Creating Your Own Squarespace Website: A DIY Guide for Small Business Owners
So, you're a small business owner, ready to build your new website, and you’ve decided to use Squarespace. Great choice!
Squarespace is one of the most versatile and user-friendly web design platforms available to small business owners in 2023.
In this guide, we'll explore the world of Fluid Engine - the most recent Squarespace 7.1 update. We’ll be covering valuable tips, tricks, and tutorials to help you build your website like a pro.
What is Squarespace’s ‘Fluid Engine’?
Let's start with the foundation.
Fluid Engine is the latest version of Squarespace 7.1 - the most flexible and powerful version to date. It's designed to be user-friendly, versatile, and highly customisable, making it an ideal choice for small business owners.
Rather than the blocky, restrictive Squarespace of the past, Fluid Engine allows for complete customisation and design flexibility - allowing you to build a truly custom and professional website.
Now, let's roll up our sleeves and delve into the specifics.
Getting Started: Sign Up and Choose a Template
The first step in your journey to create your own Squarespace website is to choose the right template for your needs.
Head over to Squarespace.com, create an account, and follow the prompts to launch your website. When you create your site, choose a template that resonates with your brand's identity and goals.
You can also choose to build your website from scratch, but as a small business owner (and not a web designer), you’re better off using one of the many professionally-designed templates a starting point.
Pro Tip: Squarespace's templates are incredibly flexible, so don't fret if your initial choice doesn't feel perfect right away. You can customise almost every aspect of your site.
The Fun Part: Customising Your Website
Now, the real fun begins. This is where you get to infuse your website with your unique personality and style. Squarespace's drag-and-drop builder makes it easy to edit pages, add content, and design your site to match your branding.
1. Add Your Logo and Branding:
Upload your logo and select your brand's colour palette and fonts to create a cohesive look and feel.
2. Crafting Pages:
Create the essential pages like Home, About, Services, and Contact. Don't hesitate to add more later as your business grows.
3. Navigation:
Ensure your site's navigation is clear and user-friendly. Visitors should easily find what they need, without needing to hunt through each page.
4. Imagery:
Use high-quality images that showcase your products, services, or brand. If you don't have professional photos, that’s okay! You can explore stock image websites like Unsplash or Pexels and choose from thousands of free stock imagery.
5. Content:
Craft your worded content (also called ‘Copy’) thoughtfully. Be concise, informative, and engaging. It's about telling your story and convincing visitors that you're the real deal.
Also try not to over-explain. Give people the essential information they need in order to make a buying decision, and then guide them to get in touch with you for more info.
6. SEO Best Practices:
Optimise your website for search engines by conducting keyword research and strategically using keywords, meta tags, and crafting valuable content that resonates with your audience.
Squarespace also has a handy SEO Checklist that you can find for free online (simply Google ‘Squarespace SEO Checklist’).
Pro Tip: Take your time with this step. Your website's design and content should accurately reflect your business's identity and values, and the better your SEO, the more people will visit your website.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
As you dive into creating your Squarespace website, you might encounter some bumps along the way. Here are some common issues and how to address them:
1. Mobile Responsiveness:
While Squarespace does a great job with mobile responsiveness, it's always wise to double-check how your site appears on different devices. If something doesn't look right, you can easily adjust it using the mobile-specific settings in the top right-hand corner of the website editor.
2. Slow Loading Speed:
Large images or too many plugins can slow down your site. Ensure your images are optimised and avoid using excessive plugins to maintain a speedy website. Be sure to keep images as close to 250KB as possible. You can use free online tools such as imagecompressor.com and tinypng.com
3. Broken Links:
Regularly check your site for broken links using Squarespace's built-in link checker.
4. Page Not Found (404) Errors:
Create a custom 404 page to provide a better user experience in case of a missing page. You can click the magnifying glass and search ‘404’ to find this page editor.
5. Contact Form Issues:
If your contact form isn't working, double-check the settings and ensure that the notification email is correctly configured. Also make sure you’ve set the correct recipient email in ‘Storage’ when editing the contact form.
6. SSL Certificate:
Squarespace offers free SSL certificates. Ensure it's enabled to enhance your site's security and search engine ranking.
Blogging and Content Creation
Blogging is a powerful tool for small businesses. It keeps your website fresh and can significantly boost your search engine ranking. Here's how to do it effectively:
1. Create a Blog Page:
Begin by adding a blog page under 'Pages' and start writing your posts. Choose topics and titles that people are likely to be searching for. You can see what people are searching for with a tool like answerthepublic.com
2. Consistency Matters:
Set a posting schedule that suits your business. It could be weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly. The key is consistency.
3. Quality Over Quantity:
Avoid posting just for the sake of it. Concentrate on creating engaging, informative, and valuable content for your audience.
4. SEO for Blog Posts:
When writing blog posts, apply good SEO practices. Use relevant keywords, craft meta descriptions, and provide alt text for images to improve your site's visibility in search engines.
5. Share Your Blog Posts:
Promote your blog posts on social media and through email newsletters to drive more traffic to your site. The more places you can share your blog posts, the more traffic you’ll get to your website.
Integrating Third-Party Tools
Squarespace offers you the ability to extend your site's functionality by integrating various third-party tools:
1. Email Marketing:
Link your website to your preferred email marketing platform to capture leads and keep your audience engaged.
2. E-commerce:
If you're selling products, seamlessly integrate e-commerce tools like PayPal, Stripe, or Square to facilitate transactions.
3. Analytics:
Monitor your website's performance with tools like Google Analytics, Google Search Console, SEMrush or Squarespace's in-house analytics system.
4. Social Media:
Connect your social media accounts to your site for better promotion and engagement.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
While DIYing your website is an exciting endeavour, it's not always as easy as you may think. Be aware of these common mistakes and avoid them:
1. Neglecting Mobile Optimisation:
The majority of web traffic comes from mobile devices (over 50% as of 2023). Ensure your site looks and functions flawlessly on smartphones and tablets to create the best possible user-experience.
2. Too Much Clutter:
While customisation is great, avoid overloading your site with too many fonts, colours, or design elements. When in doubt, keep it clean and simple.
3. Forgetting SEO:
Ignoring SEO is a big mistake. Use relevant keywords, optimise images, and craft meta descriptions for all your pages. Also be sure to name each image file to ensure search engines are properly crawling and ranking your website.
4. Ignoring Analytics:
Regularly review your website's performance with analytics to make data-driven decisions for improvements.
5. Rushing the Content:
Quality content takes time. Don't rush your website's copy. Your content should represent your business accurately and provide value to your audience.
Maintenance and Regular Updates
Your Squarespace journey doesn't end when you hit the publish button. Regular maintenance is crucial for a successful site:
1. Content Updates:
Keep your website fresh by regularly adding new content, whether it's blog posts, news, or portfolio updates.
2. Security:
While Squarespace handles most security issues, it's crucial to use strong passwords and enable two-factor authentication for added protection.
Final Thoughts
Creating your own Squarespace website is an exciting and creative process that can save you time and money as a small business owner. While it may seem daunting at first, Squarespace simplifies the process, making it accessible to both tech-savvy individuals and beginners.
Remember, your website is an extension of your brand and a powerful tool for connecting with your target audience.
By following the key takeaways outlined in this guide, you'll set yourself up for success:
Start with a clear vision that aligns your website with your business goals and your audience's needs.
Make the most of Squarespace's versatile templates, and don't be afraid to customise them.
Focus on creating high-quality content that engages and informs your visitors.
Ensure your website is mobile-responsive, as most web traffic comes from mobile devices.
Regularly maintain and update your website to keep it fresh, secure, and performing at its best.
Don't hesitate to ask for help from Squarespace's extensive knowledge base and support team.
Stay open to growth by regularly reviewing your site and adapting it to match your business's evolving needs.
In conclusion, creating your Squarespace website is entirely achievable for small business owners who are willing to invest time and effort. While the journey may have its challenges, it's also a journey filled with opportunities to express your brand's unique personality and connect with your target audience.
So, go ahead, channel your creativity, and start building the online presence your small business deserves. Happy web designing!
Need a little more help? Let’s chat!
I'm Alex Edwards - founder of Edwards Design, South Australia's leading Squarespace website design studio. I've worked with 60+ businesses across 22 industries, and I'd love to work with you too.
Whether it's customising your template, fine-tuning your content, or tackling any challenges you encounter, get in touch with me today, and let's turn your vision into a stunning Squarespace website!
