How to Migrate From Notion to Layer UI in Under an Hour (Step-by-Step)

Open Notion and go through your top-level pages. For each one, make a quick decision:

• →Active (used in last 30 days) — migrate to Layer UI
• →Reference (rarely used but important) — export as PDF, keep accessible
• →Archive (outdated or completed) — export as backup, don't migrate

Create a simple list (even in a note on your phone) of which pages fall into the "Active" bucket. This list becomes your migration checklist.

Pay special attention to Notion databases— these often contain contact lists, client trackers, or project templates that map directly to Layer UI's CRM and task modules. Flag these for CSV export.

Do a full workspace export before you start migrating — this is your safety net. Go to:

This export creates a zip file containing every page as a Markdown file and every database as a CSV. Keep this zip somewhere safe — it's your complete Notion backup.

For databases you want to migrate (contact lists, project trackers), also export them individually as CSVs for easier import. Go into each database → ••• menu → Export → CSV.

Go to layerui.io/get-started and create your workspace. The setup wizard walks you through:

1. 1.
   Name your workspace: Use your company name. This becomes the root of all your workspaces and channels.
2. 2.
   Create your first project workspace: Start with your most active current project. Give it a name, assign a color, and create 3–5 task status columns (e.g., To Do, In Progress, Review, Done).
3. 3.
   Set up chat channels: Create channels that mirror your primary communication topics: #general, #projects, and one channel per major client or work stream.
4. 4.
   Configure your profile: Add your photo, set your timezone, and configure notification preferences. This takes 3 minutes and makes a big difference for your team's first impression.

If your Notion workspace included a client database, contact list, or lead tracker, this is where you convert that data into Layer UI's CRM module.

In Layer UI, navigate to CRM → Contacts → Import → CSV. The import wizard lets you:

• →Upload your Notion-exported CSV
• →Map Notion column names to Layer UI fields (Name, Email, Company, Phone, etc.)
• →Preview the first 5 records before committing
• →Import contacts (individuals) and companies separately if your data is structured that way

Common field mapping: Notion's "Name" property → Layer UI Contact Name. Notion's "Email" property → Layer UI Email. Notion's "Company" property → Layer UI Company. Notion select fields (like "Status") → Layer UI custom fields or deal stage.

If your Notion database had deal values or pipeline stages, map those to Layer UI's Deal Value and Stage fields in the CRM. This gives you a working pipeline from day one.

Open your migration checklist (from Step 1) and work through the "Active" pages one by one. For each page:

1. 1.Open the Notion page and the exported Markdown file side by side
2. 2.In Layer UI, go to Notes → New Note and give it the same title
3. 3.Copy the content from Notion (or the Markdown export) and paste into Layer UI Notes
4. 4.Clean up any Notion-specific formatting that doesn't translate (callout blocks, toggle lists)
5. 5.Link the note to the relevant workspace or CRM contact if applicable

Realistic expectations: Layer UI's Notes module is a solid markdown-based editor — not as flexible as Notion's block system, but capable of handling all standard content: headers, lists, tables, code blocks, and embedded links. Most Notion pages translate in 2–5 minutes each.

For Notion pages that were essentially task lists or project boards, create those as Layer UI task boards instead of notes — they'll work better in the task management interface.

For each active project you had in Notion (whether it was a Kanban database, a task list page, or a project tracker), create a corresponding task board in Layer UI:

• →Go to your project workspace → Tasks → Create Board
• →Name the board after the project or deliverable
• →Set up status columns matching your workflow (To Do, In Progress, Review, Done)
• →Add active tasks — only the ones that are currently open or in progress
• →Assign tasks to team members and set due dates

Don't migrate completed tasks. They add noise and make the board harder to use. If you need a historical record of completed work, that data is in your Notion export.

Once the core workspace is set up, invite your team. Layer UI → Settings → Members → Invite by email. You can invite the whole team at once and set their role (admin, member, guest) during the invite.

Run both Notion and Layer UI simultaneously for 2 weeks. This:

• ✓Removes time pressure — no one feels forced to switch cold turkey
• ✓Surfaces any missing content early (someone will ask about a page that wasn't migrated)
• ✓Lets the team get comfortable with Layer UI's interface before it's their only option
• ✓Gives you confidence to cancel Notion at the end of the 2 weeks

At the end of week 2, hold a 15-minute team check-in: "Is there anything important still living in Notion that we need?" Address any gaps, then cancel Notion.