools the system offers, it’s not the best choice for the creation of large eCommerce projects. This is because of the functionality restrictions the system has. So, if you already own a web store built with Wix and you suddenly start noticing that your product range grows (or you just plan to increase it), you might realize that you need a more functional and spacious website. This means that it’s high time to transfer your Wix site to Shopify. See what this article is about. When adopting the decision to switch from Wix to Shopify, you should take into account multiple factors to make the transition effective, hassle-free and smooth. The major task is to transfer your website desing, domain name and content without losing current search engine positions. Let’s find out what it takes to migrate from Wix to Shopify now.

1. Moving Website from Wix to Shopify – Is It Worth It?

Yes, it’s worth. This is a reasonable solution, if you intend to promote your business on the web and expand to new markets. Actually, you may have different reasons to move from Wix to Shopify, except for the desire to grow your business.

• As your company develops, you will sooner or later face the need to increase your product stock or the amount of traffic.
• Your revenue will also increase, which will eventually trigger the necessity to manage a web store on a more powerful specialized platform.
• Finally, you may just encounter features of issues you don’t like about Wix – this also happens, while you keep exploring the functionality of the system.

Whatever the reason to migrate from Wix to Shopify is, you won’t regret the decision. The fact that Shopify is the world-renowned eCommerce software already speaks for itself. Even though, Wix has always been and now remains the top all-in-one website builder in the world that doesn’t have any niche competitors, Shopify is undoubtedly the best solution, when it comes to the eCommerce niche.

2. Wix versus Shopify – What Is the Difference?

Wix and Shopify are the leaders of their niches. Both of them are great, when it comes to the ease-of-use, functionality and design customization options, although, they have different goals and applications. Designed specifically for eCommerce purposes, Shopify abounds in niche-specific features that cannot be found in its competitors. The software grants access to the amazing variety of design customization, marketing and promotion tools. At the same time, it may seem quite a complicated solution for tech-savvy users. Wix is a better option in this respect. The website builder was specially created with the needs and skills of beginners in mind. The platform is intuitive, logically-structured and pretty simple for everyone. There is no necessity to possess programming skills or care about tech nuances to work with the platform. The entire process of launching websites with the system takes a few hours only. Shopify comes with the amazing pack of marketing, promotion, design customization and content management options. It delivers an amazing set of Commerce tools right out-of-the-box as well as a set of statistics tracking and analytic tools, special offers and loyalty programs and many other advantages. The system also stands out from the crowd due to its integrated Point-of-Sale system, variety of payment options, abundance of third-party extensions etc. Its collection of eCommerce templates is also on the top notch level. Wix eCommerce features are not that extensive, but they still work well for the development of small and mid-sized online stores. The website builder boasts a set of responsive themes and you can also browse the web store category there. It supports dozens of payment options, eCommerce integrations, discount options, App Market widgets and lots of other niche benefits. When it tackles the pricing policy aspect, the systems also differ regarding the number of plans and their cost. While Shopify plans are more expensive and eCommerce focused, Wix subscriptions fall into two types – plans for standard websites and those for eCommerce/business projects. Their features are versatile, while the cost is more than affordable. Both services make it possible to start and manage online stores, but Shopify proves to be a better solution due to its strong eCommerce focus and variety of niche features.

3. How to Migrate from Wix to Shopify – Step-by-Step Guide

The process of switching from Wix to Shopify encompasses several must-have steps. Generally, you will have to take care of website transfer (including the available content) and domain name transfer. You’ll also need to adjust website settings and SEO parameters to make sure the project won’t lose its positions in the search engine results. Have a look at the detailed guide on how to move your Wix-based store to Shopify. Spte 1. Sign Up for Shopify Before you actually proceed to the web store migration process, you should get ready for it well. The very first step here is to sign up for a new Shopify account (or to log into the existing one) to see what it has to offer. It may take some time to explore the platform along with the tools and capabilities it has to offer to further pick those options you need for your new web store. As soon as you login, the system will offer you to choose standard settings. Thus, you’ll need to pick your initial goal of using the platform (either for selling or for playing around), your current revenue, the industry you specialize in and the email address that will be used for billing purposes afterwards. Spte 2. Customize the Homepage The next stage of your web store development process implies theme customization. You can either pick one of the templates available in the Shopify design library or you can browse the integrated theme store to choose one of premium designs available here. Another option is to select a default theme the system offers right from the start and to proceed to its customization. Mind that the website builder doesn’t support drag-and-drop editing. To create the required website design, you need to reach the sidebar and to make all the edits there to present the preferred content in the most effective way. What’s more, you can make the required edits for each page separately, which is quite a time-taking process. As soon as you are done with your web store template creation, you can start adding the required sections. Just drag and drop your pictures to pre-designed sections in the sidebar and add the text. That does not take much time, indeed. Actually, you can add as many sections as you need for your web store – see the full list in the sidebar and pick those that work best for your web project. Having added everything you wish, you can preview the live version of your project before the publication. Spte 3. Add New Pages Customizing a web store homepage is only half of the process. Further, you’ll need to proceed to adding and customizing new pages. This is also easy and quick – just fill out the required fields, insert media files (videos and images), add links and other related content. Then save the edits and go ahead to preview the result. You can add as many new pages as you wish. Spte 4. Import your Wix web store data to Shopify Shopify is mainly about selling products/services and, thus, it is desirable to transfer the content properly. It obviously takes more time to manually transfer all the data, but this is the only surefire way to make everything properly. A simpler option is to reach the sidebar and manually upload your products, their descriptions, specifications, cost and SEO parameters there. This will especially work well for the owners of small web stores. So, access the product page, upload the required items and customize them with regard to your liking. Another solution, which is more complicated and time-taking, is to export your web store products into CSV files. This can also be done in the control panel of your web page. So, get to the corresponding Shopify section and import the required products you plan to offer for sale. Repeat the same procedure with the lists of customers. Spte 5. Check the Result As soon as you are done with your product transfer, take your time to check the result to be sure all the items have been exported well and now display properly. Shopify allows for more detailed product descriptions. Take your time to fill out all the fields (product names, titles, characteristics, images, descriptions, meta descriptions) and update those that are missing. If needed, create product collections. It makes sense to select special inventory applications the system offers to track and check product availability and control the assortment available in stock. This is especially important, if you own a large online store. That’s all about transferring your website content from Wix to Shopify. As soon as you are completely done with the steps listed above, you can proceed to domain name migration and final web store publication. This is another crucial process you shouldn’t forget about.

4. How to Transfer Own Domain Name from Wix to Shopify

When it comes to domain name transfer, most users (especially those, who have never handled the process independently) encounter multiple problems and have lots of questions. To make the process comfortable and simple for each and every user, we have provided the detailed overview of the most popular domain name transfer solutions. Have a look at them now. Transferring Your Wix Domain Name to Shopify If you have purchased a domain name from Wix and intend to completely move it to Shopify, here are the detailed guidelines on how to do that without search engine ranking loss:

1. Login with Wix and reach the “My Domains” page.
2. Select the required domain you intend to move (this is obligatory, if you own several domains), click the “Advanced” and then the “Transfer away from Wix” tabs.
3. Pick the EPP code to send it to your email. Mind that according to ICANN rules, you won’t be able to transfer your domain from Wix, if it’s been less than 60 days since you’ve purchased it. The same is true for situations, when you change the domain registration info.
4. If everything is ok, specify the Shopify domain transfer route. The migration process will be completed automatically within 7 days after you send the inquiry.
5. Update the Settings. If you intend to sell physical products in your Shopify web store, you’ll have to adjust the required settings before. This mostly concerns payment, shipping and tax options. These settings can be adjusted in the Shopify dashboard. If you intend to sell digital products/services only, then you can disable the shipping feature here as well.

Connecting Wix Domain Name to Shopify Without a Transfer If you are going to connect your domain name to Shopify, but don’t wish to transfer it for some reason (if you wish to test the system, for example), there is the opportunity to connect the domain without its complete migration. This can be done via pointing to the DNS records of your Wix website. Listed below are the must-have steps to be completed to make the process a success:

1. Before initiating the connection procedure, get the relevant DNS info from the domain control section on your Wix Dashboard.
2. Notify your Shopify support center/host that you are going to point a domain name to them without changing name servers. This is important as you won’t be able to do that with your Wix account. If you are still required to change the name servers, you will need to get back to your domain settings and transfer it away from Wix to further connect it to Shopify.
3. As soon as you settle the settings issues, go to “My Domains” section in your Wix account, pick the relevant domain (if you have several of them) and click the “Advanced” tab.
4. Then edit DNS settings and delete/update your CNAME records. After that, delete/update your A records.
5. Save the updated DNS records and check the way your Wix domain has connected to Shopify.

Transferring Your Own Domain to Shopify If you have created a web store with Wix, using your own domain name (bought outside of Wix), you can also completely migrate it to Shopify. Actually, you can move your domain in one of two ways – either by transferring it to Shopify or by connecting it to your new account. Let’s review the transfer option first. When you decide to transfer the domain name, its further management automatically moves to Shopify. This means that you will have to adjust your domain settings, make the payments and renew it directly in the admin panel of the system. To be able to make the transfer, you will need to make sure your active domain registration term exceeds 60 days and you have access to the account offered by the original domain provider. Here is the list of steps needed to transfer a personal domain to Shopify:

1. Check the transfer policy offered by your domain name provider. This info is usually available in the help center of the platform. Read it carefully before you start the transfer process.
2. Login to your provider account, confirm that the email is associated with it is active as you’ll get verification messages throughout the transfer process.
3. Unlock the domain name you wish to move in the settings section.
4. Get the authorization code you will use to transfer the domain.
5. Get to the Shopify admin panel, click the “Online Stores” section and then the “Domains” tab.
6. Click the “Connect existing domain” button and then click the “Transfer in your domain” button (if this is the first domain you try to transfer).
7. Click the “Transfer Domain” button, enter the domain you intend to move click “Next” and then click “Verify Domain” button. If you’ve done everything correctly and the domain name will be ready for transfer, you will see the “Domain Unlocked” message. Click “Next” button to complete the procedure. If the system generates the “Domain Locked” message, check the settings you’ve made during the preparation stage.
8. Check the email to verify the transfer, enter the EPP (authorization) code offered by your domain name provider. Click “Next” and “Bu and Transfer” buttons. Check the email afterwards to confirm the transfer once again.

As soon as you are done with all the steps, it will take around 20 days to complete the transfer successfully. Shopify will send you a confirmation message upon the completion of the task. Connecting Your Own Domain Name to Shopify Another option is to connect your own domain name to Shopify without transfer. This means that you will still be able to manage your own domain name settings, renew it and make the payments, if needed. Here are the domain connection guidelines you will have to complete:

1. Add your domain to the Shopify store. To do this, go to the Shopify admin panel, reach the “Online Store” section and then the “Domains” tab. Click the “Connect existing domain” button. Then click the “Next” button and start the set up.
2. In case you’ve purchased the domain name from the third-party provider, you’ll have to edit some DNS settings, including the A record that should be pointed to Shopify IP address, but mind that this step may impact other parameters and settings, such as email forwarding, for example.
3. To adjust the settings, login to the account registered with the previous domain provider. Find the DNS settings section and look for the domain management area as well as DNS configurations.
4. Edit the A record to point to the required Shopify IP address (23.227.38.65) and save the changes.
5. Find the CNAME record in the DNS settings and change the www. CNAME record in such a way that it would point to shops.myshopify.com. Follow the guidelines generated by the system. Save the CNAME record and verify the domain name connection by activating the confirmation email sent by Shopify. All in all, it may take up to 48 hours to complete the connection procedure.

Are you done with all the steps? Then you are welcome to test your new Shopify website to check, whether all the elements are on their places and whether it functions well. If everything is ok, you may consider your Wix to Shopify migration a success and start growing your web-based business!

5. Professional Wix to Shopify Migration Services

Switching from Wix to Shopify is quite real and you can successfully cope with the task on your own, if you are aware of the basic steps and special nuances associated with each platform. There are multiple services, which offer website transfer. It goes without saying that such options seem more convenient at first sight as you don’t have to bother about the process and just wait for the result. As you start checking the result, however, you may notice lots of mistakes that may eventually put your website safety and functionality at risk. What’s more, website migration tools are frequently not cheap and it doesn’t make any sense to pay for the services that may not become helpful in the long run and may trigger problems that will do harm to your new project. Consequently, this is not the best way to switch your website from one platform to another. Something may not go the way you expect and it will be just the waste of your time and money. Instead, it makes sense to entrust this task with professionals. You can choose between two reasonable options here. The first one is using Cart2Cart services, which allows for the automated Wix to Shopify migration. The platform will transfer each element of your website content manually, considering all the nuances and your special requirements. However, it is you, who will be responsible for the final result. The second option is to contact Shopify freelance gurus, offering their services at https://experts.shopify.com/. This eliminates the need to take care of all the steps of the website transfer process independently as the system experts will handle all the seps for you. What you need to do is just to order the service and check the result. That’s it. At the same time, you have to be ready to discuss all the details of your order, pricing aspects, deadlines, migration requirements, your web store parameters and other must-have issues in details not to encounter problems afterwards.

Bottom Line

When it comes to building a large full-featured online store with hundreds of products and multiple functions, picking a feature-laden platform is a must. Wix and Shopify are two world-known systems and you can actually start a web store with any of them. Everything depends upon your eCommerce needs and requirements. However, if you already own a Wix-based store and wish to bring its functionality to the brand new level, migrating to Shopify will be a reasonable solution that will eventually pay off. That’s not because Wix is bad in terms of eCommerce options. That’s because Shopify is a specialized eCommerce software that was initially geared towards the development of large online hypermarkets. The process of manual switching from Wix to Shopify takes time and effort, but it’s definitely worth that, if you hope to avail a worthy result. There is some hassle associated with domain and content transfer as well as with settings adjustment. To simplify the task, mind the steps and hints mentioned in the guide listed above and be consistent about each stage. Special attention should be devoted to domain name transfer, where everything depends upon the hosting provider you deal with. If you don’t wish to bother about manual Wix to Shopify migration, it makes sense to use special services or hire a freelancer that will do the job for you. These include either online services which provides automated website migration or the assistance of Shopify experts, who will handle all the steps independently. Each of these options has its pros and cons. So, mind all these nuances to adopt a truly unbiased decision. This is a surefire way to make your Wix to Shopify migration a success.