How to Move from Squarespace Campaigns to ConvertKit
Table of Contents Show
Grappling with email marketing limitations on Squarespace Campaigns?
I was, too.
That's why I made the move to ConvertKit.
And, let me tell you, it's been a dream.
I love the functionality, visual automations, and ease of use that ConvertKit offers. In this post, I'll walk you through why I made the switch and how you can do it too, step-by-step.
So, if "Squarespace ConvertKit integration" or "ConvertKit migration" is on your search history or to-do list, you've come to the right place!
Why I Switched from Squarespace Campaigns to ConvertKit
There were two main reasons why I moved from Squarespace Campaigns to ConvertKit:
Limited Functionality
The functionality on Squarespace Campaigns felt constraining. It's great for simple or basic needs, but falls short for anything more sophisticated. It worked for me when I was first getting started, but I still butted my head against what I felt like were simple things that either Squarespace couldn’t do, or I couldn’t figure out how to do.
Lack of Advanced Integrations
Another key concern was the inability to integrate other systems into Squarespace Campaigns. I signed up to take a Facebook Lead Ads course for newsletter growth. I was super excited, and willing to invest, as growing my newsletter audience is one of of my key goals.
Growing an email list should be a key growth pillar for almost any business owner, and Facebook Lead Ads are a potent tool for that.
Unfortunately, while Squarespace as a platform integrates, or can integrate with, tools such as Zapier, Squarespace CAMPAIGNS can NOT integrate.
I spoke with customer support at Squarespace, at Zapier, at Save My Leads, and with about 5 other integration tools, and no dice. Similarly, I missed the option to create quizzes, another fantastic growth strategy.
Growing your Business: ConvertKit
So, I realized that if I want to grow my business and have the option to have multiple automations and sequences, I’d need to uplevel.
I chose ConvertKit because it comes highly recommend by a lot of people I trust in my business space. Here’s who I didn’t pick, and why:
Mailchimp - as they’ve grown, they’ve limited their features and raised their prices, and I see absolutely no good reason to use them.
FloDesk - this is the platform for people who love good design. From my understanding, it’s beautiful and eye-catching, but doesn’t offer as many integrations and advanced features.
MailerLite - TBH, I think this could have been a fine choice. I just didn’t choose it.
Making the Switch: A Step-By-Step Guide
Step 01: Sign Up for a ConvertKit Free Trial
The first thing I did was sign up for a free trial with ConvertKit.
This gave me enough time to test out its features and get a feel for its interface. Plus, you have to actually have a ConvertKit account before transferring over a Squarespace Campaigns account.
Sign up for a free ConvertKit trial here (← affiliate link)
Step 02: Export Your List from Squarespace
Before leaving Squarespace Campaigns, you'll want to export your existing email list. It's a straightforward process; just a few clicks and you're good to go.
Here’s how to export a mailing list in Squarespace:
01. Go to the Email Campaigns dashboard.
02. Select 'Mailing Lists'.
03. Choose the specific list you wish to export.
04. Click on 'Export List'.
A ZIP file will download, containing three CSV files for subscribed, unsubscribed, and cleaned users.
Step 03: Import Your List into ConvertKit
Next, you'll import this list into ConvertKit. Trust me, it's easier than it sounds!
Just upload that file you just downloaded from Squarespace into ConvertKit.
IMPORT YOUR SQUARESPACE SUBSCRIBER LIST INTO CONVERTKIT IN 5 STEPS:
01. Prepare your CSV file: Ensure your subscriber list is in CSV format with one column per field and headers corresponding to ConvertKit fields, being cautious that blank values will overwrite existing data.
02. Create a ConvertKit tag: Skip this if you already have one, or create a new tag in the Subscribers page for organizing your imported contacts.
03. Start the import process: Go to 'Subscribers', click 'Add Subscribers', and choose 'Import a CSV'.
04. Choose where to import subscribers: Select a tag or other sources where you want your subscribers to be added, keeping in mind that importing into certain areas may trigger automations.
05. Upload and map your CSV: Drag and drop your CSV into the modal, match the columns to the correct fields in ConvertKit, and then click 'Import Subscribers'.
Read more in these two helpful articles from Convert Kit:
Here is ConvertKit’s current prices and packages:
Step 04: Cancel Squarespace Campaigns (and Request a Refund)
Once you're set up on ConvertKit, it's time to cancel your Squarespace Campaigns subscription. They may or not offer a refund, but you can always email support and request one. (I’ve always had good luck with this.)
To cancel your Squarespace Email Campaigns subscription immediately:
01. Access the Billing section.
02. Locate and select 'Email Campaigns' under the Subscriptions area.
03. Choose 'Cancel subscription' and then proceed to 'Cancel Email Campaigns subscription'.
04. Confirm your cancellation.
Note: You can email asking for a partial refund and you might have luck, but their official stance is: You will not receive a refund for any unused portion of your billing period, and you will lose the ability to send campaigns or automations unless you subscribe again.
→ Read more here: Canceling your Email Subscriptions Plan
What's Next: Setting Up for Success on ConvertKit
I already knew the first things I wanted to set up in ConvertKit. Your priorities might be different, but the reasons I moved to ConvertKit are:
01 Tags
Tags help you segment and organize your audience for targeted campaigns. Examples of tags include:
Interested In: whatever offering you have
Newsletter Subscriber
Webinar Attendee
Location: wherever they are
→ Read more here: Tags and Segments in ConvertKit
02 Welcome Sequence
A welcome sequence is a series of automated emails that are sent to new subscribers when they join your mailing list. They are typically 3-5 emails spread over a couple of days to over a week, and serve to introduce your brand, build connection, and often provide an incentive or discount to engage your new subscriber.
A welcome sequence is an important part of email marketing strategies, designed to nurture the relationship between you and your subscribers and let them get to know who you are and what you’re about.
I have a four part Welcome Sequence I was using in Squarespace. But I offer four different free downloads for my website visitors (see below to swipe any of ‘em). And I couldn’t for the life of me figure out how set up three different welcome sequences in Squarespace Campaigns that didn’t just create a big ol’ jumble of a mess.
And voilà! Convert Kit offers a simple and beautiful way to set up a welcome sequences.
→ Read more here: Setting up Welcome Sequences in ConvertKit
03 Visual Automations
ConvertKit's visual automations are a dream come true. As an organization nerd, I love them so much! 😍 They simplify your workflow and make automating your email campaigns a breeze.
What are visual automations?
Visual automations in ConvertKit are a feature that allows users to create automated, visually-oriented workflows for your email marketing campaigns. These workflows can include different steps like:
sending emails
tagging subscribers
segmenting into groups based on their behavior
or moving them through different stages of a marketing funnel
Visual automations let you view the entire path a subscriber takes, from start to finish, in one look. As your business evolves or to achieve particular objectives, you can easily tweak or customize this journey to suit subscriber behaviors.
Switching from Squarespace Campaigns to ConvertKit was a great decision I made for my email marketing strategy.
If you're considering making the move, I hope this guide proves to be a valuable resource. And if you have any questions, shoot me an email!
One more thing:
As a new business owner, maybe you’re on information overload, and learning one more system just feels… overwhelming right now.
I get it. That’s exactly where I was when I switched over from Squarespace Campaigns, totally drenched from the fire hose I’d been drinking from in my first year of business. 😅
So I found an expert to help me!
Welmoed is a ConvertKit certified expert (!), who I found through my Wandering Aimfully business coaching group. She offers personalized video responses to your specific questions, making the setup process a breeze. If you’d like professional help for setting up your ConvertKit just the way you like, check out her website here. She’s a delight to work with, and I can’t recommend her enough!
Key Takeaways
Squarespace Campaigns is good, but limited in functionality and integrations.
ConvertKit offers a free trial that lets you test before fully committing.
Migrating your email list is easy-breeze lemon squeezy.
ConvertKit’s features like tags, welcome sequences, and visual automations are golden for growing your email list and engaging your audience.
Sign up for a free ConvertKit trial here (← affiliate link)
