The Squarespace Special: $0 setup, $14.99/month.
Move your simpler Squarespace website to Payload CMS, a modern, open-source content management system, with managed hosting, your own domain, one user account, one contact form, SEO and AIO setup, analytics, AI-assisted content development, automatic backups, and content revision history.
Squarespace migrations in practice
See what moved, why the client made the change, and the results of each project.
A complete move for a simpler website
The Squarespace Special moves straightforward business, portfolio, blog, and informational websites from Squarespace to Payload CMS on infrastructure I manage. Introductory pricing is $0 setup and $14.99 per month.
Start by sending your existing Squarespace site address. I review the complete site, confirm it fits the package, and agree on the migration scope with you before work begins.
I work directly with businesses, nonprofits, artists, and individuals in Santa Fe and Northern New Mexico.
A real example: SWIHM moved from $331/year to $179.88/year in annualized website costs—a saving of $151.12, or 45.7%. Read the SWIHM migration case study.
Why Payload CMS?
Payload CMS gives your website a powerful, open-source foundation and a dedicated admin area for managing content. You can update supported pages, publish blog posts, and manage images and files through your included user account, while I handle the hosting and technical setup.
One of my favorite things about Payload is that the editing experience can be shaped around the website. Clear content fields and supported layouts help you focus on your words and images while keeping the design consistent. Drafts, previews, and revision history make it easier to prepare changes and revisit earlier content; supported content and retention are confirmed during setup.
Its open-source, self-hosted approach gives us flexibility over how the website is built and hosted. It also leaves room for a developer to add capabilities as your needs grow. The introductory package covers the agreed standard website; new features, integrations, and larger design changes are scoped separately.
What is included?
The package brings your website, discovery setup, hosting, and a contact path together with one local developer to talk to.
Complete standard-site migration
All standard pages, blog posts, images, downloadable files, navigation, and existing SEO information are included within the agreed site scope. Exceptions are identified before work starts.
Your own domain
Connect your existing domain to the migrated website. Domain registration and renewal charges remain separate from the website subscription.
One user account
One named user account is included for managing your website content. Additional seats and access requirements can be discussed separately.
Managed hosting
Your website runs on infrastructure I manage, included in the monthly subscription. Domain cutover is planned around your existing DNS and email configuration.
Automatic backups and recovery
Automatic backups and recovery assistance are included. The backup schedule, retention period, and recovery process are confirmed during onboarding.
Content revision history
Review and restore saved versions of supported page and blog content. History coverage and retention are confirmed at setup; backups support broader recovery needs.
Full SEO setup
Page titles and descriptions, heading structure, internal links, canonical URLs, sitemap and indexing configuration, and appropriate redirects when page URLs change.
AIO setup
Clear business information, structured content, and crawler accessibility help AI-powered search and answer tools discover and understand the website.
Analytics setup
Website analytics and contact-form inquiry tracking help you understand where visitors come from and which visits turn into leads.
One contact form and content help
One contact form gives visitors a direct way to reach you. AI-assisted drafting and refinement help develop your website copy, with the content scope agreed before work begins.
Selected site settings
Customize supported settings such as site name, business and contact information, social links, page SEO details, brand colors, and available font choices within the supported design.
What does “migration included” mean?
The complete agreed standard website is moved, rather than charging a separate setup fee for each ordinary page or image. Existing content and branding guide the new site, with layouts adapted to the supported design.
We review the site together before starting and document anything that needs separate work. Highly customized features, third-party APIs, paid integrations, and specialized workflows are separately scoped.
E-commerce, memberships, booking systems, and custom applications are outside the current introductory package. A substantial redesign or new functionality can be discussed as a separate project.
Domain registration, renewals, email subscriptions, and paid third-party services are separate costs. Using your own domain does not require including domain registration in the website subscription.
A planned migration, reviewed before launch
First, I inventory the site’s pages, content, files, navigation, forms, domain configuration, and integrations. We confirm the included work, selected settings, and any exceptions.
Next, I prepare the replacement site for your review. Content, mobile layouts, navigation, important links, and the contact form are checked before the domain is pointed at it.
Useful URLs are retained where practical, and changed URLs are mapped to appropriate permanent redirects. Search metadata and indexing settings are checked for launch.
Keep the old site available until the replacement has been reviewed and the domain cutover is complete. Squarespace does not export every feature or design setting, so some parts are rebuilt for the new platform.
Your existing site. $0 setup. $14.99/month.
Send your Squarespace site URL and tell me what you want to keep or improve. I will review the fit and confirm the included migration, content work, and hosting arrangements with you.