Why Squarespace is a great platform for service-based businesses
When you are deciding upon which web platform to use to host your service-based business it can be very overwhelming. Elementor, Wix, Showit, Squarespace … the list goes on. But how do you decide which one is right for you? I have tried most of these platforms but I always return to Squarespace as I feel it offers my customers pretty much everything they need to run their online businesses.
Here’s why I believe Squarespace is a great option for service-based businesses.
01. Ease of use
Whether you have built your own website or have had a website built for you, Squarespace is extremely easy to maintain. Adding in updates such as changing your copy, switching out opt-ins, adding new blog posts, products or changing the services you offer are straightforward and simple to learn. Its interface is extremely user-friendly which is a major asset for the small business owner who can’t afford to hire someone for every little change. Plus it offers lots of useful marketing options in the form of SEO, Google Ads, email campaigns, and announcement features to help promote your business and drive traffic to your site, and connecting to your social media is a breeze. When I create client websites I provide an hour’s free training on Squarespace which shows them everything they need to know to update their own site and removes the need for monthly retainer fees.
02. Customer support
There are only a handful of times I have had to contact Squarespace support but each time they have been quick to resolve my problem, usually in one chat session. As Squarespace is an all-in-one website it can resolve problems efficiently without the need for multiple emails or people. They also offer a ton of invaluable support with their library of how-to guides, webinars, and videos, not to mention the awesome community forum which is a great resource to interact with. And best of all it’s free!
03. Security
Sadly we live in a world where the threat of bugs and hackers IS ALWAYS AROUND, thankfully security is a big thing on Squarespace. As it is a ‘closed source platform’ only Squarespace can access your website or make any changes to the functions, therefore, your site is completely secure. Also, everything you use on Squarespace is completely safe and integrated within the platform so you don’t need to download any extras which might compromise your security. Basically, it’s one less thing to worry about.
04. One-stop shop
Unlike some platforms, Squarespace is an all-in-one platform meaning that everything is included. All the amazing design features are built-in avoiding the need for plug-ins and apps, and the platform offers huge flexibility to fit with your own requirements whether that is making an e-commerce store, creating a gallery, hosting a blog, the world is your online oyster! That said if you want to add in something specific you can still hire a developer to do this for you or download some Squarespace plug-ins if you really want to.
Squarespace also provides great synchronicity between your website and the mobile version you see on your mobile phone or tablet, as all of their templates are mobile responsive, and if anything needs tweaking this can usually be done with a little bit of CSS and you are good to go.
05. Affordability
Compared to some of the cheaper platforms out there (which I won’t name but have spent many hours on pulling my hair out over!), Squarespace is great value for everything it is capable of and offers. It may be tempting to consider going with a cheaper service but unless you are planning on learning HTML or CSS you may find yourself spending more money on developers than you thought. This and the fact that some of those other sites are ‘open source’ platforms which potentially could open you up to security issues. Also, you have a 2-week try-before-you-buy period where you get to play around with your site and see if the platform is the right fit for you.
If you consider all the previous reasons and add in the lack of hair loss it is definitely worth the slightly higher price point plus there is usually a discount code for 10-20% available when you first sign up which always helps!
06. Room for Creativity
Squarespace’s Fluid Engine, where you can place, and even overlap, elements wherever you like within a section, has really changed how creative you can get on a Squarespace website, often without the need for code. They offer over a 1000 Adobe fonts to choose from as well as the ability to add Unsplash stock images where you need them on your site. A recent addition of moving backgrounds, contemporary image shapes and highlighting elements makes it even easier to inject brand personality. Squarespace also offers a wide range of templates as well as pre-made section layouts that are thoughtfully designed and a great starting point if you are going down the DIY route.
07. Support for selling services & products
Squarespace Campaigns is a marketing tool which allows you to send email marketing to your audience including simple work flows. Whilst it may be more simple than MailChimp, ConvertKit or Flodesk it has a range of useful tools that will definitely help your business grow, and is perfect if you like having everything in one place - website, blog, email marketing and analytics. Likewise, Squarespace allows you to sell products and services through their platform which might be a useful addition if you have a few products you wish to market and sell alongside your services. Additional tools such as SEO, forms, pop-up boxes and announcement bars further help with marketing.
The Takeaway
Squarespace provides a great all-round platform for service-based businesses that is easy to use, with the flexibility to grow as your business does, and provides all the features you need without requiring further add-ons or additional costs.
Why not check it out today and see what Squarespace could do for your website. And if you are feeling a bit overwhelmed about creating your own website from scratch and want some help why not get in touch. I’m always happy to chat about ways we can work together.
