Key things to consider when upgrading your Squarespace website from 7.0 to 7.1
Recently Squarespace released an update tool within the platform, which helps website owners to update their website from version 7.0 to 7.1 without affecting their data.
What's important here is that things like the website structure and information like SEO, orders, sales, customer data, members, domains, and subscriptions all remain intact.
Since its release, we’ve upgraded a fair few websites here at KSD, and we’ve learnt it’s not as easy as it seems, so today I’m sharing the top 11 things to keep in mind when upgrading your Squarespace website from version 7.0 to 7.1.
As with any change, there are some important things to note before making the change, in this case, upgrading your Squarespace website from version 7.0 to 7.1
1 | It’s a permanent update
Once you press “Upgrade” you will be able to preview your website in 7.1. The guided steps are straightforward and will take you through the process. At the end of that process, you will need to press Publish to upgrade your website to 7.1. What’s key to keep in mind at this stage is that you won’t be able to add Content or update Content to the 7.0 view, and any amends you make at this stage, in Preview mode, will remain on 7.1 until published. You can of course cancel the preview at any time, but any updates or amends you will have made, during 7.1 preview mode, will be lost.
2 | Some pages will look different
Not all pages upgrade from 7.0 to 7.1 as the features simply do not exist, therefore, it’s important to thoroughly review the pages on your website and identify which pages may not upgrade. Here’s a list of the differences between 7.0 and 7.1, which I highly recommend giving a read before you start the process.
3 | Set time aside to preview the changes and the pages
I would highly recommend setting some time aside to preview and review the changes to the individual pages on your website, and the website as a whole. A lot of the features are different, including the Design panel, which in 7.1 is Site Styles. Also, if you have a large site, it can be quite time-consuming to go over each page, so bear this in mind before upgrading your Squarespace website from 7.0 to 7.1
4 | Template compatibility: Brine or Bedford only
To successfully upgrade your site from version 7.0 to 7.1 you need to ensure that your current 7.0 template is compatible with Squarespace 7.1. Templates in the Brine or Bedford family (in version 7.0) are compatible with the upgrade. If you are on any other version 7.0 template you can, and will need to, switch templates before the upgrade process. Not sure what template you’re using? Read this: What's my site's version and template?
Note: While many templates are compatible, some older or custom templates may require adjustments or a switch to a new template.
5 | Content review
Before upgrading, review your website's content. You want to check for any custom code, embedded elements, or formatting that may need adjustment after the upgrade.
This brings me to….
6 | Backup your Squarespace website
It's always good practice to back up your website before making significant changes. Keeping an offline copy of your website's custom CSS, any additional extra code is important. Squarespace does provide tools to export your content, including pages, posts, images, and more, but I highly recommend duplicating your website to ensure you have a copy of the website. Tip: This can also act as a reference point for when you upgrade the website, and you can use this to compare the pages to ensure everything is as expected.
7 | Design consistency
Design consistency and cohesiveness are really important. Why not use the upgrade from Squarespace version 7.0 to 7.1 as an opportunity to review your website's design and ensure consistency across all the pages? If time permits, go one step further and make use of the fab features that Squarespace 7.1 offers as well - more design and layout flexibilities and improvements to the design aesthetics.
Related:
8 | Squarespace 7.1 SEO Optimisation
Whilst on the topic of design consistency and cohesiveness and upgrading your Squarespace website, now would also be a great time to take advantage of ensuring your “new” Squarespace 7.1's SEO is on point. Thanks to the built-in SEO features it’s never been easier to ensure basic SEO optimisation is done on your website for search engines. Review and update metadata, page titles, descriptions, and URLs for better visibility online.
If you’re interested in taking your Squarespace SEO one step further, we now also offer a specialised Squarespace SEO service, get in touch to find out more.
9 | Mobile responsiveness
Squarespace 7.1 prioritises mobile responsiveness, ensuring your website looks great and functions well on all devices. As you upgrade your Squarespace website, from 70 to 7.1, It’s really important to test your site on various screen sizes and make adjustments as needed as the set-up of the pages is different on mobile. There’s way more flexibility on 7.1, but it does come with a slight learning curve.
10 | Integrations and extensions
As much as Squarespace is great, there may be extensions and integrations you may have on your website. Therefore, don’t forget to review any third-party integrations or extensions you're using on your Squarespace 7.0 site, and ensure that they are compatible with Squarespace 7.1 or find suitable alternatives if necessary. There’s always going to be a solution so feel free to reach out and ask if you’re unsure.
11 | User testing
Last but not least, before and after the upgrade, make sure you conduct thorough user testing to identify any issues or areas for improvement. Gather feedback from your website visitors to ensure that the upgraded website meets their needs and expectations, this can be as simple as asking your regular customers, clients and if you have a community, your community members.
Conclusion:
Phew! We’ve covered quite a lot in this article, so hopefully, the insights and tips will help you navigate the process of upgrading your Squarespace website from version 7.0 to 7.1 with confidence and clarity.
If you don’t fancy doing it alone, get in touch and we can help you with the upgrade!