Squarespace templates vs custom websites - The difference between built in templates, third party templates, semi custom websites and custom websites
No doubt you have seen Squarespace templates and Squarespace kits for sale and you may have thought “aren’t templates included for free with Squarespace?”. And yes, you are so right. Today we will dive into the difference between the built in Squarespace templates and third party Squarespace templates and design kits.
Squarespace “built in” templates
Squarespace has many templates included with the purchase of your Squarespace account. These templates provide a “framework” for your website and dictate what elements or layouts are allowed.
Since I love home decor, I like to compare these templates to a foundation for your house. If your foundation can’t support a second story or is only built for so many square feet than you are limited to a house design for that foundation. Similarly the built in templates in Squarespace all have different abilities to provide features (such as a sidebar, full bleed images, long scrolling pages etc).
Squarespace guides you through the process of picking a template that is right for you, but since these templates are available to everyone with a Squarespace account, just installing the base template and updating it with your content will create a very “cookie cutter” type of website look.
I often can tell right away when I land on a Squarespace website that has just updated the base templates with their images and fonts. It screams “I’m a Squarespace site!” as opposed to sites that are custom designed and have unique features and customizations.
The next step up from a Squarespace built in template would be a “Squarespace Kit”.
Squarespace Kits
Squarespace Kits are prepackaged designs from companies such as GoLive and BigCatCreative (and many others) that provide you with graphic files and documentation and tutorials that guide you through how to set up a site like their website templates.
You typically receive a download file with photoshop or Canva files that you can use to customize with your own images and colors. You will upload these to your website and follow their step by step tutorials on how to insert all of the elements on each page of your site. You will also receive instructions with video tutorials and a document with all of the style settings that you can input on your site.
Because these templates are often heavily “styled” they will have a unique feel to them and will definitely appeal to a certain target audience. You are able to pick a template that matches your brand persona.
Pros: These kits are inexpensive and there are many, many kits available so it will be easy to find one that matches your style and meets your needs
Cons: These kits still rely on your doing 100% of the work in setting up your own website. It will take much time to read through or watch the instructions. Also, if you do not make significant changes from the kit design then your site may look like quite a few other sites out on the web.
Pricepoint: inexpensive
Semi Custom Squarespace Templates
If your budget does not allow for a custom Squarespace website then a semi custom website is a great solution for you. The other benefit of a semi custom Squarespace template is that it is a more time effective way to get a website sooner. It will involve more of your time as you will need to update the content with your own words and images however.
A semi custom Squarespace template is a website that has been designed with custom elements, usually for a specific industry. It is designed to have the elements that you would normally need for that type of website and focuses on conversion of your readers to clients.
These templates are installed for you so you have an amazing starting point for your website. You can swap out photos with your own, as well as the words and other content. You can adjust the fonts and colors to your brand colors as well as changing out the brand elements.
Some semi custom websites also offer a custom experience to upload all of your images and text into the template for you. This would be even less work for you, but then the cost is higher.
Pros: All the work of setting up your website styles and pages is done for you already to give you a great starting point for editing your website. The design will be strategic and geared towards converting your readers to clients as well.
Cons: You will still need to update the installed template with your own images and words so you will need to budget time for this and plan accordingly.
Pricepoint: medium
Squarespace Custom Websites
Whenever you hire a Squarespace web designer to create a site for you, you will receive a highly custom Squarespace website. This will be created specifically for you and your business needs and will use your branding and photos. These sites will be set up for you so that you do not need to do that yourself.
Typically designers, such as myself, provide lots of training videos to guide you through using your site once the design is finished. The wonderful thing about Squarespace is that it is so easy to use and maintain, but it still can be overwhelming to be handed a website and not know how to update it! What good is a website if you can’t update it? With Squarespace you don’t need to hire a developer every time you want to make a change - you can easily do it yourself!
A Squarespace Custom website is built on one of the Squarespace templates that comes with the Squarespace account, but is HIGHLY customized. A Squarespace designer knows how to add in custom code and get the most out of every template to create unique features and create a high converting website.
Pros: A completely unique site that is set up for you and complete with tutorials on how to update it yourself. This version will have the most customer service and ability to get solutions for your unique issues and to be able to ask questions of your web designer with anything you are struggling with.
Cons: With a more custom service comes a high price tag and a longer time to wait for the completed website. Your web designer may also be booked up so you might have to wait for availability.
Pricepoint: medium - high
Which kind of Squarespace template is right for you?
If your budget is low or you are just starting out, you may want to just use a built in Squarespace template and change out the photos and text yourself.
As your business grows you will reach a point when you “outgrow” your website. It will not attract the clients you are hoping for, will not portray you or your business accurately or will be hard for your visitors to find information. This is a point to look at investing in brand design and even a copywriter. Read more about how to prepare for a website redesign in this post.
If the budget allows for it, invest in a custom website or a semi custom website if the budget does not allow. Either way, ensure the text for your website, your branding and your photos are up to date and accurately reflect your business.
No matter what you choose, just remember “Done is better than perfect”. A website is constantly evolving and just starting is your first step!
