Why we chose Squarespace for our website - Guest Episode on the Online Business Besties Podcast
Hi hunnis, wanted to let you know that I’m baaaaaaack for another guest episode on the Online Business Besties podcast, hosted by my own biz bestie Paige Brunton!
You might remember that I was actually Paige’s first guest on her Online Business Besties podcast (Episode 002). That episode is called “Working online & traveling Q+A for aspiring digital nomads” and you can listen to it here.
You can also watch the Instagram Live Q&A we did over a few weeks ago, obvi fueled by wine. Needless to say, we love to talk and hit record at the same time :)
Annnnnyways, we always have so much fun collaborating together and I was thrilled that Paige asked me back again on the podcast so soon!
We recorded this episode in-person in early August when we were both back in Toronto, Canada and had a blast talking about websites and reviewing Squarespace’s platform… who knew tech talk could be so much fun?!
This conversation is packed full of practical information, as well as insights into our own work as Squarespace web designers/developers, and I know you’ll get a kick out of listening to the two of us shoot the sh*t while still delivering a value-packed conversation.
Listen Now ↓
Paige and I are huge fans of Squarespace and it’s the platform we’ve chosen to host our websites for years now. No matter what type of business or website you have, Squarespace will suit your needs and make sure that you’re totally covered!
If you’ve been on the fence about where to set up your website, this episode will be very beneficial for you! Like we say in this episode, HOP OFF the fence and join us on Squarespace haha!
Resources & Links Mentioned
Squarespace (Use code PAIGE10 for 10% off)
Acuity (that’s an affiliate link!)
A few highlights from this episode
How the great https:// fiasco affected Squarespace users vs. other platforms. (7:00)
Leadpages and other software you don’t need if you use Squarespace. (8:35)
Why using free website platforms is actually costing you more money. (12:10)
Even Squarespace gurus need support from time to time, so excuse us while we gush about Squarespace’s live chat feature! (14:00)
How using Squarespace templates keeps you from creating a Frankenstein website. (18:00)
Paige shares the story of one unfortunate company, and how hackers used their website as a front for drugs. (Just saying, this wouldn’t happen with Squarespace.) (22:10)
Why we chose Squarespace for our websites
1. SQUARESPACE CAN DO IT ALL (IN ONE PLACE).
Blogging? Check. E-commerce? Check. Appointment scheduling? Check. Email Marketing? You guessed it…check!
With other platforms (*ahem* WordPress), you’re going to need more than a little help from outside sources to get the same functionality that Squarespace has so brilliantly built it. Sure there are plugins, and widgets etc. you can download, but it can start to feel a bit like rocket science, figuring out how to make sure all those things play nicely together.
Avoid the headache. Let Squarespace do the engineering so you can get back to the actual income producing activities in your business!
2. EASE OF USE
Squarespace is uber user-friendly, giving you the confidence you need to try new things in your business, without having to have a website designer on speed dial!
Want to start a blog or online shop? No problem! (And no degree in computer sciences needed, either.) What would take hours to do on other platforms can be accomplished in just minutes, with a few easy clicks of a button.
This is especially helpful if you are a website designer, and the time comes to hand that fancy new website over to your client. They can easily be educated on how to self-maintain their website so that you aren’t stuck on retainer for months, getting all sorts of frantic calls and emails because Suzy so-and-so needs a photo changed out on their home page.
3. AFFORDABILITY
As we said in this episode: ”Squarespace gives you bang for your buck!”
Seriously, their business plan only costs $18/month – less if you use Paige’s discount code PAIGE10! (You can peep those pricing plans here.) It’s a set cost, so there are no surprise bills when it comes to building and maintaining your website.
But WordPress is free!
It seems free, but if you want the same quality website as what Squarespace has to offer, you are going to have to pay for a theme. (There are free ones, but you’re sorta getting what you pay for with those.) And the moment your independent theme doesn’t update, and you need to reach out to a web designer/develop for help, you can quickly find yourself up to your eyeballs in expensive hourly fees.
Not so free after all.
Oh, and btw…Squarespace support and live chat is included in your monthly Squarespace subscription, and these guys (and gals) know their stuff! No more having to comb through 5 year old forum posts to find your answer, only to find that the information is outdated.
4. TEMPLATES, TEMPLATES, TEMPLATES.
We get it! You’ve been pinning website inspiration for months now, and you’ll be darned if you’re not going to make use of every single design idea you saw and loved. But pulling from so many sources of inspiration can sometimes cause you to build what we lovingly refer to as a “Frankenstein Website.”
When it comes to web design, Paige and I both agree that less is more! You want to keep your website simple and distraction free, so that visitors can easily see where to go to get what they need. Squarespace was designed with simplicity in mind, and these templates are just the ticket for keeping your design on track.
Ps. You’ve heard us say it before, but we are total lovers of any template from the Brine family. (For more on that, check out this post!)
5. SECURITY
“On other platforms you risk being hacked. You’re probably thinking ‘why would anyone come and hack my florist office’s website?’ But the thing is…people are freaks out there! They're like, total nut jobs! They want to do it just because they can do it!” - Yours truly
Whether you are a tiny mom and pop florist shop, or an internationally recognized brand – with Squarespace, you do not face the risk of being hacked.
Are there multiple people working behind the scenes within your business’s website? Scared the new intern might accidentally delete your entire blog? No worries, Squarespace has what you need to protect yourself against major mishaps that can sometimes happen when there a few too many cooks in the proverbial kitchen.
Speaking of security, a word of caution to my WordPress users: You never know what could be hiding in that awesome new Instagram plugin you just downloaded!
6. SELL AND ACCEPT PAYMENT ONLINE
Whether you are a service provider, or you sell physical or digital products or subscriptions online, Squarespace has everything you need to set up shop and start accepting payments right away!
Yup. Those fancy schmancy integrations you thought you needed? Squarespace has them built right in! No more hours wasted researching which software would be best for your specific business.
Oh, and if you’re a service provider, chances are you often need to schedule appointments (discovery calls, consult calls, etc.) Playing email tag with your clients to try to get a date nailed down is going to get old real quick. Let Squarespace do the work! Just pop in an acuity block, and you’re good to go.
Pssst! Convinced yet? You can sign up for a free trial of Squarespace here and Paige also got you a little off the price, use code PAIGE10 for 10% off your first year. (Yes, that's Paige’s affiliate link!)
Bonus reason: Why we choose Squarespace as designers
7. REDUCED PROJECT TURN-AROUND TIMES
Your client is not paying you per hour! They are paying you for a finished product, whether it takes you 2 weeks or 2 months to finish! So why not choose a Platform that allows you to offer the exact same value to your client in a shorter amount of time!
Faster project turn-around means you will have more time on your hands. How you fill that time is up to you! Have some major income goals in mind for this year? Use that time to book extra design projects! Want to hit the road for a month and see where life takes you? You can do that too.
Paige and I both agree that work-life balance is something we are not willing to sacrifice. Thankfully, with Squarespace, we don’t have to. Just a little something for my aspiring website designers to chew on when deciding which platform is right for you.
Still not sure Squarespace is for you? Tune into the full episode on iTunes and Spotify to hear the rest of the reasons why we are such hard-core Squarespace fans - forever!
