Custom Squarespace Websites
For Artists, Artisans, and Small Business Owners
A website custom-built for your business will help you to focus on what you do best: creating and building your business. After I design and launch your site, you can manage it for free. I can teach you how. Or, if you need help with updates, I can do that too.
How it Works
1. Discovery
Discovery begins by completing a client questionnaire, which gives us a framework for collaboration. Then we gather the nuts and bolts of your website, including its structure, copy, and photos. My process makes it as easy as possible to collect and upload everything needed for your site design.
2. Design Concepts
All web design projects begin on a Monday. We will connect by phone or Zoom to review the process and kickoff the design phase. On Day 1, the initial layout for your website begins. Mid-week, we reconnect to review the home page layout, the header and footer, and one additional page, such as your services page. This second meeting gives you the opportunity to provide feedback early in the design process to ensure we’re aligned.
3. Review + Refinement
Building your website is a collaborative process. You will have the opportunity to give feedback and suggest edits throughout the build. Unlimited support during the development phase of your website is an important part of our working together. After you approve the home page and header and footer layout, the remaining pages will be constructed, with further opportunities for feedback and questions.
4. Launch + Post-Launch
After careful proofreading, the linking of your social accounts, and other behind-the-scenes steps, your site goes live. We’ll continue to work together to index your site with search engines and complete other housekeeping matters. In the days following launch, I will create a library of training videos for you to help you manage your site easily and confidently. We’ll also connect for a one-to-one online training. The goal is for you to feel empowered to manage your own website.
Squarespace Circle
As a member of Squarespace Circle, Squarespace’s program for designers on their platform, clients who work with me have access to the benefits listed on the right.
Six-month trial period for a new website (the standard is 2 weeks)
20% off annual website and online store subscriptions for a paid-in-full subscription
All new Squarespace customers are eligible for a free-for-the-first-year Squarespace Domain
All eligible business plan customers may choose a free year of G Suite for one user
Choose A Package
Emerging
$1950
Delivered in 2 weeks
Up to 5 pages
Content planning guidance
Customized web branding
Basic SEO Set-up
Two rounds of revisions
Social Media integration
Unlimited support during build
1 hour post-launch support
Available at an additional price:
＋Professional copywriting from $500
＋Online store from $450
＋Extra page $175
＋Blog $250
Business
$2950
Delivered in 4 weeks
Up to 10 pages
Content planning guidance
Customized web branding
Advanced SEO research + setup
Two rounds of revisions
Social Media integration
Unlimited support during build
2 hours post-launch support
Extra coding for customization
Email Marketing Integration + Setup
Blog included
Available at an additional price:
＋Professional copywriting from $500
＋Online store from $450
＋Extra Page $175
Business Premium
$3750
Delivered in 6 weeks
Up to 10 pages
Content planning guidance
Customized web branding
Advanced SEO research + setup
Two rounds of revisions
Social Media integration
Unlimited support during build
3 hours post-launch support
Extra coding for customization
Email Marketing Integration + Setup
Blog included
Copywriting up to 5 pages
Available at an additional price:
＋Online store from $450
＋Extra page $175
Included with All Packages
+ Basic Web Branding
Basic web branding includes creating a palette and selecting fonts, simple graphics, and icons.
+ Customized Design
Customized design based on a Squarespace template. Your site will be enhanced with CSS custom coding and your web branding for a personalized design.
+ Legal Notices, FAQ, and 404 Error Page
Legal Notices–Please note that I will provide resources to you to find the legal notices that are appropriate for your business website. It is optional, but recommended, to post legal notices on your website for your protection. (Selecting these legal notices for you is outside of the scope of my services.) After you have found the documents that are right for your business and modified them with your business information, I will format and add these pages to your site.
FAQ–While a FAQ page is seen as optional it is highly recommended. You will create a document with the most frequently asked questions and answers your site visitors might have about your business. I will edit your document and create a standalone FAQ page on your site.
404 Error Page–Visitors to your site will see this page if they encounter a broken link or if a page has been removed. The 404 Error Page will redirect your visitor to other pages on your website.
+ Mobile Friendly Design
Squarespace templates have built-in mobile-friendly features. Your site will be mobile-optimized for size and loading speed to ensure an excellent experience for mobile users.
+ Photo Search & Editing
Professional photos will boost your site’s appearance. High-quality photos are especially important when used as banner images that span the full width of a page.
If you have your own professionally shot photos this is ideal! But if photography services is not in your budget we can work with stock photos.
For stock photos, prices start at $10 per image for a commercial license. There are also free options available. Included with all packages are up to 2 hours of photo searches and editing.
+ SEO & SITE ANALYTICS
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is the process of improving your site’s ranking in search results. All known SEO best practices are built into every Squarespace site: site map, SSL certificates, search engine page description fields, and AMP (Accelerated Mobile Pages) for fast mobile loading. This may sound kind of technical, but you can be confident that your site will be SEO optimized.
The Squarespace Analytics reporting platform gives you insight into how your site is performing. You will get a clear picture of your visitors through statistics like pageviews, traffic, and popular content.
After your site is launched we will Index your site with Google Search Console, a free service that helps you manage your site’s presence in search results. I will guide you through this process right after your site launches.
+ SOCIAL MEDIA & EMAIL MARKETING
Together we will connect your social media accounts, including your business email, to your site. If you are currently using an email marketing platform your account will be linked to your Squarespace website. If you are considering adding email marketing I can help you find the right platform and set up your templates, see Additional Services for details.
+ SUPPORT
Collaboration—During the website build you will have unlimited support. We will work together to design and build a website to showcase your business through regular communication during the build week/s.
Technical Support—Technical support includes connecting your existing domain to your Squarespace site (or helping you through the steps to get this done.)
Legal Notices—Disclaimers and legal notices help protect you from legal liability you might face from running your website. Both free and paid options are available. I will provide you with resources to help you select the right legal notices for your site.
Post-Launch—After your site launches, you will receive one-to-one training using a screen-sharing platform like Zoom. I will also create training videos, from 2 to 3 minutes in length, that you can download and refer to when you make updates to your site.
Continued Support—The Squarespace platform is user-friendly. Post-launch, you will confidently be able to upload new photos, add new products, update text, add events, and more. If you don’t want to do these updates, I can help you get this done too! Just let me know your needs.
+ Training
As we work together, I will be sharing tips and tricks with you throughout the build of your site. A one-on-one training session post-launch will be scheduled to take place within 2 weeks of your site going live. I will also create short (2 to 3 minute long) how-to videos that you will download and use as needed.
Optional Add-On Services
+ Copywriting • starts at $500
Work with a professional copywriter to create content for each of your website pages. This marketing copy will position your unique services in a way that connects with the ideal customers you’re seeking.
+ Email Marketing Setup • $450
When paired, email marketing and your website are your most powerful tools to reach potential customers. Email marketing is a core digital strategy for your small business. MailChimp, MailerLite and Squarespace Campaigns are premium email marketing services.
Squarespace offers an integrated email marketing platform at an additional monthly charge. There are also free options—MailChimp is free up to 2000 subscribers.
If you are new to email marketing, I can design your forms and templates and set up your list.
+ Online Store Setup • From $450
Squarespace Business Plans include robust online commerce platforms to help you sell your services or products. This fee includes store setup and the addition of up to 10 products. Additional products are charged at my hourly rate of $75. Online store set-up will add 3 to 5 days to your project timeline.
+ Third-Party Integration • $450
Squarespace offers integrations with third-party services. For example, Acuity Scheduling is an online appointment booking service for phone calls or appointments. Open Table is an online restaurant booking service. There are both paid and free integrations and I can guide you through your options.
+ Additional Pages • $175
Additional pages may be added as needed for your website. If you decide to add a page to your site after the build begins we can make it happen.
+ Monthly Maintenance and Support • $75
I would be happy to help you maintain your site after launch, or work with you any changes you'd like to make on your site. My hourly rate is $75.
Timeline
Consultation Call (5 to 6 weeks before launch)
We’ll connect by phone or video chat to talk about your needs and my process. If we agree to work together a quote is sent outlining the details.
Schedule Your Project on My Calendar
After I receive your 50 percent deposit we will schedule the build date for your website, 5 to 6 weeks our from your preferred launch date.
Project Set-Up and Information Gathering
You’ll complete the client questionnaire and begin collecting photos and written content for your site.
Site Build
Site build begins on the agreed upon start date (usually a Monday). Your site structure, Home Page, Header and Footer, and your Services page will be laid out. We’ll have a screen-sharing meeting mid-week for your feedback, input, and approval.
Revisions and Feedback (cont.)
The site build will be completed and you will provide your second set of revisions. I’ll make the changes you request and when your second invoice is paid we will schedule your launch date.
Launch Day!
This is the most fun day of the project–going live! We’re almost there…
Post-Launch
We’ll schedule a screen-sharing meeting to review the backend of your site. The meeting will be recorded for you to refer back to if needed. I’ll create training videos (how to add a new event, blog post, etc.) and deliver them within a week.
FAQ
+ Why Squarespace?
Squarespace is a website-building platform known for its well-designed, beautiful templates and easy-to-use content management system. Squarespace offers everything a small business owner needs to have a web presence with modern, affordable templates that you can manage yourself. There is no monthly updating on the back-end.
Small business owners are empowered to manage their online presence without paying additional fees to update content. Squarespace excels in usability regardless of your current digital skills.
Your annual fee includes your template, hosting, e-commerce, a content management system, and your domain.
+ What is the best Squarespace Hosting Plan?
Currently there are three plans offered on Squarespace that are best for businesses, with fees (when paid annually) of $216, $312, or $480, minus a 20% discount for your first year. The annual fee includes any template you choose. The best plans to choose from are Business, Commerce, or Advanced Commerce plans. Visit the Squarespace Pricing page for complete details. You will receive 20 percent off for the first year.
+ Can I buy my website domain on Squarespace?
Yes, you can. If you sign up for an annual plan, you get the first year of your domain name free. Otherwise a ‘.com’ domain costs $20/year with Squarespace. Squarespace Domains FAQ answers many common questions about registering domains through Squarespace.
+ How do I know which template is best?
There are 10 template families in Squarespace, and each family includes variations on the basic theme. You can scroll the templates to find something you like. I can work with you to find the right template. My most recent sites are built in Bedford and Brine.
+ Do you build Wordpress websites?
Squarespace and Wordpress are both excellent choices to host your website. I build only in Squarespace because the template designs are beautiful, each template can be customized, and it is just simpler to use for busy small business owners. You save time by not having to take care of backend updates, it’s all done automatically. And once you learn how to update content, like adding photos, events, and products, you will find it to be intuitive.
Squarespace offers dozens of templates to choose from and pricing is all-inclusive for your domain and hosting.
WordPress offers both hosted (paid) and self-hosted (free) options. WordPress offers thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, of options. Your styling choices are virtually unlimited. Plugin and version updates are performed manually.
+ Are there additional costs?
Yes. These include the domain host fee for your current website (the annual domain host fee at Squarespace is $20) and legal notices such as a Privacy Notice and Terms of Service.
+ Is a business email address included?
Squarespace does not offer email with your domain. Your options are to sign up for G Suite, which is currently $6/month. If you currently have a domain host that offers email hosting, you can continue to use your current provider. Of course, it is a best practice for branding to have a seamless experience for your customers, so that your email domain name matches that of your website. This is possible with the G Suite integration.
+ How long will building my site take?
Your site build will take two weeks, four weeks, or six weeks, depending on the option you choose. One additional week is needed if you are adding an online store. Delays are possible if I do not have all assets (text and images for your pages) from you to complete your site. If this happens, your project may encounter further delays as I schedule clients in specific intervals; the next scheduled project may affect your completion and launch. Of course, delays are never ideal; that’s why we work together using project management software and discuss all expectations and timing on both sides at the start of your project.
+ Why do I need Legal Notices?
Privacy Police–Squarespace websites collect visitor data for site analytics, including information about browsers, device used, and IP addresses. A privacy policy is a legal notice telling your site visitors what information is collected and who you do with that information. Having a privacy notice on your site is highly recommended. There are both free and paid versions available and I can provide resources to you to find the right solution.
Terms of Service–A terms of service agreement outlines the rules visitors to your website agree to when they use your website. This legal notice is highly recommended for e-commerce sites.
+ What kind of training do you offer?
On the day your site launches, we will schedule a Zoom video call to go over the basic structure of your Squarespace site. Within the following three weeks, you will receive online training of one to three hours in duration. Additionally, short training videos (usually several minutes long) specific to your site will be created to help you manage content and to provide easy reference to guide you.
+ What is your availability?
I update my availability on my services page as projects are booked. I’m currently open throughout 2020.
+ How are your fees billed?
I require a 50 percent deposit to book your project on my calendar. The remaining 50 percent will be invoiced on the final day of the project and is due upon receipt. The remaining 50 percent will be invoiced one week before the site is launched and is due upon receipt. I use a cloud-based service to manage quotes and invoices. Here’s how it works. You will receive an email with a link to your quote and invoice. When you accept the quote the invoice opens, prompting you to make a 50 percent deposit. You will be directed to PayPal where you can make your payment.
+ What forms of payment do you accept?
I use PayPal to receive online payments. You do not need a PayPal account in order to pay my invoice.
+ I’d like to get started. What is the next step?
The next step is to schedule a phone call with me. You can access my calendar on the Contact page. This initial phone call gives us a chance to talk about what you need in a website, how it fits into marketing your business, and whether I can offer what you need to take this important step to either have a digital presence or to improve what you already have. If we agree to move forward, you will receive a quote and invoice for my services.