What does a Squarespace Web Designer do? Why and when do you need a Squarespace expert?
Who in the world would hire a Squarespace Web Designer when anyone can DIY a website with those beautiful templates from Squarespace? Who would fork out thousands of dollars for a
Squarespace expert ON TOP of paying Squarespace's subscription fees? And most importantly... is the investment worth its high price tag? Or can you ACTUALLY do all this on your own?
In this article, I'll answer all these questions from multiple perspectives AND explain to you why a good Squarespace Web Designer does MORE than just design you a pretty website. I'll also share with you my unbiased opinion on when you need a Squarespace expert for your business.
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CONTENT
What is a Squarespace Expert and Web Designer?
When do you need a Squarespace Expert for your website? Who is it for?
Should you DIY or Hire a designer for your Squarespace Website?
Is a Squarespace Web Designer worth it?
1. What is a Squarespace Expert and Web Designer?
A Squarespace Expert is someone who has very in-depth knowledge about the Squarespace platform and has developed their own unique skill of expertise within that realm. One of the fastest ways you can distinguish that is if someone is a Squarespace Circle Member and has a little badge like this:
In the world of Squarespace Web Designers, you will find experts in all fields. From designers who also specialise in branding and logo, copywriting for websites, CSS coding & plugins, there are even designers who have created their own Squarespace Templates to sell, or courses on how to DIY your website. Nowadays, Squarespace SEO experts have also become hot in demand, as a pretty website without traffic ain't nothin.
Some web designers see the whole process through and even teach you how to use the platform yourself so that you can go make changes without having to hire web designers for the minor things. While other designers just chip in to help with the backend of Squarespace sites like SEO, CSS and Javascript coding.
So depending on what you're looking for, you can definitely find a Squarespace expert in that field. The trick is to actually know which field of expertise you need first and when you need it.
Photo by Christin Hume
2. When do you need a Squarespace Expert for your website? Who is it for?
If you're building a brand new website from scratch for a new business you just started, with no logo or branding whatsoever... then you're probably best to look for a Squarespace designer who specialises in both web design and branding (or outsources the branding to an actual brand designer).
Maybe you're not a fan of writing sales copy for your website but a professional copywriter is WAY out of your budget. Then perhaps start looking for a Squarespace Designer who also specialises in SEO Copywriting for websites. (Kill two birds with one stone - hate that saying but it gets the point across!)
Or if you've been in the business for a while but need some help deriving more traffic to your site, then this is when you'll want to hire not just any SEO Expert - but a Squarespace SEO expert, who knows which features in Squarespace will help you optimise your site traffic the most. It's very different to Wordpress and requires a completely different set of skills.
Ultimately, it makes sense to turn to a Squarespace expert when you want to outsource something that:
you dislike doing (eg. designing websites and writing sales copy)
you don't have much knowledge in the field (eg. SEO)
you don't have the resources to create (eg. design software for logo and branding)
or that would take you a long time to learn (eg. CSS coding)
Photo by Andrew Neel
3. Should you DIY or Hire a designer for your Squarespace Website?
This depends on how much time and money you have and whether you're at the right stage to hire a professional. Here are two lists to help you decide:
You should Hire a Designer if:
you know your time is better spent on your business and not design,
you have the money to invest in an expert,
you want a top notch quality website, or
if you're in need for a re-brand and re-design, or
if you've done all that you can and need someone to help with the nitty gritty.
if you just don't fancy doing design and tech related stuff.
You should DIY if:
you LOVE design and learning tech stuff, or
you have basic knowledge in coding and design, and
have the time and money to learn these new skills,
you're just doing it for fun (it's a hobby),
you're just starting out and not sure if it's take off yet
Photo by Bonnie Kittle
4. Is a Squarespace Web Designer worth it?
Web designers don't come cheap - at least not the good ones. And Squarespace Designers are no different. One of the most profound, life-changing phrases I've heard was this: money is an exchange of energy. Woah! Do you think of money as an exchange of energy?
While I could write a whole blog post about money as an exchange of energy, the important takeaway is this: when you invest in yourself or your business, you're not just paying for a tangible thing (ie. website), but for an experience. You're also directing your energy (and money) towards your goals and this ultimately contributes to a positive loop cycle.
In terms of the 'Design Experience', most Squarespace website designers I know offer their clients a Welcome Package, they chat extensively about the business's values, the brand, your ideal clients/customers, and work with their clients to create a design that truly represents you (and not just a website they want to make). And at the end, you don't just get a finished website, but also a mini course on how to optimally run it yourself - because how empowering is that?!
Another important factor is TIME. Many business owners simply don't have time to slowly hack away and DIY a new website. Their time is better spend on what they're good at, running the business, networking and coming up with new ideas.
“So instead of asking, how much is a web designer worth?
Ask yourself... how much is your TIME worth? ”
Photo by Content Pixie
Let me know if you still have any questions and if you're stuck between DIY and Hiring, you are always more than welcome to grab a free virtual coffee with me and we can chat about your business and creative website ideas!
Simply pick a time that suits you best here: Creative Coffee Chats Calendar
Tell me what you thought of this article in the comments below or slide in my DMs @arohavisuals.
