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Editor’s note: Squarespace recently declared Squarespace Refresh, an annual release of new features and updates (including video monetization and custom business tools). We will update this content with additional information in the coming weeks.
If you asked Any podcast, you already know the spiel: Squarespace is an all-in-one website builder that makes it easy to create a professional-looking online presence. By the numbers, it is The second most popular web developer There (after Wix) and The third most popular hosting service (after Wix and Shopify), and supports 2.8 million live websites All over the internet at the time of publication.
One of the primary reasons to look at Squarespace This is success – Well, except for all of them Advertising spaces described by Ira Glass — You don’t need any web design or coding experience to run a beautiful site on its platform. With intuitive drag-and-drop building elements and a wide selection of ultra-modern templates, it’s easily one of the most beginner-friendly tools of its kind.
Indeed, the hardest part of designing a Squarespace site is often choosing one of those templates — there are 234 of them in Squarespace versions 7.0 and 7.1, the two iterations of the platform currently supported. How to decide which one is right for you Oil painting portfolioYour Taiwanese-American food blog, Or an online store for you Cool-girl jeans? (They are all different types of websites Made with SquarespaceFYI.)
Let’s get into it – but first, a quick primer.
Why should I use Squarespace?
After fast and easy site design, the best thing about Squarespace is its all-in-one approach: 24/7 customer support, website metrics, SEO features, SSL security, unlimited bandwidth and video storage, all for as little as $14 a month. (It’s even cheaper if you go with a long-term plan.) Squarespace also offers fully managed cloud hosting at no extra cost, and a year’s worth of new custom domains if you sign up for an annual membership. . No need to set anything else up with another provider or platform.
What is a Squarespace template?
A Squarespace template (or theme) is a pre-designed, ready-to-use demo website that can be customized with different colors, pages, fonts, and drag and drop. Organ blocks Text, images, galleries, buttons and forms etc. Square space describes They refer to it as “a starting point to inspire your site’s design.”[you] You can keep the structure of your original design intact by changing the demo content to your own, or completely change the design of your site and start from scratch.”
Each template is built exclusively for Squarespace, meaning you won’t find them on WordPress, Wix, or other site-building platforms.
Are Squarespace Templates Mobile Friendly?
All Squarespace templates are mobile-friendly from the jump, which is great for two reasons: Mobile-friendly sites look great on all devices And Get high priority from Google tabulation and SEO ranking.
Templates from Squarespace version 7.0 have separate mobile styles that are implemented on smaller devices, while their version 7.1 counterparts are automatically optimized for mobile viewing. (More on those in a second.) Check out Squarespace Tips for keeping your site mobile-friendly(opens in new tab) As you continue to build on it.
Which version of Squarespace is better: 7.0 or 7.1?
Launched in 2014, Squarespace version 7.0 brings its assortment 91 templates(opens in new tab) Some templates are “families,” which are groups of coded templates that are similar in their basic structure and functionality. Each has its own Own rules and customization options(opens in new tab), which means you’ll sometimes have to change templates and start over (and risk losing content) if you follow a certain feature. For example, Infinite coil(opens in new tab) Exclusive Pharaoh(opens in new tab) And Ski(opens in new tab) Template families.
Squarespace did away with hard and fast classifications in early 2020 with the release of version 7.1. All 143 of it New templates(opens in new tab) Now they belong to the same family with the same features and basic structure, which makes it easier Change site styles In seconds.
That being said, no version of Squarespace is “better” than the other. Version 7.1 may be the best choice for newcomers to the platform, as it drastically streamlines the design process, especially since its July 2022 release. Fluid engine(opens in new tab). (This is Squarespace’s next-gen content editor for 7.1 platforms, using a grid layout and improved additional block placement options. Layout flexibility(opens in new tab) – Especially on that day mobile phone(opens in new tab).)
However, users who’ve built a Squarespace site before may still have a good reason to stick with version 7.0 — its templates have some advanced features that aren’t yet included in the new one. (See: Parallax scrollingA particularly popular feature of Beloved Salt template family It’s not in version 7.1; There were people Beautiful salt About that.)
A caveat: While it is Possible To switch between versions 7.0 and 7.1, doing so usually requires completeness to recreate And mess with your site’s search rankings. On the bright side, Squarespace offers a Free 14 day trial So you can noodle the two together before you commit.
Is Squarespace better than WordPress?
It’s a beautiful atmosphere. WordPress is great for people on both ends of the customization spectrum: you can use the free version to create a super basic blog, or go balls-to-the-wall with a completely unique, scratch-built website with premium themes and tens. Thousands Plugins. Note that the latter requires you to manage your own hosting, security and updates; If your coding skills are not up to par, you may need to hire a developer.
Squarespace vs. WordPress: Which Website Builder is Best for Your Dream Site?
Squarespace’s templates are less flexible than a custom-built WordPress site and lean harder on visuals, but they already have some great built-in features and look great out of the gate — plus, all the technical difficulties are handled by the platform. himself.
Also supported by Squarespace Official coordinates Apple News (to cross-publish your content), Paypal (to accept payments), and OpenTable (to let guests make reservations), are just a few of the services, including two dozen. Third-party extensions. Although not as prolific as WordPress plugins, they can meet most of your and your users’ needs, no problem.
How to find the right Squarespace template for you?
To get started, go to Templates tab Filter Squarespace’s website and its library by category and topic to narrow down your applicant pool. You can hit “preview” on any theme that catches your eye to see how it will look in the wild.
Squarespace recommends choosing demo content based on your favorite colors and layouts: “You can change the style and layout of your site at any time, but you may find it easier to start with a design that’s already close to how you want your site to look,” it reads. page in its help center. “For example, The Dario Demo Site Designed for a wedding, but you can adapt it to accept RSVPs for other types of events or collect pre-orders for a new product launch.”
If you’re having trouble solving one, know this: it’s basically impossible to create an ugly Squarespace site, and with enough time and experimentation, you can modify any template to fit your exact vision and needs. But if you need a nudge in a specific direction, read on: below, we’ve rounded up 16 of the best Squarespace templates for all types of sites.
Note: Most of our recommendations are from Squarespace version 7.1, but we’ve sprinkled in a few options that stand out from version 7.0. Templates are marked accordingly.
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