Announcement:
Upcoming changes to the Weebly Platform (acquired by Square)
22 October 2024
This update is to inform you of important changes happening to the Weebly platform on which your original website was built. Your action is required to make a decision regarding the future of your website.
This update is to inform you of important changes happening to the Weebly platform on which your original website was built. Your action is required to make a decision regarding the future of your website.
Square acquired Weebly in 2018
We created your original website on the Weebly platform some years ago and in 2018 it was acquired by Square. Since the acquisition, it appears that Square have been winding back investment in the Weebly site builder and pushing users towards their Square platform.
At the moment, the Weebly sites are still operational and there has been no indication that it will be shut down, however at Small Business Web Designs, we want to protect the future of your website continuity.
At the moment, the Weebly sites are still operational and there has been no indication that it will be shut down, however at Small Business Web Designs, we want to protect the future of your website continuity.
The future of Weebly is uncertain – support and pricing are changing
Weebly support in the last year has been slow and it has been communicated that full support will cease by July 2025 while the website builder will continue to operate.
In addition, there have been reports that Square has been significantly increasing the costs of Weebly renewals for existing users and the direction appears to be one of trying to drive Weebly users out.
Based on the direction Square is taking, we believe it's important to act now to safeguard the future of our clients' sites. This shift is why we're recommending a pre-emptive migration to WordPress, a more stable and widely trusted platform.
In addition, there have been reports that Square has been significantly increasing the costs of Weebly renewals for existing users and the direction appears to be one of trying to drive Weebly users out.
Based on the direction Square is taking, we believe it's important to act now to safeguard the future of our clients' sites. This shift is why we're recommending a pre-emptive migration to WordPress, a more stable and widely trusted platform.
Our Plan: Migrate Your Site to WordPress – From $300+GST
To ensure the long-term stability of your website, Small Business Web Designs is offering a seamless migration to WordPress, a robust platform used by major brands like NASA, The White House and Harvard University. We’re offering this transition for a heavily discounted rate:
If you have more or less pages or would like a redesign to enhance your site in the process, please visit our pricing page and FAQs for more details on our pricing.
This isn’t a profit-making venture for us; our recommendation to migrate is purely proactive, to avoid any future complications as Square shifts focus away from Weebly. We want to ensure your website continues to operate smoothly in the long term.
We’ll absorb the bulk of the transition costs, keeping your hosting fees unchanged as a gesture of appreciation for your ongoing support.
- $300+GST for up to 5 pages
- $450+GST for up to 8 pages
If you have more or less pages or would like a redesign to enhance your site in the process, please visit our pricing page and FAQs for more details on our pricing.
This isn’t a profit-making venture for us; our recommendation to migrate is purely proactive, to avoid any future complications as Square shifts focus away from Weebly. We want to ensure your website continues to operate smoothly in the long term.
We’ll absorb the bulk of the transition costs, keeping your hosting fees unchanged as a gesture of appreciation for your ongoing support.
Why Move to WordPress?
Building a WordPress site usually costs thousands, but this offer includes a fresh, updated site on high-performance hosting at an unbeatable price. WordPress provides superior performance, flexibility, and future-proofing for your website.
Your Options:
- Migrate your site to WordPress through us
- Retain your Weebly site by migrating it to your own Weebly account (please note, Weebly support is limited, and costs have increased for retail customers).
Decision Deadline
Please let us know your decision as soon as possible! If you would like to go ahead but need more time, we are happy to accommodate this, just let us know so we can lock your price in and commence the work when it suits you.
We’d like to commence the migrations as soon as possible. We’ll keep the process simple and ask if you want your new site to replicate the current design or make some updates. While there may be slight design differences due to platform changes, we’re committed to delivering an improved version of your site.
We’d like to commence the migrations as soon as possible. We’ll keep the process simple and ask if you want your new site to replicate the current design or make some updates. While there may be slight design differences due to platform changes, we’re committed to delivering an improved version of your site.
Future Edits & Support
Managing a WordPress site is a bit different from Weebly. We’re happy to guide you or handle edits to ensure site integrity. You can view our affordable edits pricing list here:
Edits Price List
We loved Weebly for its simplicity, but WordPress offers much better performance and flexibility. Our priority is ensuring that your site remains unaffected and continues to serve your business effectively.
Edits Price List
We loved Weebly for its simplicity, but WordPress offers much better performance and flexibility. Our priority is ensuring that your site remains unaffected and continues to serve your business effectively.
Next Steps
If you’d like to proceed, simply email [email protected] and we’ll send an invoice for 50% upfront to get started on creating your fresh, new website.
Thank you for your continued support. As always, please let us know if you have any questions so we can assist you. We’re excited to help you transition smoothly to a better platform.
Thank you for your continued support. As always, please let us know if you have any questions so we can assist you. We’re excited to help you transition smoothly to a better platform.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if I don’t migrate my site to WordPress?
The choice is yours to keep your site on Weebly for now. Based on current communications, Weebly is expected to remain operational under Square, though support will cease after July 2025. We are anticipating that renewal prices will be increased significantly in the coming months and as much as we aim to keep our prices as they are, if they are not sustainable, we may need to communicate any changes to you as they arise.
While our team will continue to troubleshoot as best we can, we cannot guarantee long-term reliability with Weebly. We'll keep our Weebly accounts active until any further changes occur.
While our team will continue to troubleshoot as best we can, we cannot guarantee long-term reliability with Weebly. We'll keep our Weebly accounts active until any further changes occur.
How will I edit my website in the future?
One of the great advantages of WordPress is its flexibility. You can easily add new pages, update content, and make design changes. Managing a WordPress site is a bit different from Weebly, but we’re here to help. Whether you’d like us to guide you through using WordPress or prefer us to handle updates for you, we can assist in preserving your site’s integrity. Our edits are affordable—check out our pricing list here:
Edit Price List
Edit Price List
What if I want to migrate but can’t do it right now?
No problem! Let us know, and we’ll register you for the current pricing. We can schedule the migration at a time that suits you. If you’re opting for a straight migration, it won’t require much input. For redesigns, we’ll need some guidance on any changes or updates you’d like.
What if I want to migrate but can’t afford it at the moment?
We totally understand. We offer flexible installment options and can adjust payment timings based on your needs. Our goal is to get your site onto WordPress, not to cause financial strain, so we’ll do everything we can to help you make the transition.
Will my website experience downtime during the migration?
No, we aim to ensure a smooth transition with minimal to no downtime. We’ll build the new WordPress site on a separate server before switching your domain over, so your existing site will remain live throughout the migration process. The final switchover will happen quickly, minimizing any disruption.
What if my site has custom features or e-commerce functionality?
If your Weebly site includes custom features or e-commerce (like an online store), we can recreate those on WordPress. However, this may require additional time and development, depending on the complexity. We will assess your site and provide an estimate for any extra work required to replicate or improve these features on WordPress.
Will my site’s SEO be affected by the migration?
We take care to ensure your site’s SEO settings, such as meta tags, alt text, and keywords, are preserved during the migration. Additionally, WordPress is highly SEO-friendly, and with the right plugins, your SEO may even improve after the move.
Can I add new features to my WordPress site after the migration?
Yes! WordPress is incredibly flexible and can support a wide range of features, from contact forms and social media integrations to booking systems and e-commerce functionality. If you’d like to enhance your site with additional features, just let us know, and we can discuss options during or after the migration.
What support will you provide after the migration?
We offer ongoing support for all WordPress sites we create. Whether it’s troubleshooting, adding new content, or making edits, our team is here to help. Additionally, we provide affordable maintenance packages and can assist with any questions you have about managing your new site. Check out our editing and support options here:
Edit Price List
Edit Price List
What happens to my existing hosting, domain name and SSL Certificate renewal costs?
They will not change! The standard renewal costs will continue to be issued as they are due, so there won't be any additional costs outside the migration.
What are my payment options for the migration?
You may choose to pay 50% upfront and 50% on completion. Alternatively, you can make an upfront full payment for ease. If you require instalment payment options, please let us know so we can make an arrangement that will suit you.