How to choose the best Squarespace website template

Website Design

Jul 12

Comfy sofa with a book and bowl of grapes

When deciding between hiring a designer to build a custom website or DIY-ing your site using a website template, it’s best to consider your specific needs and resources.

Hiring a pro website designer can really help take your website (and your business) to the next level, providing a strong foundation on which to grow and expand with the right tools in place.

However, using a Squarespace website template to build your own site is also a great solution, and provides a road-map for structure so that you’re not starting from zero or staring at a blank canvas.

Should you hire a website designer or purchase a Squarespace website template?

Here are a few points to consider for each. Evaluate your priorities and constraints to determine the best choice for your website project.

Custom Squarespace website:

✔︎ Unique, on-brand design
✔︎ Tailored functionality
✔︎ Requires a higher budget
✔︎ Typically longer development time

Squarespace website template:

✔︎ Done-for-you design
✔︎ Launch quickly
✔︎ Budget-friendly
✔︎ Some platform skill level required

If custom web design is right for you, check out my Squarespace website examples created for recent clients and get in touch.

If you decide to go the DIY route and purchase a website template, here’s a quick breakdown of the qualities and elements to look for when choosing the best Squarespace template for your business.

Free Squarespace templates vs. premium Squarespace website templates

Free Squarespace website templates

The free Squarespace website templates that you can select within the platform are a great starting point. They’re clean, modern, and generic enough for just about any business type or profession. However these templates are relatively basic and may lack certain advanced features.

They usually do not come with any resources or video guides, so you’re essentially on your own with the website customization. It’s also worth noting that the free templates offered within the platform are accessible to anyone. And because of that, your website probably won’t stand out from the crowd.

Premium Squarespace website templates

On the other hand, premium Squarespace themes are professionally designed with more intricate design details, higher quality graphics, and additional functionality. And because they’re created by designers, the templates typically provide access to more sophisticated layouts and customization choices, allowing users to create a more unique and professional online presence.

Many premium templates are styled with a specific profession in mind, making it a bit easier to narrow down the choices. In addition, most Squarespace premium themes will come with step-by-step guides, video tutorials, and limited support. Overall, they offer a more polished and refined look with minimal financial investment (somewhere in the range of $100 - $500).

What to look for when choosing a premium Squarespace website template

When you’re searching for a premium Squarespace theme, you’ll find a lot to choose from. Most will offer a demo site link to view the template in action. Always check out the demo site to confirm that the template has the elements you need for your business and for a great website foundation.

Start by looking at these qualities:

What pages are included with the Squarespace website template?
Think about your business and the must-have pages and elements you’ll need to launch a successful site. For example if you’re a service-based business, does the template include pages specifically geared towards highlighting and promoting your services?
Or if you’re a course creator, does the template offer strategic pages built to help sell your courses?
If you’re a blogger, does the template come with a pre-formatted blog?
Of course with Squarespace you can add and duplicate any types of pages you want, even within a purchased template. But the point of buying a website template is that the majority of the work is already done for you. So take a close look at the included pages.
Are resources included with the template?
Does the template come with useful resources like content guides and instructional videos? These are important to consider, but also dependent on your skill level with the Squarespace platform.
If you’re super comfortable using Squarespace, then you can ultimately choose a template that may not include those resources.
If you’re a newbie to the platform, however, then those included resources will be very valuable to you in providing step-by-step instruction and guided help.
Does the website template align with your brand?
There are so many templates on the market now, but it’s important to look for a design that represents your brand and is consistent with the message you want to convey about your business.
You can always replace all the images, colors, and fonts with your own, but does the template have the right aesthetic and does it hold a professional presence? Does the layout feel like it flows well?
What kind of functionality does the template include?
You’ll want to market your business in a variety of ways. Does the template include elements such as contact and subscriber forms or a sales page? Think about what type of business you have and how you’ll be getting the word out to your audience.
Look closely at the navigation and see if it’s creating a good customer journey. Are there multiple calls-to-action (CTA) that guide visitors to the next step? And with so many visitors engaging with websites from their smart phone, be sure the template is mobile-responsive.
Is website template support offered?
Again, this aspect is dependent on your comfort and skillset with the Squarespace platform. When you purchase a Squarespace hosting plan, free customer support is offered for issues related to the platform itself. However if issues arise in the use of the template itself, does the seller offer support?

When choosing the perfect Squarespace website template, consider your website's purpose and audience. Begin by browsing the available templates and select a few that align with your brand's aesthetic and functionality needs. Pay attention to the layout, color scheme, and available features of each template. Ensure the template is responsive and looks good on various devices. Finally, choose a template that not only looks great but also enhances the user experience for your visitors.