The thing most resource makers worry about isn't the new site. It's the members. Will they need to sign up again? Will they lose what they've already bought? Will the links they've saved stop working?
None of that has to happen. With a bit of preparation, most members won't notice much at all, apart from setting a new password the first time they log in and a nicer place to find their resources.
Want to tick things off as you go? Use the free Moving off Payhip checklist.
1. Export everything first
Before you change anything, take a full copy of what's in your shop. Keep it somewhere safe, even if someone else is handling the move.
Your export checklist
- Every product file, at its original quality
- Product titles, descriptions, prices and images
- Your customer and member list
- Order history, so past purchases can be matched up
- A list of every product URL
2. Tell members early
A short email a couple of weeks before the move goes a long way. Say what's changing, what isn't, and that they won't need to do anything to keep their access.
Send a second note on the day with a link to the new site and how to log in. Keep it friendly and brief. Members mostly want to know their resources are safe.
3. Keep old links working
Your old product links live in Pinterest pins, blog posts, Facebook groups and teachers' bookmarks. If they break, you lose sales you'll never see.
Redirects fix this. Each old URL points to the matching page on your new site, so anyone clicking an old link lands in the right place. This is why that list of product URLs matters.
4. Switch-over day
Pick a quiet day, not the start of term. Check a handful of member accounts can log in and see their past purchases, test a purchase end to end, and click through a few old links to make sure they redirect.
Then send your email, and keep an eye on your inbox for the first few days.
If your members have to think about the move, something's been missed.
