Hosting, domains & email
Every launch process below is relatively simple except for SCENARIO 6: MOVING INTERNAL EMAIL TO GMAIL
At all costs, let the client know that Email Migrating is a big pain in the neck, highly discouraged, and we recommend only a local IT professional to help with email migration. Otherwise, their email can be down for 4-8 hours during the switch! A local in-person IT professional can likely finish within 1-2 hours instead.
scenario 1
Client has nothing
Hosting
Before: None
After: Squarespace
Domain
Before: None
After: Squarespace
Email
Before: None
After: Squarespace/Gmail
Scenario 2
client has domain name
Hosting
Before: None
After: Squarespace
Domain
Before: GoDaddy, Network Solutions, etc
After: KEEP AS IS
Email
Before: None
After: Squarespace/Gmail
Scenario 3
Client has domain NAme & email
Hosting
Before: None
After: Squarespace
Domain
Before: GoDaddy, Network Solutions, etc
After: KEEP AS IS
Email
Before: GoDaddy, Office 365, etc
After: KEEP AS IS
Scenario 4
Client has old Website
Domain & Email all together
Step 1. Log into client’s Domain Name, Zone/DNS File Records.
Step 2. See if “External Nameservers” or Default nameservers are being used.
Hosting
Before: GoDaddy, Network Solutions, etc
After: Squarespace
Domain (GoDaddy)
Before: GoDaddy, etc
After: Keep where it is
Email
Before: GoDaddy, etc
After: Keep where it is
Scenario 5
Client has old website
& has NAMESERVERS W/ MX Records
Step 1. Log into client’s Domain Name account
Step 2. Look for Nameservers (Advanced DNS)
Step 3. Log into clients’ Web Hosting
Step 4. Look for Email Setup in the DNS Zone records.
Step 5. Look for MX records to GOOGLE or OUTLOOK or OFFICE365 etc (if none, go to Scenario 6)
Step 6. Look for A RECORDS like mail.clientname.com (if you see mail in A RECORDS go to Scenario 6)
BEFORE
DOMAIN
GoDaddy, Network Solutions, etc
NAMESERVER —>
(points to another hosting/company)
HOSTING
1and1, Namecheap, etc
MX RECORDS EMAIL
Google, Office 365
After
DOMAIN
Keep as is, remove Nameserver & update DNS/Zone
REMOVE NAMESERVER
EMAIL
SAME MX RECORDS
HOSTING
Squarespace
Scenario 6
Client has old website
& has NAMESERVERS W/ internal email
//// WARNING: SCHEDULE A CALL WITH CLIENT FIRST & GET TEAM FOR HELP ////
/// THIS IS AN ISSUE IF THE MX RECORDS ARE NOT THERE OR THERE ARE MAIL, MAILBOX, or EMAIL words in the A RECORDS ////
BEFORE
DOMAIN
Godady, Network Solution
NAMESERVER —>
HOSTING
Network Solutions, 1and1, etc
EMAIL
Internal email like Network Solutions-provided email
AFTER / Option 1 (recommended)
DOMAIN
Keep as is
NAMESERVER
(KEEP)
HOSTING
Client must keep / Point DNS/Zone files to Squarespace from here
EMAIL
Keep email as is, IMAP and SMTP records may need to change on client’s phone and computer.
AFTER / Option 2 (Last Resort)
DOMAIN
Keep as is, remove Nameserver & update DNS/Zone
NAMESERVER
DELETE & POINT DOMAIN DNS/ZONE FILES
HOSTING
Point to Squarespace
EMAIL
Do an Email Migration from old email to Squarespace/Google Suite