How to Choose the Perfect Squarespace Template for your Business!
Your website is the heart of your online presence—it’s where people learn about your brand, engage with your content, and decide if they want to work with you. Whether you’re considering DIYing your site from scratch, investing in a custom design, or opting for a beautifully crafted template, there are several paths to creating a stunning website. With so many options, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. That’s why in this post, I’ll share some key tips to help you navigate these choices and find the perfect solution for your needs. ☺️
Should you choose a template, custom design, or DIY?
Before deciding on any template, it’s important to consider whether a template is right for you. Depending on your specific needs and circumstances, you may also like to consider a custom website or a DIY approach. Below are just a few points to help guide you:
A Designer template may be ideal for you if:
You’re in the earlier stages of business and want a stunning, professional website with a lower upfront cost (or maybe you’ve been in business for a while but you happen to find a template that ticks all your boxes!)
You prefer to take a more hands-on approach and make design changes yourself as your brand evolves.
Your budget is more aligned with the investment of a template.
A custom website design may be ideal for you if:
You have a well-established brand and want a custom website that’s unique to your business.
Your website requires specific custom-coded features and functions that a template doesn’t offer.
You prefer to work closely with a designer to create a website that’s tailored to your business goals and growth.
You’re ready to invest in a custom website and have the financial capacity to do so.
A DIY APPROACH may be ideal for you if:
You’re confident navigating your choice of website builder (or you have the time and dedication to learn it).
You don’t require custom code to achieve your desired website, or if you do, you’re comfortable with implementing code.
You know your strategy and how to implement it in your website design.
You’re in the very beginning stages of your business and want to test it out before investing further financially.
Different types of Squarespace templates…
If you choose to opt for a template there are generally three main types of templates you will come across:
DIY Template Kits - these are usually template designs that you build yourself by following the tutorials and resources provided. These are a great option if you want a beautiful website and have the time and desire to build the template.
Built-for-you Premium Templates - these are designer made templates that are already built and all you need to do is swap out the demo content (e.g. the images and text) plus customise the colours and fonts to align with your brand. (This is a favourite for many!)
Built-in Squarespace Templates - these are the free built-in templates that are included in your Squarespace subscription. These are totally fine to get started, especially if you’re just figuring out the platform. Though you may find that these templates do have a more standard ‘Squarespace’ look and may need more customisations to stand out.
Things to look for in a template…
With so many templates on the market, finding the right one can feel overwhelming. There are countless talented designers offering unique styles and features. As you search for the perfect template, remember that colours, fonts, and images are all customisable. Instead, focus on these key factors when making your decision:
Pages Included: Think about the pages your website needs. Do you require a Services or Packages page? Or perhaps a Shop for your products? While you can easily add or remove pages later, choosing a template that already includes most of the necessary pages can save you time and effort.
Features & Strategy: Great templates are designed with a clear strategy and unique features to support it. While templates may not be fully tailored to your business, they can still align closely with your needs. For example, my Rosemary template includes features like a custom category bar, key categories in the main navigation menu, and a strong focus on content - perfect for bloggers. Meanwhile, my Camellia template is tailored for service-based businesses, focusing on services and portfolio work. Choose a template that matches your business goals and how you plan to engage your audience.
Mobile Responsive: With so many people viewing websites on their phones, it’s so important that your site is mobile responsive. Designer’s will always (should always) ensure that their templates look good on mobile, but always double-check! If you are building your own site, remember to design the mobile view too!
Customer Support: Most designers offer some level of customer support when you purchase a template. However, the duration and scope of support can vary, so be sure to check what’s included.
Template Policies: Every designer has different policies regarding template usage. Make sure to read through the policies carefully to ensure they meet your needs.
(Tip: It’s easy to be drawn to templates with lots of extras, but if you don’t need them, you might end up overspending on features that don’t align with your goals. Of course, if it’s exactly what you need, go for it!)
Where to find Squarespace templates…
There are so many incredible templates on the market, but where should you start looking? A great first step is to search on Google or Pinterest to explore what’s out there. Use keywords that match your aesthetic or industry, like “Squarespace templates for photographers” or “feminine Squarespace templates for fashion bloggers.” Adjust your search terms to fit your needs.
So, where can you actually buy templates? Here are a few top spots:
Designers' Websites - Many talented designers sell their Squarespace templates directly on their websites. These templates often come with detailed instructions, support, and sometimes even customization options. Buying directly from designers allows you to explore their full range of work and get a template that aligns closely with your brand vision.
Creative Market - Creative Market is a popular online marketplace for digital assets, including Squarespace templates. Here, you’ll find a wide variety of designs from different creators, catering to various industries and styles.
Etsy - Etsy is known for its handmade and vintage items, but it’s also a hub for digital products like Squarespace templates. On Etsy, you can find unique, handcrafted templates often offered by independent designers.
I hope this post provided valuable insights and helped you move closer to finding the perfect Squarespace template for your needs. As a Squarespace designer, it only makes sense that I mention my own template shop too! You can check out my templates here, and if you need more help finding the right template feel free to reach out via my contact form and I can offer some guidance!
Happy designing!
~ Sophie 💕