CUSTOM BRANDING & SQUARESPACE WEBSITE DESIGN
MODERN & IMPACTFUL SQUARESPACE WEB DESIGN for SMALL LOCAL BUSINESSES
Strategic and stunning websites created on Squarespace or Shopify (or with WIX on occasion), upgrades to Squarespace 7.1 or a refresh of your older Squarespace web design.
WEB DESIGN
Let’s get your business online—seamlessly and stress-free!
Building a website can be a lot of fun, but if you haven’t done it before or aren’t too tech-savvy, then it’s easy to get frustrated and timelines will drag on. This is where I come in! I have a process which I’ve been using for several years to make the experience stress-free and have been creating Squarespace web designs for 10 years, so I know what’s going on!
WHAT’S INCLUDED IN THIS PACKAGE?
SMALL BUSINESS CUSTOM WEBSITE DESIGN & BUILD
Using your new custom branding (or already established branding if it is up-to-date), we will design and build a brand-new Squarespace website from the ground up that reflects your vision. This custom website package includes everything you need to get your business noticed online. We can add more functionality using ‘Squarespace Extensions’, other Squarespace modules or third-party plugins. We can also create additional service pages (or other pages you need), create a full e-commerce or subscription website on Squarespace, there are many pages we can build.
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THE GROUNDWORK PHASE
Website Strategy & Planning
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This document will inform our website strategy by outlining what we will create and for whom you want to attract. It also includes branding elements such as your vision and tone of voice and will help us set the stage for the website design. Many clients say this document has prompted them to think more deeply about their business and has been a helpful tool for them.
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This one-on-one Zoom session or phone call will allow us to chat more about your vision and refine your goals before I start to design your Squarespace website.
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Before we design, we need to think about certain aspects in regards to SEO or search engine optimization. It is usually helpful to do this ahead of time. If you have already had an SEO report created or you know what keywords you are interested in ranking for, then we can use this information to inform our decisions.
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This is a guide to help you write your website’s copy (ie. your website’s words) if you have chosen not to hire a copywriter. This will give you an idea of what to focus on for each major page. I can help you finesse your copy or to help you create your headings.
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THE DESIGN AND BUILD PHASE
Squarespace Web Design & Build
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Includes your Homepage, About page, 2 Services pages, Blog landing page (or Portfolio page) with 2 Blog Posts formatted and a Contact page. My Content Creation Workbook will include prompts for copy you will need to create or provide to me so that your website can accomplish the goals you have set out.
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Interesting custom layouts for each page, no templates here! To make the website more appealing or effective, I can use custom code called CSS and/or external plugins to add more functionality to the website, over and above what Squarespace can provide. We will use your logos and colour palette to create the right look for your website. If you do not have branding in place, you can add a Brand Essentials Package, where we will create your logos, suggest fonts and a colour palette and how to use them.
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There are many things we need to do on the backend of any website, to help the website to function properly and to ensure it’s set up in an optimal way. This will ensure that your users will have a good experience interacting with your website and can help your website get seen on search engines such as Google or Bing.
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Before we launch your website, we will have to purchase your domain, transfer your domain from a third-party registrar to Squarespace OR connect your domain to your new website from the third-party registrar, whichever scenario makes sense for your business. This can be tricky if you have never done this before, but I have done it many times and can make the process easy for you.
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THE LAUNCH & BEYOND
After Your Site is Live …
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Google Search Console is a free tool developed by Google which we will connect to your website. This will allow us to submit your sitemap (essentially your website’s table of contents) to Google for indexing and to see analytics pertaining to your website’s performance.
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A Google Business Profile is where your customers can leave you a review and Google searchers can find you on a map, see your opening hours, etc. and we’ll ensure this is all set up for you.
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I will show you how to change basic info on your site, swap images, etc. either by Zoom video call or Loom videos personalized for your website. I am available for one month to answer any questions you have about your new Squarspace website design.
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I will create a launch-day graphic for you in Canva Pro, so that you can post on your favourite platforms. I can provide the same graphic in two different dimensions to suit the social media platform you want to use with your business.
READY TO GET STARTED?
WHAT’S INCLUDED IN THIS PACKAGE?
SQUARESPACE 7.0 ⟶7.1 UPGRADE ASSISTANCE
Need help transitioning from Squarespace 7.0 to 7.1? I’m here to assist with that process.
Why would I need to upgrade to Squarespace 7.1?
You already have a website that is working for you, but the old Squarespace 7.0 does not have the new functionality and flexibility that Squarespace 7.1 offers, so you want to upgrade, but are not sure how to do it.
You want to have your Squarespace web design refreshed, because maybe your offerings have changed or you want a more modern look. It’s not a good idea to refresh on an old version of Squarespace and instead of starting fresh, we can upgrade your site to the new version and keep all of your content, site’s analytics and contacts history.
What is the process for upgrading my website?
It will depend on what your goals for the project are, if we are changing any aspects of your design or simply just upgrading the website with no additional updates. In this instance, although we aren’t updating anything additional, with Squarespace 7.1, we still need to slightly rework the layouts because the website builder framework is different and your old site won’t look quite right once upgraded. There will be some finessing we need to do.
1
THE GROUNDWORK PHASE
Website Strategy & Planning
-
This document will inform our website strategy by outlining what we will create and for whom you want to attract. It also includes branding elements such as your vision and tone of voice and will help us set the stage for the website design. Many clients say this document has prompted them to think more deeply about their business and has been a helpful tool for them.
-
This one-on-one Zoom session or phone call will allow us to chat more about what we need to accomplish and refine your goals before I start to design your website.
-
Before we design, we need to think about certain aspects in regards to SEO or search engine optimization. It is usually helpful to do this ahead of time. If you have already had an SEO report created or you know what keywords you are interested in ranking for, then we can use this information to inform our decisions.
2
THE DESIGN AND BUILD PHASE
Website Upgrade & Finessing
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I will use my tools to upgrade your website to Squarespace 7.1 and will re-work your pages so that they look perfect on both desktop and mobile screens.
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Using your old website as a guide, I will create Interesting layouts for each page! To make the website more appealing or effective, I can use custom code called CSS and/or external plugins to add more functionality to the website, over and above what Squarespace can provide. If you need an update of your branding, we can look at a custom rebrand before we upgrade the website.
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I wil check your backend settings because there are many things we need to do to help the website function properly and ensure it’s set up in an optimal way. This will ensure that your users will have a good experience interacting with your website and can help your website get seen on search engines such as Google or Bing.
3
THE LAUNCH & BEYOND
After Your Site is Live …
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Google Search Console is a free tool developed by Google which we will connect to your website. This will allow us to submit your sitemap (essentially your website’s table of contents) to Google for indexing and to see analytics pertaining to your website’s performance.
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A Google Business Profile is where your customers can leave you a review and Google searchers can find you on a map, see your opening hours, etc. and we’ll ensure this is all set up for you.
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I will show you what I have changed, either by a Zoom video call or a Loom video personalized for your website. I am available for one month to answer any questions you have about your new website.
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I will create a launch-day graphic for you in Canva Pro, so that you can post on your favourite platforms. I can provide the same graphic in two different dimensions to suit the social media platform you want to use with your business.
READY TO GET STARTED?
RECENT PORTFOLIO of SQUARESPACE WEB DESIGNS for your INSPIRATION
Take a look at our most recent Squarespace web design … most of these were built on Squarespace, but some are on Shopify or WIX as well. If you need an e-commerce focussed site, you may prefer Shopify over Squarespace. I only build on WIX if your current website is already on WIX and you are happy with the platform.
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The Samosa Factory
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The Needful Music
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Focus Forward Leadership Development
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Believe in Your Health
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No Shoes Nutrition
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Distilled Beauty Bar & Social House
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Katie Burnett Photography | YEG Boudoir
WHY USE SQUARESPACE TO DESIGN MY WEBSITE?
Squarespace is an all-in-one website platform designed to be user-friendly for a novice and highly customizable for an expert. It includes everything you need to have an online presence with ease. I love to design on it and my clients love to use it because it’s intuitive and easy for them to make their own updates.
You may have an older website built on Wordpress or maybe, you have never been involved in a website build, but there are a few things that are important to have on a modern website and Squarespace is able to tick most of those boxes. And if it doesn’t, then we can always add functionality via a Squarespace Extension or an external paid plugin.
Of course, you don’t have to use all of these Squarespace features, but they are there for when you are ready to scale-up your business. It’s also more efficient and cost-effective to have all of this functionality available in one place, especially when you are just starting out!
Unique Features of Squarespace:
An all-in-one, modern, user-friendly website builder
Responsive design (for desktop to mobile) so that your website looks great on every screen
Social media integration
E-Commerce tools
Blogging tools
Tools for courses and membership websites
Acuity scheduling integration
Mobile app for e-commerce, blogging or website updates
Marketing features such as Facebook Pixel & Ads, Products on Instagram, a promotional pop-up and an announcement bar at the top of the site that you can customize
SEO (search engine optimization) integration
Domain connection or purchase through Squarespace (new domains signed up through Squarespace are free for the first year)
Website SSL Security to ensure your website is safe and secure
Squarespace Analytics and integration with Google Analytics
Squarespace Email Campaigns to send newsletters to your mailing list (and capture those names as well!) or integration with MailChimp for email marketing (can also add code to connect other CRM tools)
Integrated Google Workspace set-up and billing (free for the first year if you have not signed up previously with a professional email linked to your domain)
Excellent customer support from both myself and the Squarespace Customer Care team
20% off your new Squarespace subscription (for the first year, only through this offer, when I create your website)
READY TO GET STARTED?
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT OUR WEB DESIGN PROCESS
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A custom website build is for you if you already have your professional branding in place or have had a copywriter create your website’s words, so you need a website to showcase this information in a way that appeals to your ideal clients.
A custom website build is for you if you aren’t enthusiastic about the idea of using a template to build your website because you are not tech savvy or you don’t have the time to learn how to use a Squarespace template. You want to collaborate with a designer to create the website you have been imagining.
You need more than a basic website and know you will need additional functionality and modules, which we will have to configure, so a custom website is the way to go.
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There will be work that you will need to complete before we can start to design the website, such as the Website Questionnaire. Once you have your website’s copy created and you have had a brand photoshoot or have sourced high-quality stock images, we are ready to start designing your website ☺ The process should be completed within 2-3 weeks or sooner if all falls into place.
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Squarespace is an all-in-one website builder for modern web design. Squarespace has many features which I talk about on this page. It’s easy for anyone to use, even if you are not the most tech savvy, but we can also collaborate to make any changes you need.
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Item description
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Squarespace have 4 pricing tiers to choose from depending on your needs. The most basic and cheapest is the Personal Plan, which would be good for basic websites that do not sell anything, but it has everything you need to have a fuctioning website. The next tier (which I recommend) is the Business Plan. This plan includes everything in the Personal Plan, but we are able to customize the website with CSS and Javascript, which is important if you want a unique website that works for your business. You can also sell digital and service products on this plan.
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Definitely! My clients love it because everything you need is in one place. You can have your webiste, your appointment scheduling, your email marketing, your courses, your shop, your domain hosting all on Squarespace. You can even pay for Google Workspace email through Squarespace (which gives you the first year free!), so it’s perfect for people who want to keep it all in one place, perfect for small businesses starting out.
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If you are just starting out and do not have your branding created yet, we can do that together! I offer a Brand Essentials Package where we can create everything you need for your brand. Or if you are creative and enjoy using programs such as Canva, you can create your branding, export the right files and I can usually use them.
ADDITIONAL DIGITAL DESIGN SUPPORT FOR YOUR BRAND
Squarespace Email Campaigns, Flodesk or Mailchimp set-up, Facebook graphics, Instagram post templates (in Canva), website landing & sales pages. We can create additional digital materials to complement and enhance your new brand and for a specific task you are working on, so you can get that course or e-newsletter out to your mailing list! Contact me for pricing on anything additional that you do not see here or see my graphic design page!
Together, we’ll develop a website that not only showcases your brand beautifully but also functions seamlessly to support your business goals. Let's make your website a powerful asset for your brand. Click the “let’s work together” button, let’s have a chat and get started!
READY TO GET STARTED?