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Your Most Commonly Asked Questions About Squarespace...And The Answers You Want!

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It’s no secret that Squarespace is my website builder of choice, and the only platform I build my client sites on (and my own!). I tend to get asked a lot of questions about the platform, so here’s some of your most commonly asked questions about Squarespace…and the answers you want!

How is Squarespace for SEO?

Generally speaking, Squarespace is pretty solid when it comes to SEO. There are a lot of built in features and tools that make your site SEO-friendly and help you rank higher in search results. 

Things like:

• A best practices checklist

Google Console integration

• Page titles

• Page descriptions

• Automatically generated sitemap

• Customisable URL’s

• Built in SSL certificate

• Mobile optimisation

That being said, SEO is very complex and there’s a lot more to it than setting and forgetting your website, having a good SEO strategy in place is key in showing up in those search results.

Can I connect a domain I purchased outside of Squarespace?

Yep! You have a couple of options when it comes to domains:

1. You can transfer a domain purchased somewhere else (ie: GoDaddy) to the Squarespace platform and then use it for your Squarespace website. 

2. You can keep your domain that you purchased somewhere else (ie: GoDaddy) with that company and then just connect (or point) it to your Squarespace website.

3. If you subscribe to an annual Squarespace plan then you automatically receive a free Squarespace custom domain for the first year. BONUS: If you sign up for the Business Plan you also get a free custom email address for the first year as well!

Can I get a custom email to match my domain?

Sure can!

If you have a custom domain linked to your Squarespace site, you can also add a custom email address through their partnership with Google Workspace.

Are Squarespace sites secure?

They sure are! 

Squarespace is a “closed source” platform, which means the only people who have  access to your website other than you are the big wigs over at Squarespace HQ.

Plus, all domains added to a Squarespace site are automatically protected with SSL certificates to improve security. This makes sure things like login details or credit card information is handled securely, and protects any data you receive via forms on your website. 

SSL certificates are also super important if you want Google to rank your site. Google actively punishes sites that do not have an SSL cert *yikes*.

Basically, everything you need to keep your website secure is already built in, you don’t need to download any extras, it’s all contained in one safe package, free from hackers and bugs.

Are Squarespace sites mobile responsive?

Yes!

All Squarespace websites are completely responsive, which basically means that whatever size screen or device you’re viewing your website on (desktop, tablet, mobile phone) the page automatically resizes seamlessly. 

Other platforms sometimes do have mobile sites, but the page content doesn’t always resize for every screen dimension, and that can leave your site looking glitchy and missing pieces of content. In this day and age, when our lives are all run by the 6 x4 screens we carry around in our pockets, you HAVE TO have a website that works fluidly across all platforms.

Squarespace’s built in responsive design resizes your content and images to fit multiple devices and screen widths so your site always looks good.

Can I connect my social media accounts?

Yes! 

Squarespace offers multiple ways to connect all of your social media accounts and share content easily.

Can I use Google Analytics with Squarespace?

Absolutely!

Squarespace offers its own analytics which gives a really solid overview into the basic numbers, stats & data associated with your live site. And bonus, these stats are very easy to read and understand. 

But if you’re after more details and really want a deep dive into your website traffic, you are more than welcome to also add your own Google Analytics tag to your site as well! Like most things with Squarespace, it’s easy to do and only takes a few minutes to set up.

How easy is Squarespace to use?

Okay, this is a big one. Soooo many people avoid dealing with their own websites because they’re not ‘techy’ enough, or they’re afraid they’ll mess something up or accidentally delete the whole site…and to be fair…it can happen.

Squarespace makes things super easy for everybody though. The platform is completely drag-and-drop, so you can easily add content and rearrange it on your pages without having to touch a single line of code. There are flexible options for customisations and a back end that’s easy to navigate without being a rocket scientist (which I’ve experienced with other platforms…*ahem* looking at you Wordpress).

My clients love it because after our project wraps up they take over and have total control and are completely self-sufficient. They’re able to confidently do whatever they need to with their site and don’t have to rely on a website designer or developer to make simple changes for them after the initial handover.

What makes Squarespace different from other website building platforms?

This is where Squarespace really scores big time for me because it’s an all-in-one platform. Yep, it’s exactly what it sounds like, an all-inclusive luxury vacation…everything is included.

Everything you need to build a killer, high functioning website is already built into Squarespace. Blogging. E-Commerce. Hosting. Templates. It’s all there.

With other platforms, you don’t always get that luxury. You have to download a bunch of plug-ins and apps for all of the different elements you need, and then keep them updated regularly.

With Squarespace, all of those plug-ins and apps are built right in, and everything is high quality, and only stuff you really need. Updates are also done automatically for you, so you literally don’t have to even think about it.

The really cool thing is, there’s still tons of flexibility to add extra bells and whistles on top of whats already built in so you can really customise your site. 

Is Squarespace expensive?

Affordability is another reason why I set my clients up on Squarespace. 

Other platforms might initially look more affordable, but when you add up hosting fees, the cost of themes, plugins and ongoing tech support, Squarespace looks a heck of a lot better.

Squarespace also offers different pricing plans so you only end up paying for the level of service you need. AND they offer discounts on annual plans (versus monthly plans) just for working with Squarespace Circle Members (find out more about the perks of working with a Circle Member like me, by clicking here!).

What kind of support does Squarespace offer?

The Squarespace support team actually knows what they’re doing over there. They’re actual real life people (not bots), and they’re not only friendly but they actually help find solutions to your problems.

They also have a massive help resource area, where you can find videos or articles for just about any issue that could possibly come up.

I know it all sounds a bit nerdy, but when it comes to building a website that works for you Squarespace really does tick all the boxes.

Hopefully this answered some of your most commonly asked questions, but if you still have some feel free to shoot them my way, I’m happy to answer them for you!

And, if you’re in the market for a new website let’s work together to design a custom website and get you online! You can find out more about what I do and how we can get you up and running online here!

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