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I can't find a tutorial for this. Do I have to rebuild each site in website builder?
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214 Points
Posted 9 months ago
Lynn1286, Champion
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5,790 Points
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214 Points
Lynn1286, Champion
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5,790 Points
Elyzabeth , Official Rep
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44,948 Points
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214 Points
I'd be interested to hear about what tools you feel are superior Lynn - if they sound compelling then i might take a look. What I can't wrap my head around is that someone at Endurance made the conscious decision not to invest in building a migration tool for the new platform. That shows a contempt for their existing customer base that boggles.
Lynn1286, Champion
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5,790 Points
I am running out to a meeting, but will answer you in a little while.
Lynn1286, Champion
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5,790 Points
So- what do I like about Homestead tools? I really like the fact that all the "elements" can be controlled from one window. There is a section scroller tool which is great for long content (especially in mobile). The mobile co-editor is pretty good and it works! It's an easy task to integrate Paypal. The styles and settings tools for any element is dynamic and easy to use. The built in guides keep everything in line for both mobile and desktop/laptop. The elements are very flexible (a feature I do not find easy in WIX) and the page info/SEO stuff in Manage Pages is great. It is automatically secure. I have found that the templates are very very customizable. I am using the same template for 2 sites and you would never know it. I also am very pleased with the ability to build all these sites in one account and easily toggle between them. (NOT a feature in WIX or GoDaddy) So, that's why I stick with Homestead. I liked Sitebuilder Plus, but it is so old hat now and needs to be retired. I was really nervous having to rebuild but am very happy that I have switched to the new software. Hope that helps you.
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214 Points
Thank you so much for taking the time to write down your observations. Very much appreciated!
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214 Points
Elyzabeth, no... I was referring to migrating to what I thought was the preferred product, and the one that would be the most supported.... Website Builder. I was not aware that there was a cloud-based Sitebuilder. Will Sitebuilder Plus continue to be supported, and more importantly, continue to be improved?
Elyzabeth , Official Rep
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44,948 Points
Sitebuilder Plus is still supported, but any improvements are being focused on Website Builder.
It is not that we chose not to add a tool to migrate sites, especially not as a form of contempt. It is that it is not possible to migrate sites between the two builders. The two programs are completely different. Sitebuilder Plus sites are not responsive or mobile friendly. There would not be a way for a program to successfully translate a site built on the older builder to the newer one. You can edit your site with Sitebuilder Plus for now, and rebuild your site on Website Builder while your current site is still up.
It is not that we chose not to add a tool to migrate sites, especially not as a form of contempt. It is that it is not possible to migrate sites between the two builders. The two programs are completely different. Sitebuilder Plus sites are not responsive or mobile friendly. There would not be a way for a program to successfully translate a site built on the older builder to the newer one. You can edit your site with Sitebuilder Plus for now, and rebuild your site on Website Builder while your current site is still up.
How do you do this? I need a drop down menu and sitebuilder plus does not have it. Time to switch to Website Builder. Do not want to interfere with my current site in the process. Where is it to download?
Lynn1286, Champion
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5,790 Points
You don't actually download it, it's in the Cloud! If you have an account that you can add more than one site, then when you log in (choose Website Manager on left) you will see "Add a Website" near the upper right of the window. When you choose that, you will be in the new WebsiteBuilder. You will be asked to choose a name. You can use your regular domain name because it will have .homesteadcloud ending name that will not interfere with your "working" domain name. When you are ready, you just have to "associate" your domain to the new site in Domains Manager at sign in page. It will be automatically secure and mobile friendly. If you have a one website only account, just start a new trial.
(Edited)
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90 Points
I tried to use my regular domain name but it will not let me. "Sorry, there is already a Web site named xyz Please choose a different Web site name." I can use xyz2 and then associate my domain with the new site later but will it effect anything if the actual name of the website is different than the domain?
(Edited)
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90 Points
I think I see where I can edit the name in the future to the real domain name.
Elyzabeth , Official Rep
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44,948 Points
Yes, it doesn't matter what the site name is, as it will be replaced by the domain name once you are done.
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210 Points
So you have to upgrade your site to Business in order to rebuild your Starter level site in Webbuilder which is the only way to utilize the responsive features?
Elyzabeth , Official Rep
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44,948 Points
Or we can just add an additional site to your account. As a courtesy for trying Website Builder, I can add that at no additional cost. Would you like me to do that?
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210 Points
And that will allow me to rebuild the site at my leisure while my current one is live? If so, once I have the new site build in Website builder, I can then replace the current one by simply "replacing" it with the new one, which is responsive, correct? That is most important to me.. for mobile and tablet viewing.
Elyzabeth , Official Rep
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44,948 Points
Correct! You'll just switch the domain over to the new site whenever you are ready to go live with it!
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210 Points
Then yes. Please do. At least I know I can take my time to figure it out without having my live site affected.
Elyzabeth , Official Rep
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44,948 Points
Of course, that has been added! Now, when you go into Websites Manager in your Homestead account, you'll see an option in the top right corner that says "Add New Website"
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210 Points
I see it. Thank you.
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1,022 Points
I just don't have the time to rebuild a website I have built for over 10 years. Goodness, there has to be another way?
Lynn1286, Champion
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5,790 Points
I understand your reluctance, but I have done quite a few of these over the past couple of years. It doesn't take that long. The easiest way to do it is to open your site in a separate window. Grab all the pictures and put them in a folder to upload to the new site. Then just cut and paste the text into the new template that you choose. It will be a little bit of a pain but so worth it. That drop down feature-you literally just drag the page you want as a sub-menu up to and under the "main" page where you want it and ta-da -it is done. Homestead has people who can help do that for you, or you can get someone from the community or locally to do it for you. Promise-it isn't all that bad.
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1,022 Points
Where do I find the website builder?
Elyzabeth , Official Rep
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44,948 Points
If you go into Websites Manager in your Homestead account, you just have to Add a new Website.
This new site will automatically be created in Website Builder and you just need to give it a site name to start building.
This new site will automatically be created in Website Builder and you just need to give it a site name to start building.
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1,022 Points
Do I call the site the same as my current domain? I do not want to lose the name!
Elyzabeth , Official Rep
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44,948 Points
You can, but don't add the .com. The site name will end in .homesteadcloud.com. Then once you are done building the site, you can switch the domain over. You will use the same domain name.
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1,022 Points
Oh gosh, this is not going to be easy at all. Maybe for some people, but it has taken me years to build the site I have and trying to conform it to this new platform is too much. It will take me weeks, maybe months to build this on the new platform and it won't be the same so have to design it all over again. I do not have the funds to pay someone to build a new website and just want to be able to use the regular homestead sitebuilder. Frustrated.
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154 Points
Elyzabeth, 20 year customer here also....How will transitioning my current website, with no changes, to Website Builder affect the public searching for me on google and other search engines? I am concerned that the search engines will have to reindex everything and this will negatively impact search engine speed and page position. tnx
Elyzabeth , Official Rep
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44,948 Points
Hello Kenneth,
Moving to Website Builder will, at least temporarily, affect your SEO. Any large change like that to your site will have this kind of impact. This can be rebuilt and ultimately it would be an improvementin the eyes of Google to have your site mobile friendly, responsive, and secure.
Just make sure to keep your page names the same, to lessen the impact this change will have.
If you want to talk to our SEO team about how they can assist with this transition, I can have them call you to discuss those services.
Moving to Website Builder will, at least temporarily, affect your SEO. Any large change like that to your site will have this kind of impact. This can be rebuilt and ultimately it would be an improvementin the eyes of Google to have your site mobile friendly, responsive, and secure.
Just make sure to keep your page names the same, to lessen the impact this change will have.
If you want to talk to our SEO team about how they can assist with this transition, I can have them call you to discuss those services.
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154 Points
Ok, then how about I keep my current site as is, then build another similar site on Website Builder, and run the two simultaneously until I'm sure that the new one is fully indexed, etc. Would it be as simple as purchasing another domain for $99/year and transferring all or maybe do a more modern redesign? tnx, ur very helpful
Elyzabeth , Official Rep
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44,948 Points
Actually, it would be even easier. Just log into your Homestead account, click on Websites Manager and "Add New Website". You will choose a site name (Not a domain name, just a name in our system for the site) and design, then you can start building. You can purchase a new domain, but I would recommend using your old one. You can just switch it over when you are ready.
