7 Key Things You Need to Know about Squarespace - the no-code Website Design platform

No-code. Back in the spring of 2003, this term caused quite a stir within the world of website design. Wordpress, the first no-code web development tool was launched. Previously, websites had been created on platforms such as Dreamweaver, ColdFusion and Flash. All of these programmes heavily relied on code; think tech wizards in their garages…why is it always the garage? However, Wordpress came along and - in the words of the King - got the website design scene ‘all shook up!’

What does no-code mean? A no-code platform empowers users with limited technical expertise to build professional-looking websites without writing a single line of code. Not a single line! This methodology has since gained significant popularity over the years, revolutionising the way individuals and businesses create and manage their online presence. Many platforms offer a no-code service. Perhaps the most popular and stand-out choice being Squarespace. Renowned for its user-friendly interface, stylish templates and plethora of features, Squarespace puts website design, as well as the user, at the heart of its offering.

In this blog, we will explore the 7 wonders of the Squarespace world that make it a fantastic option when building your digital home. Before you can say hi ho, no-code, your website will be live on the world wide web in no time and off to work you’ll go!

Intuitive Drag-and-Drop Interface

Even a complete novice can effortlessly create stunning websites using Squarespace AND can do so with not an ounce of code in sight! This is mainly down to Squarespace’s intuitive drag-and-drop interface. First things first, you - the user - can browse the many pre-designed layouts that are on offer and decide on a layout that suits the style and purpose of your business. Using the visual editor, you can then customise every element of this. It is worth mentioning that you are not bound by the initial design. No siree! You can go wild and as an example, you can alter the fonts, colours, images and sizing. You can also amend the layout by merely dragging and dropping content into the intended place. Simples! 

Mobile Responsiveness

With a significant portion of internet traffic coming from mobile devices - 54.46% - it’s an absolute must to have a website that is mobile responsive. What we mean by that is it needs to look great and function seamlessly on smartphones and tablets. Squarespace has made this super simple! On the latest version (Squarespace 7.1), websites created in Squarespace will automatically adapt their layout according to the device and screen size they are loaded onto. With the introduction of Squarespace’s content editor Fluid Engine, there are now mobile specific options allowing limitless customisation i.e. as a user you have the ability to control every design detail for mobile view, tweaking it to your heart’s content until your site feels true to your vision. A mobile responsive website improves the aesthetic appeal, enhancing the user experience (UX) and ultimately boosting you up the search engine rankings.

E-commerce Capabilities

Whether you have a fresh, new product idea and are looking to establish yourself within the e-commerce scene or are a fully established brand, Squarespace is a fantastic option to grow your business.

The sleek, contemporary designs are the perfect backdrops to showcase your products at their absolute best. The clean website design also means that visitors can browse your merchandise, add items to their cart/checkout and leave product reviews both quickly and efficiently - no fuss! It makes for a great customer experience. But beyond what is customer facing, Squarespace also provides a plethora of robust e-commerce capabilities that help to streamline the background operations. Squarespace has made it super easy to set up new product pages and manage your inventory. Under one roof you can track orders, calculate shipping costs, manage customer information and process payments securely through various payment gateways. Squarespace is really adept in simplifying the complicated. For that reason it truly is a fantastic option for small businesses and busy entrepreneurs who are working tirelessly and at capacity!

SEO-Friendly Features

What is the point of a beautiful website if it can’t be found?! You may have heard the term SEO being bandied around. Maybe you know it is important but not quite sure why and what is involved in terms of website design. Well worry not, as we wrote a whole blog about it here: What is SEO and Why is it important?

Squarespace also recognises the importance of search engine optimisation (SEO). The platform has several built-in features that simplify the process of optimising content to improve your site's visibility. You can customise meta tags, clean up your URLs and refine your XML sitemaps. It may be worth mentioning that the above is very much the ‘background workings’ of SEO. In conjunction, you want to be thinking about your website’s written content. If the written word is not your thing, perhaps consider hiring a copywriter? Or there are software tools you can use such as Google Ads Keyword Planner, where you can gain insight into what your target audience is searching for and artfully reflect that back to them in your website’s copy.

Reliable Hosting and Security

When you purchase a physical home there are many things to consider: the house itself, various surveys, a mortgage, insurance and whether it is leasehold or freehold. Likewise, when looking to create your digital home, not only do you need to think about the website but you also need to consider hosting as well as security measures. Again, the marvel that is Squarespace takes care of all these things under one roof.

You don't have to worry about comparing or finding a reliable hosting provider, Squarespace automatically hosts your website for you. They go further by offering secure and scalable hosting solutions, ensuring that your site remains accessible and functional at all times. Additionally, Squarespace also provides SSL certificates to encrypt data and protect your visitors' sensitive information. An SSL secure website is denoted by the little padlock icon at the start of the URL bar. Its presence instils confidence within visitors regarding your website's security.

Integrated Analytics

Life is a continual lesson; we learn from and build upon what has come before. Website performance is no exception. Understanding how your visitors interact with your content is essential for making informed decisions and improving your online presence. Again, Squarespace has this covered with an integrated analytics tool. In addition to the built-in analytics, there is the capability to add Google Analytics or use code injection to add Google Tag Manager instead.

As a user you receive invaluable insights into site traffic, visitor behaviour and what content is proving popular - or not! With this data, you can monopolise on and further explore the content that is working and tweak or send to the abyss the stuff that isn’t making an impression. This way you can tailor your content for your audience with an assurance it will land. No time wasted. Give the people what they want and drive better results!

24/7 Customer Support 

At Squarespace, customer support does not sleep! If you experience any issues or have questions regarding the build or management of your website, Squarespace’s support team is available 24/7 to ensure you have a smooth experience. You can seek their support over a multitude of mediums. You can get an instant response via live chat or have a more detailed exchange over email. Plus, there are countless comprehensive guides and resources to pore over and draw advice from. When running a business the buck stops with you and you have to answer to everything. However, with Squarespace, you can feel rest assured in the knowledge that when things go awry with your website, there is a team of very qualified consultants waiting in the wings to support you and jump to your aid.

So there you have it, 7 wonderful reasons why Squarespace is undoubtedly an excellent candidate for building your own website and managing your online presence! It is such a powerful platform and being ‘no-code’ it has empowered countless individuals and businesses to create stunning and functional websites with no coding experience whatsoever.

Squarespace is committed to expert design and ease of use for the user; they are constantly rolling out new features to edify and serve that purpose.

Obviously being Squarespace Experts, at Made By Dave we are naturally going to be pro the platform and praising its features from the rooftops! But hopefully these 7 reasons go beyond the bias and explain why it is a no brainer!

If building a Squarespace website sounds great in concept but  you still feel a little overwhelmed by the prospect, then the team would love to hear from you. Let’s chat about building you a no-code website that you yourself can keep ticking over with little hassle. Otherwise, we wish you a very happy build of your new digital home!