Squarespace offers a straightforward way to create any website, from simple blogs to full-fledged online stores, without requiring coding knowledge. While the platform is user-friendly, building a site involves selecting a domain, designing the layout, and populating it with content. Here’s a practical guide to get you started, covering everything from domain choice to publishing your first content.
Choosing the Right Domain Name
Your domain is your website’s address, so choose wisely. A good domain is relevant to your site’s topic (including keywords helps searchability), short for memorability, easy to spell and pronounce, and ideally ends in .com for trust. Tools like DomainWheel can suggest available options. You can register through Squarespace (free for the first year with a plan) or a dedicated registrar, though the latter may save you money long-term.
Why this matters: Your domain is your brand’s digital identity. A clear, memorable domain boosts recognition and makes it easier for visitors to return.
Selecting a Squarespace Plan
Squarespace requires a trial before purchasing, but understanding plan costs upfront is crucial. The Basic plan ($16/month) is great for blogs, portfolios, and small businesses, offering unlimited storage and bandwidth. E-commerce features are included, but transaction fees apply (2% online, 7% for subscriptions).
The Core plan ($23/month) unlocks more advanced e-commerce tools (automated tax calculations, shipping labels) and reduces transaction fees. For high-volume subscription sites, the Plus ($39/month) and Advanced ($99/month) plans further cut fees down to 1% or 0%, respectively.
Why this matters: Transaction fees can eat into profits. Choosing the right plan minimizes these costs as your business grows.
Building Your Site: AI or Templates?
Squarespace lets you choose between AI-powered site generation and pre-designed templates. Blueprint AI is a strong option, creating customized sites based on your brand and preferences. However, AI has a high environmental impact, so consider this trade-off. Squarespace also offers nearly 200 designer templates for various industries.
Why this matters: AI can save time, but sustainability is a growing concern. Templates provide a fast, reliable alternative.
Connecting Your Domain
Whether you purchase through Squarespace or a registrar, connect your domain before designing. This secures your chosen address and allows immediate publishing once the site is ready. If buying through Squarespace, upgrade to a paid plan (free domain included). Otherwise, point your domain’s nameservers to Squarespace (connect1.squarespacedns.com and connect2.squarespacedns.com). This change can take up to 48 hours.
Why this matters: Securing your domain early prevents others from claiming it while you build.
Customizing Your Site’s Design
Squarespace’s Styles section lets you choose themes, fonts, color schemes, and button designs. Use bold fonts for headers and regular fonts for paragraphs for consistency. Limit your color palette to avoid overwhelming visitors. White space is also critical: avoid cluttering pages to make content easier to scan.
Why this matters: Visual appeal drives engagement. A clean, well-designed site encourages visitors to stay longer.
Building Core Pages
Essential pages include About, Contact, and Subscribe (for newsletters). Also include Privacy Policy, Terms and Conditions, and potentially Portfolio, Store/Products, Services, and Testimonials. Use the “+” icon in the Pages menu to add new pages from templates or create custom ones.
Why this matters: These pages establish credibility, provide necessary information, and guide visitors toward desired actions (e.g., making a purchase).
Testing Before Launch
Thoroughly test your site before publishing. Check all links, images, and functionality on both desktop and mobile. Ask friends or colleagues for feedback to identify usability issues. Run additional tests after major changes to ensure stability.
Why this matters: A broken site frustrates visitors and damages your brand’s reputation. Testing minimizes errors and ensures a smooth user experience.
Building a Squarespace website is straightforward, even without coding skills. By following these steps, you can launch a professional, functional site quickly and efficiently.
