Tag Archive for: Easy Membership WordPress Websites

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Weebly Website Alternatives: What to Do If Your Website Is on Weebly

If your business, nonprofit, homeowner association, or organization has a website built using Weebly, you may be wondering what the future holds. Well, it’s time for a Weebly website migration.

I helped many organizations build websites using Weebly because it was simple, affordable, and easy to update. However, Weebly was acquired by Square, and over time Square has shifted its focus toward its newer website and ecommerce products.

While Weebly websites continue to function normally today, industry discussions and platform trends suggest that Weebly is moving into a long-term “maintenance mode” with no future updates or enhancements. Because Square has stopped updating the software, it may eventually not function properly like it does today.

The good news: there is no reason to panic or make an immediate change. A thoughtful transition can happen over time and on your schedule.

My Experience with Weebly Websites

Weebly vs WordPressFor many years, I built Weebly websites for clients who needed a simple, affordable website that they could manage themselves as opposed to a more comprehensive platform like WordPress.

For small businesses, nonprofits, community organizations, and associations that needed a straightforward online presence, Weebly was a great fit. It allowed clients to make basic updates without needing technical skills or ongoing website support.

Now is a good time to evaluate your options, preserve your content, and make a thoughtful decision about what type of website you need for the future. I have a WordPress theme I use that offers the “drag and drop” type of page builder similar to Weebly. Making website creating and editing easy for my clients. Read more about why I use the Enfold theme I use.

If you have questions about your Weebly website, contact me.

Why Start Planning a Weebly Website Transition?

A website platform is like any other technology tool, eventually it may become outdated, unsupported, or no longer meet your organization’s needs.

Here’s what I recommend you do now:

  • Review your current website content and remove old, outdated content
  • Compare website platforms to find one that fits your needs and your budget
  • Plan a transition timeline that’s convenient for your organization
  • Make sure you have your photos, videos, and PDFs stored in an alternate platform like Google Drive or Dropbox

Waiting until something breaks will cause stress and frustration. I would make the change sooner rather than later so you are in control.

Your Website Needs to Be Rebuilt — Not “Moved”

Changing website platforms is not a simple transfer. Your whole Weebly website cannot be copied directly into another platform. Instead, the new website is built using a different system, with your existing content, images, documents, and branding used as the foundation. Content is copied, page by page, to the new site. All images and documents need to be uploaded into the new website’s media library. The good news is that this is also an opportunity to clean up outdated information and improve navigation and functionality.

Weebly Website Alternatives to Consider

The best platform depends on your organization’s needs, budget, and how much control you want over the website. I like to stay in my wheelhouse so I can help you with a new Squarespace or WordPress website as your Weebly website alternatives.

Squarespace

Squarespace is a good option for organizations that want a professional-looking website with simpler maintenance than WordPress. Monthly plans start at $16/month up to $39/month for more robust features. See current options. I have built or improved several Squarespace sites, including adding MembershipWorks.

It works well for:

  • Small businesses
  • Professional services
  • Community and trade organizations
  • Organizations that do not need complex features
  • Membership management

WordPress

Squarespace vs WordPress for Membership Websites graphic with platform logos

WordPress is a more robust option and is often the best choice for organizations that want room to grow, need additional features, or focus on blog posts and better search results.

It works well for:

  • Businesses that rely on search engine traffic
  • Organizations with more complex needs
  • Websites that need additional functionality, special forms and integrations with other platforms
  • Focus on blogging, newsletter archives, extensive photo galleries
  • Membership management

I have a blog post that compares Squarespace and WordPress you might find helpful.

Square Websites

Since Square owns Weebly, you may consider having them convert your site to a Square site, especially if you already use Square for payments or ecommerce.

it is important to compare features carefully and choose the platform that best fits your future needs. I have not built sites with Square, so if you choose this platform, you will need to find a developer to help you make sure its set up properly or use their online support.

Don’t Forget About Your Documents and Website Files

Many organizations use their website as a document library. Homeowner associations, nonprofits, clubs, and membership organizations often store:

  • Meeting minutes
  • Financial documents
  • Forms and policies
  • Member resources
  • Extensive photo galleries and historical records

Before changing website platforms, I recommend creating an organization-owned archive.

Consider storing important documents and images in a dedicated cloud storage account such as Google Drive or Dropbox.

The key is that the account belongs to your organization — not an individual volunteer, board member, or website admin.

This protects your records if leadership changes or someone who manages the website is no longer available. I cannot emphasize this enough. I have worked with organizations where a key person passed away, and no one could access important website accounts or files. I have also seen situations where a former employee or volunteer left the organization and account access was difficult to recover.

Your Domain Name Can Move with You

Don’t worry about losing your website address when you move to a different website platform. Your domain name (your website address) is separate from your website software. In most cases, your domain can be transferred to a new website hosting provider when you build a new website. Or, we can “point” your domain to a different hosting provider. We will review and see when your domain and current hosting account expires to try to avoid overlapping services.

How I Help Clients Transition Away from Weebly

I help small businesses, nonprofits, and organizations evaluate their website options and plan practical transitions.

I create websites using WordPress and Squarespace, and I can also help you prepare your content, organize documents, and create a transition plan.

The first step is simply understanding your options. A website transition does not have to be rushed. Planning ahead gives you time to make the right decision for your organization.

Let’s schedule a phone call to discuss your Weebly website alternatives.

952-484-6015

Michelle Aspelin
Website Implementation Specialist
Mindshare Marketing & Implementation Services, LLC

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Need Help Implementing MembershipWorks?

How to Finish Your MembershipWorks Setup (When You’re Stuck)

Many organizations and nonprofits start setting up MembershipWorks themselves and they make great progress, until they reach the point where everything needs to be connected to their website.

That’s usually when things get confusing and possibly frustrating, especially if you don’t regularly work with WordPress or Squarespace website content creation.

If you’re searching for help implementing MembershipWorks or trying to figure out why your pages aren’t displaying correctly, you’re in the right place.

I mostly help clients from the get-go and do all the planning with them. However, I also work with clients who have done most of the setup but get stuck when it comes to creating pages, adding shortcodes, and making sure everything works together correctly. If that sounds familiar, I can help.

Sidebar menu for help implementing MembershipWorks on a WordPress website

WordPress side menu with MembershipWorks plugin

Where Most People Get Stuck

By the time clients reach out to me, they may have already:

  • Created their MembershipWorks account
  • Set up membership levels
  • Started adding events
  • Made their sign-up form
  • Customized their member directory

But then they hit a wall with their website.

Common issues include:

  • Thinking that adding the WordPress plugin for MembershipWorks is all you need to do
  • Not knowing how or where to add MembershipWorks shortcode
  • Pages not displaying on their website
  • Login or registration forms not working as expected
  • Events not showing up on the Calendar
  • Confusion between what happens in MembershipWorks vs. WordPress or Squarespace

This part of the process can feel frustrating because everything almost works, but not quite. Even though you have done the work in MembershipWorks, you can’t “see” your forms, calendar, and directory on your site until you do the final steps within your website.

Why This Part Is More Complicated Than It Looks

At first glance, it seems simple: copy a shortcode and paste it onto a page.

But in reality, it’s about:

  • Setting up the correct page structure
  • Placing the right shortcode in the right place (especially for members only pages)
  • Possibly adding a special menu for member only content
  • Testing the full user experience from start to finish

Small setup issues can cause things to break or not look the way you expected, which is why you might feel stuck and need some help. I’d love to talk about where you are now and how I might be able to assist you or your website developer.

shortcode screenshot for help implementing MembershipWorks

See the MembershipWorks shortcode in the bottom box

How I Help You Get Across the Finish Line

This is when I step in and help my clients move from “almost done” to a new, fully functional membership website they can be proud to share with their membership.

Instead of spending hours troubleshooting, I help you:

  • Set up your MembershipWorks completely (by reviewing what you’ve done so far)
  • Connect your new membership system to your website
  • Test the full user experience (signup, login, events, payments)
  • Fix any issues quickly and efficiently

And I’m also available for ongoing help when you need it, now or in the future.

Most of my clients don’t want to keep struggling with setup, they just want it done so they can move forward. I get it. The staff at MembershipWorks offers great support and suggestions but they don’t “do the work” for you. That’s the part I love… let’s get it done! Let me know if you need help setting up MembershipWorks.

“Michelle is an amazing asset to any organisation hoping to build a membership platform. She stepped in after I had procrastinated for months trying to figure out how to get started and got everything up and running within a few short weeks, and to a tight timescale of a significant date for my company. She is clear, efficient, professional and patient. Michelle worked beautifully with my team to support them in building their knowledge and project-managed the whole process. Her communication is clear and the workbooks she provides are outstanding. We were working across very different time zones as we are UK-based, and yet the service was prompt and seamless. Michelle came highly recommended to me and I am delighted to ‘pay it forward’ she is the best.” ~Karen Foy, thecoachtribe.com

Need Help Implementing MembershipWorks?

If you’re stuck and need help implementing MembershipWorks, I can help you get everything set up and functioning the way it should. MembershipWorks is meant to be a time-saver, improving accuracy and being a big benefit to your members and your admins or staff.

In many cases, I help clients get everything fully set up and working within a short timeframe once I review what’s already been done.

Learn more about my MembershipWorks implementation services or reach out to me directly to get started. We can chat via phone or Zoom, whichever you prefer.

Michelle Aspelin
MembershipWorks Implementation Specialist
Mindshare Marketing & Implementation Services LLC

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