Squarespace Tutorial for Beginners (with SEO Strategy) 2024
About this Squarespace video tutorial
Welcome to my blog! I’m Katherine Forbes, founder of Designing the Row and a Squarespace Expert and Authorized Trainer.
Today, I’m thrilled to share a unique tutorial on creating a professional and effective website using Squarespace. Unlike many other tutorials out there, we’re going to start from scratch with a blank template, ensuring that your site is not only customized to your brand but also optimized for SEO and conversions.
Timestamps
1:20 How to get started with a blank Squarespace template
2:35 Squarespace backend sidebar overview
3:43 How to change auto-generated Squarespace domain
4:22 Update site with brand fonts and colors
8:17 Set menu and SEO guidelines
12:55 How to write and add SEO descriptions
15:38 Create and add homepage content sections
31:16 Style website homepage with color themes
36:46 Squarespace design features
42:08 Set site with password access
43:55 Steps to go live!
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Why Start with a Blank Template?
While Squarespace offers a library of pre-made templates, I believe that starting from a blank slate provides a clearer path to achieving your design and business goals. Templates can often feel restrictive, forcing your ideas into a pre-designed “box” that may not fit your vision. By building from scratch, you can create a site that is truly yours—professional, clean, simple, and tailored to your needs. Plus, starting with a blank canvas allows us to implement SEO strategies from the very beginning, setting your site up for success.
Getting Started with Your Blank Template
Step 1: Sign Up for Squarespace
There are two options for getting started with your blank template:
Sign Up through My Website: Head over to designingtherow.com/squarespace to receive a discount code and a six-month free trial that includes a blank template.
Directly on Squarespace: If you're eager to dive right in, go to squarespace.com and create your account. Once you’re signed in, go to your account dashboard and click on the “Create Website” button, then select “Blank Template.”
Step 2: Initial Setup
After setting up your account, you’ll be prompted to enter your site name. I typically suggest entering a name that reflects your brand or the purpose of your website.
Familiarizing Yourself with the Squarespace Dashboard
Once your blank template is ready, it’s time to explore the Squarespace dashboard. You’ll spend most of your time in the left sidebar, specifically in the “Pages” and “Styles” tabs. Here’s a quick rundown of what you can do in the sidebar:
Pages: Build out your website structure by adding necessary pages like Home, About, and Contact.
Design: Customize the look and feel of your website by adjusting styles, fonts, and colors.
Marketing: Set up your site’s SEO.
Analytics: Track visitor data and site performance.
Adding Your Brand Colors and Fonts
Before diving into content, let’s establish your brand identity by adding your brand colors and fonts. Click on the “Site Styles” icon (the paintbrush) in the top right corner. Here, you can customize fonts, colors, and button styles.
Fonts: Choose a font that reflects your brand’s personality. You can browse all available fonts and adjust font weights and sizes as needed.
Colors: If you have a color palette, this is the time to implement it. If not, I recommend using tools like Adobe Color to create a cohesive color scheme based on an image you plan to use on your site.
Making Your Site SEO Friendly
As we build out your website, it’s crucial to implement SEO strategies to ensure your site is discoverable in search engines.
Set Your Site Title: This should be descriptive, ideally between 50-60 characters. For instance, in this tutorial example site I use “Katherine Forbes | Squarespace Blank Template Tutorial” as my site title. This title appears in the browser tab and helps search engines understand what your site is about.
SEO Description: Craft a compelling SEO description that includes your brand name, primary keyword, and a call to action. This description will be what potential visitors see when your site appears in search results.
Building Your Homepage Content
Now it’s time to add content to your homepage. This step is vital not just for user experience but also for SEO as having 700+ words on your page is ideal.
Hero Section: Start by adding a hero section at the top of your homepage. Choose an eye-catching background image that represents your brand. Make sure to title the image descriptively for better SEO.
Headers: Use the header options wisely. Each page should have one H1 header, typically the main keyword or page title, followed by H2 and H3 headers for subheadings.
About Section: Include a brief description of your business. This section helps increase your word count and provides context for visitors.
Services Section: Detail the services you offer, linking to the corresponding pages on your site. This interlinking is beneficial for SEO, helping Google understand your site’s structure.
Testimonials: Adding a testimonials section can help build credibility with potential customers. Display quotes or reviews that showcase your expertise and customer satisfaction.
Newsletter Signup: Implement a newsletter signup section to capture visitor emails. You can connect it to platforms like MailChimp or keep it simple and collect emails directly through Squarespace.
Finalizing Your Design
Once all your content is in place, it’s time for the fun part—styling your site!
Consistency is Key: Ensure that your buttons, text, and background colors are consistent throughout the site. This consistency helps create a professional look.
Mobile Optimization: Don’t forget to check the mobile view of your site. Squarespace allows you to adjust mobile-specific settings to ensure your site looks great on all devices.
Testing Your Site Before Launch
Before making your site public, conduct thorough testing:
Check Links: Ensure all buttons and links are working correctly and directing users to the right pages.
Test Functionality: If you have forms or other interactive elements, test them to confirm they’re functioning as intended.
Mobile Preview: Always preview your site on a mobile device to see how it displays in real-world scenarios.
Going Live
When you're satisfied with your site and ready to launch, upgrade your trial account to a paid plan. You can do this by clicking the “Subscribe” button on the bottom of your site. Don’t forget to connect your custom domain to give your site a professional touch!
Conclusion
Congratulations! You've built a custom, SEO-friendly website using a blank Squarespace template. This method not only allows for complete personalization but also sets you up for success in search engines.
I hope this tutorial has been helpful. I’ve successfully applied this process for hundreds of clients, and I’m confident it will work for you too. Feel free to leave comments below with your biggest takeaways or any questions you may have. I can’t wait to see what you create!
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