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

For 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A website platform is like any other technology tool, eventually it may become outdated, unsupported, or no longer meet your organization’s needs.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Review your current website content and remove old, outdated content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

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

Squarespace vs WordPress for Membership Websites: Which Is Right for Your Organization?

If you’re trying to decide between Squarespace vs WordPress for a membership website, your head might be spinning. Many small businesses, nonprofits, and associations struggle to choose the right platform. Most organizations I talk with want a site that’s easy to manage but still powerful enough to handle memberships, renewals, and member only content and events. I have built and supported membership websites using both WordPress and Squarespace and implemented MembershipWorks on each platform. I’ve seen where each option shines and where it can fall short.

Without going into too much detail, here are some key differences between Squarespace and WordPress specifically for membership websites—not eCommerce sites or large-scale platforms, but the kinds of “brochure-style” membership websites many organizations actually need. My goal is to help you make a confident, informed decision based on your organization’s needs and comfort level with ongoing website maintenance. I want to give my clients what they need.

A Quick Note on Membership Websites

When I talk about “membership websites,” I’m referring to sites that include things like:

Online membership signups and dues renewals
Automated renewal reminders
Member directories
Events and registrations
Members-only content pages
Dues, donations, and sponsorship payments

For the organizations I work with, MembershipWorks handles your membership database system. The MembershipWorks software integrates with your website platform (WordPress or Squarespace).

You can read my post about Is MembershipWorks Right For Your Organization if you’d like to learn more about MembershipWorks. Or visit my MembershipWorks page where I outline the features and benefits.

WordPress for Membership Websites

I’ve been building WordPress websites for small organizations since 2010, and it’s still a powerful option, especially when flexibility and writing blog posts are important.

Why WordPress Can Be a Great Choice

WordPress works well if your small business or nonprofit organization needs:

Advanced customization
Robust blogging or content publishing
Strong SEO tools and analytics
Integration with other third-party tools and plugins
Full control over hosting and email management

MembershipWorks integrates very well with WordPress, and when set up correctly, the combination can be extremely effective. We can customize MembershipWorks to match the colors and branding on your website so it’s a seamless experience for your members.

The Trade-Off: Complexity

The downside of managing a WordPress website is ongoing complexity.

WordPress sites typically require:

Choosing and managing a hosting plan
Domain setup and potential domain transfers
Purchasing and maintaining a theme
Installing and updating the right plugins
Managing security and backups

None of this is wrong, but it does add more responsibility and requires you to be more attentive to your website. For small organizations with limited staff or volunteers, that complexity can be a burden. I understand when leadership turns over and new volunteers or staff come in. You want them to be able to maintain the website too. We don’t want it to be too technical or frustrating. We want it to meet your requirements. I get it.

Squarespace for Membership Websites

Squarespace is often a better fit for organizations that want a simpler, lower-maintenance website.

I’ve built Squarespace websites from scratch and helped clients integrate MembershipWorks into existing Squarespace sites, and it works very well for many membership organizations. I would say it’s more of an all-in-one solution. Because of this, it does cost more per month than WordPress. But you may find the convenience worth it.

Why Squarespace Can Be a Great Choice

Squarespace may be ideal if your organization wants:

A clean, professional website with minimal setup
Hosting, security, and updates handled for you
Fewer technical decisions to make
An easier learning curve for staff or volunteers
A stable platform that “just works”

MembershipWorks integrates smoothly with Squarespace, allowing you to manage memberships, renewals, events, and payments. There are no plugins to manage in Squarespace, no additional theme to purchase. I add shortcodes from MembershipWorks to integrate membership features into your website.

The Trade-Off: Flexibility

Squarespace is more structured than WordPress. That means:

Fewer layout and customization options
Less control over advanced SEO settings
Blog features that are solid, but not as robust as WordPress
Costs a bit more per month for this platform

For many organizations, this is a perfectly acceptable trade-off, especially if the website’s primary purpose is to support membership rather than writing blog posts and adding a ton of content.

How I Help Clients Decide

I don’t push my clients to one platform over the other. Instead, we talk about it together. I want to understand who will be managing the website and how comfortable they are with technology. I want to know if your organization wants to write blog posts and how important SEO is to you. We need to find out what you value most and make the best choice for now and the future of the organization.

For many small nonprofits, associations, and member-driven organizations, the cost of complexity can outweigh the benefits of a highly customizable platform. While I have primarily worked with WordPress, I do think Squarespace offers an excellent solution also.

The Most Important Piece: Proper Implementation

No matter which platform you choose, the success of your membership-based website depends on how MembershipWorks is implemented.

A thoughtful setup ensures:

Membership levels make sense
Renewals are customized and automated
Volunteers and staff can easily access your membership database
The system continues to work as leadership changes
Custom training materials are provided

I have a clear process for managing the implementation of MembershipWorks. I have a project spreadsheet we share during the process, and I offer written and video tutorials for my clients.

Next Step

WordPress and Squarespace can both support effective membership websites when paired with MembershipWorks.

If you’re considering a membership website and want help deciding between WordPress and Squarespace, or have questions about implementing MembershipWorks on either platform, please contact me. I’m happy to help you find the solution that fits your organization best. Ultimately, I want my clients to be happy with their website and their membership management solution. Learn more about my services and how I work with my clients.

Michelle Aspelin
MembershipWorks Implementation Specialist
View my Developer Profile on the MembershipWorks website
Read Reviews about me or Connect with me on LinkedIn

Mindshare Marketing & Implementation Services LLC
Based in Colorado, USA.

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