Hey there, fellow non-designers! Micki right here, and I wish to share my expertise utilizing Squarespace to create my private web site.

Confessions of a Non-Designer

Let’s be actual: I’m not a pure designer. I can recognize stunning design, however creating one thing gorgeous myself? That’s an solely completely different story. I truthfully have the design expertise of a potato, and this has adopted me by way of varied features of life, together with the web sites I’ve tried to construct.

I’ve all the time admired fantastically designed web sites, however as somebody who doesn’t think about herself a pure designer, I’ve struggled to create visually gorgeous websites myself. It’s not that I can’t acknowledge good design after I see it; I merely don’t have the innate means to craft one thing stunning from scratch.

Curious? Use our code NOMAD10 for 10% off your annual subscription right here.

Previous Web site Struggles

Charles and I’ve constructed dozens of internet sites over time together with ones for ourselves, a couple of for firms and some for family and friends. A few of our hottest embrace this web site TheBarefootNomad, our recipe lavatory TheParentSpot, plus a couple of web sites devoted to serving to vacationers select the correct journey insurance coverage (which we’ve since offered or shut down).

Regardless of our greatest efforts and numerous hours invested, none of those web sites turned out as fantastically as we had envisioned. Any design enhancements we tried to make have been met with frustration and felt like an uphill battle. The issue has by no means been technical for us, extra of imaginative and prescient.

Discovering Squarespace

After our previous web site struggles, I noticed that having the correct instruments may simply make a giant distinction. That’s why I made a decision to offer Squarespace a attempt for my private web site, MickiKosman.com. I wished an area to share my journey as a journey author, entrepreneur, and storyteller, plus a spot to attach with my viewers in a artistic {and professional} manner.

What’s Squarespace, Anyway?

So, you’ve possible heard of Squarespace, however what precisely is it?

In a nutshell, it’s an all-in-one platform for constructing web sites. It comes with a bunch of options like skilled templates, a drag-and-drop editor, a content material administration system, running a blog instruments, web optimization stuff, e-commerce choices, and web site internet hosting. Principally, it’s has plenty of the issues it’s essential to create a stunning web site, multi function place.

Getting Began with Blueprint AI

Signing up for Squarespace was simple. I began with the free 14-day trial and performed round with the Blueprint AI design characteristic. It provided some useful design solutions primarily based on my web site targets.

What actually impressed me was Squarespace’s library of customizable templates. There have been loads of engaging designs to select from.

Customizing My Web site

Customizing my web site with Squarespace was a comparatively easy course of. The drag-and-drop interface and varied options made it simple to personalize the design while not having coding expertise. I may add, take away, and rearrange components on the web page with just some clicks.

Discovering the Proper Photographs

One factor that may be time-consuming when constructing a web site is discovering the proper photographs.

Squarespace helped with that by providing a collection of inventory photographs along with the power to add my very own photographs. I used my very own photographs, however having inventory photographs readily available may positively save time and problem!

The Finish Consequence

Inside a few hours, I had a web site that I used to be pleased with. Squarespace allowed me, a non-designer, to create a web site that was each visually interesting and useful. The built-in options like cell optimization, web optimization instruments, and social media integration weren’t as obvious when designing it however as a web site proprietor, are all extraordinarily useful.

Templates That Look Fairly Darn Good

One factor that stood out to me about Squarespace was the templates. I’ve bought to confess, they’re fairly simple on the eyes. They’ve bought this clear, skilled vibe happening.

And the cool half is, you’ll be able to simply decide one among their templates, toss in your individual photographs and textual content, and your web site will look fairly polished. No design expertise wanted!

One other good factor concerning the templates is that they’re responsive. Which means they mechanically modify to look good on completely different gadgets, like tablets and telephones. It’s helpful as a result of extra folks browse the online on their cell gadgets today than laptops and desktops mixed.

Use our code NOMAD10 for 10% off your annual subscription right here.

I used this beautiful Waverly template to create my web site. You may see a demo of the Waverly template I used right here at Squarespace. You may customise types, add options of templates (and extra) if you begin a trial.

Customization Choices

With regards to styling your web site, Squarespace has an honest variety of choices. You may mess around with the fonts (which is nice in the event you’re choosy about typography like me), colours, sizes, button types, and all types of different design components. And you are able to do all of this with out touching any code, which is a reduction for individuals who aren’t precisely tech wizards.

However, in the event you do occur to know your manner round code, Squarespace does have a Customized CSS part the place you’ll be able to add your individual coding magic.

Wish to browse some beautiful designs? Get some inspiration from among the finest
designs on the internet at their design showcase right here.

Constructed-in Options

One factor to notice about Squarespace is that every little thing is baked proper into the platform. You don’t should go attempting to find plugins or extensions. It’s handy, nevertheless it additionally means you’re restricted to the options they provide.

That being stated, Squarespace does have a fairly good collection of options, particularly for bloggers and small companies. You may simply add issues like a weblog, contact kind, electronic mail signup, picture galleries, occasion calendar, social media buttons, and even a procuring cart for promoting merchandise or digital downloads.

Let’s Discuss Cash

Now, let’s discuss pricing. Squarespace gives a free 14-day trial, so you’ll be able to check the waters and see if it’s the correct match for you. After that, you’ll be able to select from 4 completely different plans: Fundamental, Core, Plus, or Superior.

When you’re in Canada like me, you may see these plans labeled as Private, Enterprise, Commerce Fundamental, and Commerce Superior, which I imagine is solely the previous branding for a similar packages provided within the USA.

The Fundamental plan begins at simply $16 USD monthly in the event you go for annual billing, or $23 USD monthly in the event you choose to pay month-to-month. As your online business grows, you’ll be able to improve to higher-tier plans that provide much more options and instruments that will help you succeed on-line.

Use our code NOMAD10 for 10% off your annual subscription right here.

The Backside Line

So, is Squarespace the be-all, end-all of web site builders? It has its strengths, just like the engaging templates and built-in options, however it won’t be the proper match for everybody if you would like excessive flexibility or demand very out-of-the-box designs.

When you’re in search of a platform that’s simple to make use of and offers you a professional-looking web site with out a ton of problem, Squarespace is unquestionably value testing.

However hey, that’s simply my two cents primarily based alone expertise. Your mileage might fluctuate!

Use our code NOMAD10 for 10% off your annual subscription right here.