How to Add a Squarespace Domain to Shopify: A Step-by-Step Guide

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Understanding Your Options: Pointing vs. Transferring
3. How to Point Your Squarespace Domain to Shopify
4. How to Transfer Your Squarespace Domain to Shopify
5. Best Practices After Connecting Your Domain
6. Conclusion
7. FAQ

Introduction

Imagine you’ve successfully launched your product line on Shopify, but your loyal customers still visit your old Squarespace domain, leading to confusion and missed sales opportunities. It’s a challenge many of us face as e-commerce evolves, especially as we strive to build cohesive brand experiences across multiple platforms. In fact, an astonishing 70% of customers abandon their carts due to poor website navigation or technical issues. Ensuring your domain points directly to your Shopify store can mitigate these issues, streamline your brand presence, and improve customer retention.

In this blog post, we will dive deep into the process of connecting your Squarespace domain to your Shopify store. Whether you're looking to point your domain or transfer it entirely, understanding the various methods and best practices is crucial for a seamless user experience on both sides. Given the rise of the knowledge economy, optimizing your online presence has never been more significant, as it opens up new revenue streams and strengthens your brand's community.

At Tevello, we provide an all-in-one solution designed to empower Shopify merchants to create online courses, digital products, and vibrant communities directly within Shopify. Our practical approach simplifies these connections, allowing you to focus on building meaningful relationships with your audience while enhancing your revenue capabilities. By the end of this guide, you’ll have the tools and knowledge to effectively connect your Squarespace domain to Shopify.

Understanding Your Options: Pointing vs. Transferring

Before we delve into the step-by-step process, it’s essential to understand the two main methods for connecting your Squarespace domain to Shopify: pointing and transferring. Each option comes with its own set of advantages and will suit different needs based on how you prefer to manage your online presence.

Pointing

Pointing your Squarespace domain to Shopify means you keep your domain registered with Squarespace but configure it to direct traffic to your Shopify store. This method allows you to maintain the current renewal and management configuration within Squarespace without transferring ownership.

Advantages of Pointing:

• Speed: The changes take effect faster since you're only adjusting DNS records instead of managing an entire domain transfer.
• Less Disruption: Your domain remains under Squarespace's control, minimizing the chances of any potential issues with email forwarding or other linked services.

Transferring

Transferring your domain involves moving its registration from Squarespace to Shopify. Once the transfer is complete, Shopify will take over as the domain registrar, offering a centralized platform for managing domain settings and renewals.

Advantages of Transferring:

• Convenience: Managing your domain alongside your Shopify store means everything is streamlined in one place.
• Enhanced Control: You gain complete control over DNS settings, and it can simplify maintenance when updates are needed.

Which Method is Right for You?

If you anticipate needing extensive ongoing modifications to your domain settings or prefer a consolidated system, transitioning to Shopify may be the best route. However, if you plan on managing additional domains or prefer to maintain Squarespace for non-shop-related tasks, pointing your domain is a more suitable option.

Now that we've covered the basics, let’s move on to the step-by-step process of both methods.

How to Point Your Squarespace Domain to Shopify

If you’re aiming to connect your existing Squarespace domain to your Shopify store without transferring, this is the way to go. Here's a comprehensive guide to successfully complete the pointing process.

Step 1: Prepare Your Shopify Store

Before modifying any settings, you need to ensure your Shopify store is ready:

1. Login to Your Shopify Account: Start with logging in to your Shopify admin dashboard.
2. Navigate to Domains: From your Shopify admin, go to Online Store > Domains.

Step 2: Get the Required DNS Settings from Shopify

1. Connect Existing Domain: Click on Connect existing domain within the Domains section and enter your Squarespace domain name.
2. Copy DNS Records: Shopify will provide specific DNS records you need to utilize; note these down for future use.

Step 3: Log in to Your Squarespace Account

1. Access Domain Settings: Open a new tab and log in to your Squarespace account. Head to Settings > Domains.
2. Select Your Domain: Click on the domain you wish to connect to Shopify.

Step 4: Update DNS Records in Squarespace

1. Add DNS Records:
   • A Record: You need to update or create an A record that points to Shopify’s IP address.
     • Host: @
     • Type: A
     • Data: 23.227.38.65
   • CNAME Record: Additionally, you need to create a CNAME record for the www version of your domain.
     • Host: www
     • Type: CNAME
     • Data: shops.myshopify.com
2. Save Changes: Don’t forget to save your changes in Squarespace!

Step 5: Verify Connection on Shopify

1. Return to Shopify: Go back to your Shopify admin panel.
2. Verify Domain: In the Domains section, click on Verify Connection. It may take up to 48 hours for the changes to propagate fully across the internet.

How to Transfer Your Squarespace Domain to Shopify

If you decide that transferring your domain is the best option for your long-term e-commerce strategy, follow these detailed steps to ensure a smooth transfer.

Step 1: Check Domain Eligibility

Before beginning the transfer process:

1. Unlock Your Domain: Log in to your Squarespace account, navigate to Settings > Domains, and find the domain you wish to transfer. Make sure to unlock it.
2. Get Authorization Code: Once unlocked, request a domain transfer authorization code that will be sent to your email associated with your Squarespace account.

Step 2: Transfer Domain on Shopify

1. Log in to Shopify Admin: On the Shopify platform, navigate to Settings > Domains.
2. Select Transfer Domain: Click on Transfer domain and input your domain name without "www".
3. Input Authorization Code: When prompted, enter the authorization code you received from Squarespace.

Step 3: Confirm and Pay

1. Follow Instructions: Complete any further steps Shopify requires, which may include confirming your payment for the transfer.
2. Check Email for Approval: Ensure the email account tied to your Squarespace account is monitored; you’ll need to approve the transfer from there.

Step 4: Wait for the Transfer to Complete

The domain transfer can take several days to finalize. Shopify will notify you via email once the process has completed successfully.

Best Practices After Connecting Your Domain

Once you’ve pointed or transferred your Squarespace domain to Shopify, consider these best practices to ensure a streamlined transition:

Monitor Domain Propagation

• DNS Changes May Take Time: Remember that the DNS change can take anywhere from a few minutes to up to 48 hours to propagate fully. During this time, users may see inconsistent results when trying to access the website.

Maintain Email Services

• Check Email Forwarding: If you were using email services associated with your Squarespace domain, ensure that necessary MX records are configured in Shopify to maintain email functionality.

Optimize for SEO

• 301 Redirects: If you're moving away from Squarespace completely, consider setting up 301 redirects for any legacy pages that received considerable traffic to preserve SEO equity.
• Notify Your Audience: Inform your previous customer base about the domain transition through social media and newsletters to avoid confusion.

Utilize Tevello’s Community Features

As you navigate this domain change, take advantage of Tevello’s powerful features like online course creation and community engagement. By centralizing your tools, we empower you to unlock new avenues of income while fostering a vibrant community around your brand.

Conclusion

A properly connected domain enhances your brand's credibility, accessibility, and customer trust. Whether you decide to point or transfer your Squarespace domain to Shopify, following the steps outlined will ensure a seamless transition. It’s essential to approach the process with careful planning and execution to avoid potential disruptions.

At Tevello, we're here to support your goals. Ready to build your online courses or digital products? Start your 14-day free trial of Tevello today! Install the all-in-one course platform for Shopify and take your online presence to the next level.

FAQ

What is the difference between pointing and transferring a domain?

Pointing keeps your domain registered with Squarespace while directing traffic to Shopify. Transferring means moving the domain registration entirely to Shopify, giving you centralized control.

How long does it take for DNS changes to propagate?

DNS changes can take anywhere from a few minutes to up to 48 hours to propagate fully across the internet.

Will I lose my existing emails when moving to Shopify?

If you had email services linked to your Squarespace domain, be sure to configure the necessary MX records in Shopify to maintain those services.

What should I do if my domain isn't connecting to Shopify?

If you experience issues, double-check your DNS records for accuracy, ensure you've saved changes correctly, and wait for up to 48 hours. If problems persist, contact Squarespace or Shopify support.

Can I start using Tevello without transferring my domain?

Absolutely! Tevello can work with your existing platform setup. We provide a seamless experience, allowing you to focus on creating engaging courses and building community connections.