What makes a good Squarespace Website?
Squarespace is a fantastic platform for designing, building and hosting websites. It allows anyone with even basic skill levels to create a web presence. However, to really maximise the potential of Squarespace and create an attractive and effective website, there are a number of factors consider.
Branding
An investment needs to be made at the start of the business in getting the branding right, as it will rarely change and can become a handicap to growth if the branding looks amateurish or just plain ugly. Branding communicates the values, mission, and personality of the company, helping to establish a connection with the target audience. Strong branding differentiates a business from its competitors, fostering customer loyalty and trust. In a crowded marketplace, a well-defined brand can create recognition and recall, making it easier for consumers to choose one business over another. Spacesites knows how to translate your existing branding to an online presence or can create branding for you.
Content Types
Content types for your website will vary depending on whether you are promoting your services in general, or selling product via an online store, but there are many common content types.
Business definition/location: It’s important to state in the opening of the website, what sector your enterprise sits in, and what areas you service or the location of your business. This should be done in terms that match how your potential clients might search for you. eg; Family Law Melbourne, Electrician Western Sydney.
Site Headline: This is a short tagline that defines your business and its approach to work. It can speak to quality, commitment, experience, price point and other positive attributes that define your business or organisation. eg: A commitment to quality construction.
Intro Summary: As the name suggests, this short para should try to encapsulate your BVP ( business value proposition). Really focus on being succinct, this intro should be able to be read at a glance.
About: A more detailed summary of who the business is and what you do, the business history, and /or the founder’s background.
Team: Bio, direct contact details and qualifications of at least the principal of the business, an accompanying photo is also recommended, people like to put a face to who they are dealing with.
Services: Specific services that the business offers - write a detailed paragraph, including technical terms that users may be searching on.
Case Studies: Projects you have worked on, with imagery if at all possible. Describe the project, what services your business provided, and any benefits for the client. 6-8 quality case studies is optimum.
Blogs/News: This type of longer form content can be a great source of SEO. It can take the form of company news, industry news, help and tips for potential clients, awards you have won and anything relateable for clients.
Testimonials: Testimonials and social proof serve as powerful indicators of the trustworthiness of your business. When prospective clients see positive feedback from existing customers, it builds trust and credibility, influencing their decision to engage with your services.
Accreditations and industry memberships: These can really establish your credibility and experience in the minds of potential clients. Examples can include trade licences for builders and tradies and memberships of organisations eg: a State Law society for lawyers.
Awards: If you have won awards don’t be shy. Awards speak to the quality of what you do, and how you stack up against your competitors.
Call to Action: CTAs are usually a short sentence and a button and or/phone number that lead potential clients to contact you ( after all this is usually the end goal of the website) CTAs essentially say ”OK you’ve read all about us now get in touch”. They are generally on every page of the website.
Offers and incentives: Usually based on price or specific benefits or information, offers can be a very effective tool for driving leads. They can take the form of a % or $ discount for a set period, free download in return for contact details, special packages or services.
Client Logo grids: Logos can be effective in establishing the level of client you work for, and have their prestige rub off on you a little, where those companies are well-known.
Contact: Contact Pages, should contain all of your contact details, phone numbers, emails, social media. They will generally also have a form, and a map if you have a physical premises.
Imagery
A picture is worth a thousand words or so the quote goes. Squarespace is set up to aesthetically and effectively showcase photographs and videos whether as small thumbnails or full screen backgrounds.
Professional Photography/Videography - A professional photo or video shoot is fully recommended if your budget allows. This will ensure a compelling presentation of your business and create a professional look and feel. If you can’t afford this, below are some options.
Unsplash - Unsplash is a mostly free photo library that provides royalty free imagery for general use to promote your business or enterprise.
AI - Imagery can now be created using AI software that is indistinguishable from real photos or video. There are a number of AI providers, the most famous being midjourney. Some provide free trials and limited use options. You essentially just provide a prompt (description of what you want the image to be and the style, eg; photo, illustration).
Camera Phone - Take images of the jobs you have completed - non professional images are totally acceptable to document jobs, in some cases. If you need a Bio photo, a phone shot against a white wall , can be treated to create a good alternative to a professional shot. Although professional shots are always encouraged.
IStockphoto - Istock is a paid photo library, but images can be purchased for around $12-$40, making it viable for web use.
Diagrams and graphs - If you have existing diagrams or graphs, these can be used or redrawn to a professional standard.
Internet Images - Whilst copyright is always essential to consider, if you have been involved in a project and professional images exist with another company website, you can seek permission to use them from that organisation.
Plug-ins and custom code
Squarespace websites are great straight out of the box, but if you want specific or advanced functionality there are a number of ways to enhance your website.
Plug ins - An industry of coders providing really useful plug ins has sprung up around the Squarespace platform. These plug-ins add extra functionality to the existing Squarespace modules providing functionality like filtering, extra navigation options, advanced layout, content display and cool scrolling effects. Spacesites have years of experience working with all of the major plug in providers like Squarekicker, Will Myers, Ghost Plugins, CSE design and more.
Custom Code - Custom code is essential to fully refine the layout and functionality of a Squarespace Website. Every site we do, has a our ‘secret herbs and spices’ of code’ that we have developed over 10 years of building Squarespace websites. This code in no way affects your ability to edit the site, it simply refines the experience.
Add on services - Squarespace has affilliations with add on services that handle scheduling, shipping, email campaigns and much more. These are additional subscriptions but can be very useful.
SEO - Search Engine Optimisation
You've developed an impressive website with excellent design and content, but here's the truth: without appearing in Google or Bing search results, your site remains virtually invisible online unless you actively promote it through offline channels.
This where SEO comes in. Squarespace has inbuilt SEO, but requires knowledge of how to set up it up.
Spacesites has developed effective SEO strategies that maximize your search ranking potential. Remember that SEO requires continuous attention rather than a one-time setup. To maintain competitive positioning, you must regularly update your website with fresh content and conduct periodic evaluations, as your competitors are constantly working to secure their own page one rankings.
Google’s position on getting a good ranking is ‘develop a good site and we will find you’. A good site for google is a site that best answers the user’s search query, so this involves creating content that uses the same terminology’ keywords’ as the user inputs and provides a decent amount of information that answers the query. There are additional google tools that assist index your website. Get in touch to find out more about SEO.
About Squarespace
Squarespace was started in 2003 and was the ‘first of it’s type’ website building platform and remains one of the most popular. Over the years they have worked to continuously improve the platform, streamline the process of getting online and connect with other technologies to improve the website experience. Spacesites have been awarded platinum partner status in 2025, the highest level.
Who is Squarespace for?
Squarespace is a versatile platform that caters to a wide range of purposes and industries.
Small Businesses: Entrepreneurs in sectors such as retail, services, and hospitality can utilise Squarespace to create an impactful online presence. With features like e-commerce integration, inventory management, and booking systems, small businesses can effectively engage customers and drive sales.
Professionals: Squarespace is invaluable for professional services firms such as lawyers, engineers, medical practitioners, and accountants as it offers a sleek, user-friendly platform to showcase services, expertise, and testimonials. With customizable templates and tools for appointment scheduling, client communication, and blogging, firms can build credibility and connect with clients, enhancing their online visibility and professional reputation.
Tradies: Tradies can benefit greatly from Squarespace, as it offers user-friendly tools to showcase their services and projects. Easy to edit, drag and drop interface, In-built SEO tools, In built analytics, customisable contact forms, scheduling add ons.
Creative Portfolios: Artists, photographers, designers, and writers often use Squarespace to showcase their work. The platform offers visually appealing templates that allow creatives to display their portfolios in a professional manner, with customisable galleries and extensive styling options.
Blogs: Squarespace is well-suited for bloggers who wish to share their thoughts and experiences. The platform supports content management and offers tools for SEO, analytics, and engagement, making it easier for bloggers to connect with their audience.
Nonprofits: Nonprofit organisations can benefit from Squarespace by creating informative websites that promote their missions and initiatives. Features like donation integrations and event registration help nonprofits streamline their outreach and fundraising efforts.
Health and Wellness: Professionals in the health and wellness sector, such as fitness trainers, therapists, and yoga instructors, can create sites that feature class schedules, contact information, and blogs to share health tips. Squarespace's easy-to-use tools facilitate client engagement and appointment booking.
Events and Weddings: Event planners and couples can use Squarespace to design websites that provide information about upcoming events, RSVPs, and gift registries. The platform enables easy sharing of event details and important updates.
Retail and E-commerce: Retailers can set up online stores with robust e-commerce features. Squarespace supports product listings, shopping cart functionality, and secure payment processing, making it a solid choice for businesses focused on online sales.
Education: Educational institutions and educators can develop websites that offer course information, resources, and registration forms. The ability to create a professional-looking, informative site enhances the credibility and reach of educational offerings.
Real Estate: Real estate agents and agencies can showcase listings, provide virtual tours, and share useful property information through visually appealing templates tailored for property marketing.
