What an XML Import Actually Brings Over
Moving from Squarespace to WordPress can feel like a major change, but importing an XML file is usually a transfer of content—not a complete copy of your old setup. Depending on the export and import options, posts, pages, comments, categories, and images may come across. Your original design, page layouts, fonts, and some settings generally do not transfer in the same way.
That means an imported site may look unfinished even when much of its writing is safely in place. Before deciding what to do next, review the imported pages and posts, check that images appear, and note any missing or altered content.
When to Keep the Imported Content
Keeping what you imported makes sense if your existing articles and pages are useful, accurate, and still relevant. You can retain that material while reorganizing it, refreshing outdated details, and choosing a new presentation. This avoids the unnecessary work of recreating content that already serves its purpose.
Pay special attention to important page addresses. If URLs have changed, visitors and search engines may encounter broken links. Where possible, preserve familiar URLs or arrange redirects, and test links to key pages after the transition.
When Starting Over May Be Better
A fresh start can be a good choice if the old content no longer reflects your goals, contains substantial errors, or is difficult to organize. It may also help when the import produced duplicates or brought over material you do not want to keep. Starting over does not require discarding everything: you can select the strongest posts and rebuild around them.
A Practical Next Step
Make a simple inventory before committing. Sort content into three groups: keep, revise, and remove. Then compare the time needed to clean up the import with the time needed to recreate essential material. For many people, a hybrid approach works best: preserve valuable content, improve what needs attention, and replace only the parts that no longer fit. The right choice depends less on the XML file itself than on the quality and usefulness of what it contains.