Your website’s functionality has a lot to do with the platform you use to set it up.
There are several platforms out there to choose from - Wordpress, Blogger, Wix - but the platform I use for Elle & Company and recommend to all of my clients and customers is hands-down, without-a-doubt, Squarespace.
For a many reasons:
1 | First, Squarespace is easy on the eyes
As a designer, it only seems fitting to start this list by highlighting the clean, streamlined appearance of each Squarespace site and template.
The folks at Squarespace do a fantastic job of designing each template to look beautiful while still maintaining versatility and customization.
If you’re a business owner who’s just starting out and may not have the funds to invest in a custom designed website, Squarespace’s gorgeous template designs will give you the appearance of a professional from the start.
And for those of you who have been in business for years and are looking for a way to streamline all the bits and pieces of your existing website, the clean design of a Squarespace site can help you create that cohesive, effortless look you’ve been envisioning.
2 | Squarespace is user-friendly
This one is huge, especially for the not-so-technically inclined.
Squarespace makes things easy for its users on the backend by utilizing drag-and-drop features, easy-to-insert content blocks, and intuitive page layouts.
Blog posts are easy to publish, new pages are easy to add, photos are easy to replace, and settings are easy to edit because Squarespace has done a great job of making the layout of their user interface intuitive.
There isn’t much of a learning curve because it just makes sense.
3 | Squarespace is all-inclusive
Who has time and energy to track down a hosting site, buy a domain name, and search for a theme for their website among thousands of random sites and options?
Not to mention the frustration and hassle of keeping up with renewing subscriptions and making payments to several different sites and companies.
With Squarespace, a custom domain name, hosting service, and even a custom email address are included in your monthly subscription.
4 | Squarespace is compatible across all platforms
In an age where everything is becoming more mobile, it’s crucial that businesses have a website that appears correctly on desktops, smartphones, and tablets.
Thankfully, Squarespace has you covered. All of their templates are compatible across platforms.
So the next time someone pulls up your site from their iPhone, your website will remain intact and looking just as great as the web version.
5 | Squarespace is affordable
With plans ranging from $12 to $18 per month for websites and $26 to $40 per month for online stores, Squarespace has very affordable websites.
You can also easily change between plans if you want to utilize more features or add an e-commerce option down the road.
6 | Squarespace allows you to easily make changes
You don’t have to have any understanding or background in code or HTML to design your site in Squarespace (hallelujah!).
If you want to change the header or body text styles or switch up the color of your page links, you can simply login to the backend of your website and make changes in Squarespace’s visual style editor.
Unlike other website platforms, Squarespace allows you to see the changes as you’re making them.
And for those of you who do enjoy coding and have prior coding knowledge, you can easily update the HTML and CSS in Squarespace, too. This platform works with your skillset and meets you where you are.
7 | Squarespace takes care of the things you shouldn’t have to worry about
With Squarespace, you don’t have to worry about plugins and keeping your site up to date. They do all the legwork for you and stay on top of all those details.
This is especially helpful for those of you who are a one man show and don’t have the funds to work with a website developer or designer.
8 | And last but not least, Squarespace gives you a free trial run
Choosing a website is a big decision.
Thankfully Squarespace offers a free 14-day trial so you can test out their features before making a commitment. They don’t even try to trap you by requiring credit card information.
To get started, simply visit their website and try it out for yourself!
