This content originally appeared on Mashable for US audiences and has been tailored for UK audiences.
If you’ve heard the podcast(opens in new tab)you already know the enthusiasm.Squarespace is an all-in-one website builder that makes it easy to create a professional-looking online presence.(opens in new tab) Third most popular hosting service (after Wix)(opens in new tab) (After Wix and Shopify), supporting over 3 million live websites(opens in new tab) On the Internet at the time of publication.
One of the main reasons Squarespace has achieved this success is that you don’t need any web design or coding experience to get a beautiful site up and running with its interface. Intuitive drag-and-drop building elements and a huge selection of very modern templates make it one of the most beginner-friendly tools of its kind.
Honestly, choosing one of these templates is often the hardest part of designing a Squarespace site. Squarespace versions 7.0 and 7.1, the two iterations of the currently supported platform, have over 230 templates.How do you decide which one to use for your oil painting portfolio(opens in new tab)your Taiwanese-American food blog(opens in new tab), or cool girl jeans online store(opens in new tab)? (These are all different kinds of websites made with Squarespace.(opens in new tab), for your information. )
Should I use Squarespace?
After designing your site quickly and easily, the best thing about Squarespace is its all-in-one approach. Subscription plans include 24/7 customer support, website metrics, SEO tools, and SSL security.(opens in new tab), unlimited bandwidth and video storage all from £13/month. Squarespace also throws in fully managed cloud hosting at no extra cost, along with a year’s worth of new custom domains when you sign up for an annual membership. All things considered, its flexibility and convenience make it an excellent choice for first-time website owners.
What are Squarespace Templates?
Squarespace templates (or themes) are pre-designed, ready-to-use demo websites that can be customized with different color schemes, font packs, layouts, pages, and drag-and-drop element blocks.(opens in new tab) Text, images, galleries, buttons, forms, etc. Squarespace explained(opens in new tab) As a “starting point to inspire the design of your site”,[you] You can keep the structure of the original design intact by replacing the demo content with your own content, or you can completely change the design of your site and start from scratch. ” The site looks sleek either way.
Each template is built exclusively for Squarespace, so you won’t find it on WordPress, Wix, or any other site building platform.
Are Squarespace templates mobile-friendly?
All Squarespace templates are optimized for mobile from the start. There are two reasons for this: and Give Google higher priority when it comes to indexing(opens in new tab) And SEO ranking.
Templates in Squarespace version 7.0 have separate mobile styles that are active on small devices, while the corresponding templates in version 7.1 automatically adapt to mobile views.
What are the differences between Squarespace versions 7.0 and 7.1?
Squarespace version 7.0, released in 2014, organizes 91 templates into specific template “families”. This is a group of templates whose basic structure and functionality are similarly coded. Each has its own rules and style options, so you may need to swap templates (at the risk of losing content) to access certain features. For example, infinite scroll is exclusive to the Farro and Skye template families, but only Wells and Five allow sidebars on all pages, not just blogs.
Squarespace dropped these rigid classifications with the release of version 7.1 in early 2020. All 140+ templates now belong to the same family with the same basic structure and design options to easily change your site style.(opens in new tab) straight away.
Neither version of Squarespace is definitively “better” than the other, but version 7.1 is set to aggressively streamline the design process, especially after Fluid Engine’s rollout in July 2022. , which is more ideal for users new to the platform. This is Squarespace’s next-generation content editor for 7.1 sites, taking advantage of a grid system and additional block placement options for greater layout flexibility (especially on mobile).
If you’ve built a Squarespace site before, you may have good reason to stick with version 7.0. Because that template has some advanced styling options that haven’t been added to the new one yet.One of the most popular features of the beloved Brine template family(opens in new tab) This is not in version 7.1.people were pretty salty(opens in new tab) about it. )
One caveat: Possible(opens in new tab) Switching between versions 7.0 and 7.1 usually requires a complete rebuild.(opens in new tab) It ruins your site’s search rankings.On the bright side, Squarespace is offering his 14-day free trial(opens in new tab) So you can mess around with both before committing.
What features does Squarespace offer?
Structural and formatting differences aside, all Squarespace templates across both versions of the platform support the same feature suite, including some new tools introduced in the latest Squarespace Refresh. Highlights include:
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Blog tools such as commenting system, post scheduling, podcast integration, and support for multiple author profiles
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Portfolio tools like image editor, image metadata import, video hosting/monetization
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E-commerce tools for physical and digital products such as on-demand custom merch, member areas, appointment scheduling, POS, subscriptions, product merchandising, product reviews, inventory management, purchasing and printing USPS shipping labels, and local pickup options
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Marketing tools such as email campaign integration, mailing lists, promotional banners, form blocks, and social selling on FaceBook and Instagram
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Unsplash and Getty integration for uploading universal assets and stock images
It’s worth mentioning that Squarespace also maintains three mobile apps that are free with a subscription or trial. Both versions of the site work.
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Main Squarespace app (available for iOS)(opens in new tab) and android(opens in new tab)) Supports writing, editing, updating, commerce, and analytics on the go
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Squarespace Video Studio app (available for iOS)(opens in new tab)) lets you create professional-quality videos with audio narration, animated text, and licensed music. Think of it as an alternative to TikTok or Instagram Reels.
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The Squarespace Unfold app (available for iOS and Android) is designed for creating shareable content for social media, such as Stories and Linktree-style bio sites.
How do you find the right Squarespace template?
To get started,[テンプレート]go to tab(opens in new tab) On Squarespace’s website, filter its library by type and topic to narrow down your pool of candidates. You can click ‘Preview’ on any eye-catching theme to see how it will actually look.
Recommended by Squarespace(opens in new tab) Choose a template based on your favorite colors and layout rather than the demo content you see there. For example, a template with a grid of products on the homepage can become an online store with a click, while a template designed for event attendance is more work for ecommerce purposes.
If you’re having trouble deciding, know this: It’s basically impossible to create an ugly Squarespace site, and with enough time and experimentation, you can tweak almost any template to get it exactly right. It can be tailored to your vision and needs.
What Squarespace template is right for you?
If Squarespace seems like the right solution for you, here’s what you should know. None of the templates are correct. Similarly, making an ugly Squarespace site is nearly impossible, but save your Google search and keep reading in case you need a little help getting the ball rolling on your dream site.
These are the best Squarespace templates in 2023.
