A Comprehensive Guide: Building Your Blog with Squarespace
So you’ve been contemplating the idea of starting a blog, and now you’re ready to take the first step. Blogging is an exciting and fulfilling creative endeavor, but it can be overwhelming to know where to begin once you have the initial spark of inspiration.
One aspect that may seem daunting is building a website. While online designers and developers possess incredible skills, their services often come with a significant financial investment – not the most ideal scenario when your blog is just starting out. If you’re not prepared to sell all your belongings on Craigslist, don’t worry! We have a simple solution to get you online and writing in no time.
Enter Squarespace, our preferred platform for creating stunning websites that are incredibly user-friendly. With no coding skills required, Squarespace enables you to bring your blog to life effortlessly. And in case you need any assistance, their 24/7 Customer Care team is available to answer any questions you may have. So, regardless of your level of expertise, Squarespace can have you up and running, showcasing your content and ideas in just a few hours. Trust me; I’ve spent countless hours in my dorm room back in 2008, unsuccessfully attempting to build a blog. Squarespace is far easier to use and delivers a professional-looking website (unlike my previous endeavors).
Ready to share your vision or business with the world? Start your free trial of Squarespace today (no credit card required) and use the code ‘EVERYGIRL’ to enjoy a 10% discount when you’re ready to publish your website.
Before You Begin: Essential Considerations
Before diving into the excitement of choosing one of Squarespace’s beautiful templates, it’s essential to have a few key components of your site planned out. While you can always change directions along the way, having a general idea of where you want to start will streamline the setup process.
- Decide what you want to blog about: Food? Interiors? Fashion? It’s time to make a decision. Having a few major categories in mind will shape the navigation of your blog.
- Choose a name for your blog: Ensure that the domain you desire is available before getting too attached. Some common word combinations have already been purchased and may cost a significant amount. Running a domain search will help you eliminate any expensive ideas. Conveniently, Squarespace offers this option at the top of their site. Additionally, do a quick social media search to ensure you can have the same name across all platforms you intend to use. Our advice: keep it simple and easy to spell – it’ll be a lifesaver.
- Determine your blog’s style: Do you envision a pink and gold aesthetic, or do you prefer a minimalist approach where your images take center stage? Spend time browsing Pinterest for fonts and exploring websites with designs or styles that resonate with your aesthetic. Make a list of specific elements you admire, such as a navigation bar at the top or an Instagram feed on the homepage. You may consider creating a custom logo in Photoshop, consulting with a freelance graphic designer, or utilizing Squarespace’s logo builder for assistance.
Step-by-Step Guide: Building Your Blog with Squarespace
- Choose a template: Squarespace offers a variety of templates to suit different needs. Our top picks include Skye (ideal for editorial or photo-based blogs), Native (a classic blog template), and Tudor (a combination of both styles). When signing up, remember to use the coupon code ‘EVERYGIRL17’ for a 10% discount on your first purchase.
- Customize your site title: The header is the first thing visitors see when they land on your site, so consider it a crucial first impression. Make sure it aligns with your branding by including your logo or site title and ensuring easy navigation. If you have a custom logo, you can upload it or stick with the matching font of your chosen template.
- Set up your navigation: By organizing your blog topics into sections, you’ll enhance your readers’ understanding of your site and help them find specific posts easily. Even if you believe you’ll only blog about one topic, try brainstorming ways to separate your posts (e.g., by room for a home renovation blog). Skye template already includes built-in navigation categories, which you can edit to fit your needs. Additionally, remember to update the footer navigation to match the same order.
- Compose an “About” page: Your About page introduces you to your readers and provides them with a sense of who you are. It helps establish a connection by putting a face to the stories and opinions you’ll be sharing. Ensure the tone of this page aligns with the overall vibe of your site. If it’s a formal or professional blog, keep the information on this page consistent with that tone. For a more personal blog, keep it light and share fun facts about yourself. Include an introduction, why you started the blog, and a photo that clearly shows your face. Avoid telling your entire life story on this page; that’s what your blog posts are for. If you receive questions from readers, consider adding a FAQs section beneath your introduction.
- Create a “Contact” page: Having a contact page is essential for readers and potential brand partners to get in touch with you. It can be as simple as providing an email address and any necessary details. It’s recommended to create a separate email for your blog rather than using your personal one. Alternatively, you can set up a quick form to protect your privacy. To do this, add a content block and select “FORM.” Squarespace provides a standard form that you can customize if needed. Make sure the form directs inquiries to your new blog email address to ensure responses come from the correct account.
- Link your social accounts: Blogging is all about connection, so it’s crucial to make it easy for readers to engage with you. We suggest placing your social media icons at the top of your site or in the sidebar. Squarespace simplifies the process of connecting your social accounts throughout all the pages of your blog. Start at HOME, click SETTINGS, and select CONNECTED ACCOUNTS. From there, click “CONNECT ACCOUNT” and follow the prompts to log in to your desired platforms. Once completed, the social buttons on your site will automatically link to their respective accounts. The Skye template positions these buttons at the top and bottom of your site.
- Start writing: Here’s where the fun truly begins. Hover over the left corner of your site to see a pop-up that says “ADD POST.” Clicking on it will open a dialogue box where you can start writing your first blog post. The intuitive design allows you to start at the top and work your way down until you’re finished. If you need to step away, you can always save your progress as a draft and return to it later. Ensure your post title is concise, descriptive, and enticing, providing readers with a clear idea of what they’re about to read without being too vague. Utilize the toolbar at the top of the post to change styles and headings and make important text stand out.
By following these steps, you’ll be well on your way to building an exceptional blog using Squarespace. Embrace the journey, and enjoy sharing your thoughts and ideas with the world!
Inserting photos or media into your blog post is a straightforward process with Squarespace. Follow these steps to seamlessly incorporate visuals and enhance the overall appeal of your content:
- Click the “+” button located at the bottom of the page to begin inserting media.
- Explore the available options and choose the medium that best fits your post. Squarespace offers various options for adding images, videos, galleries, and more.
- When adding images, Squarespace automatically resizes them to match the required dimensions and fit into the grid of your site. This feature saves you the hassle of manually resizing and cropping images. It’s a fantastic time-saving tool that eliminates unnecessary frustration.
- However, it’s important to note that you should avoid uploading images that are too small. It’s recommended to opt for larger images and let Squarespace downsize them for optimal display quality.
- To add text after inserting an image, click the “+” button and select “TEXT” from the options.
- Once you’ve finished writing your post, categorize it according to your preset navigation settings. Categorization helps organize your content and makes it easier for readers to navigate through your blog.
- Add tags to provide further specificity and context to your post. Tags are usually short and concise words or phrases that highlight specific aspects of your content. For example, if you’re writing about your dining room, you can add the tag “dining room” to the post. Tags allow readers to click on them and explore related content on your blog. Think of categories as your blog’s table of contents and tags as the index.
- Before publishing your post, go to the “OPTIONS” section in the post navigation pane. Here, you can add a feature image, which will serve as a teaser image for your blog post. This image will be visible to readers before they click on the full post.
- In the same window, you can also customize the URL and change the author if your blog has multiple contributors.
- When you’re ready to publish, click “SAVE & PUBLISH” or explore additional options such as saving as a draft or scheduling the post for a specific time.
- Before making your blog live, consider writing a few posts in advance to keep readers engaged. Once you start promoting your blog, try to maintain a regular publishing schedule so that your readers know when to expect new content.
- Customize your blog to reflect your unique style and branding. After creating pages and writing posts, you’ll have a better idea of your blog’s direction and layout. This understanding will help you make informed design choices.
- Use the Style Editor tool to customize fonts and colors. Access the Style Editor by selecting “DESIGN” from the Home menu and then clicking on “Style Editor.”
- In the Style Editor, you can choose which fonts or colors to change. The tool is intuitive, so if you’re unsure about a specific element’s name, you can click on it within your site, and the editing selection for that element will appear. Experiment with different colors and combinations, and remember to save your changes when you’re satisfied. If you make a mistake, you can easily undo or redo your actions using the arrows at the top of the style bar.
- To add widgets to your page, select the area where you want to place the widget (e.g., footer) and click the “EDIT” button. Once you can edit the block, click the “+” button in the corner to add a content block.
- Scroll through the available options and select the widget that best suits your website’s needs. For example, you can add an Instagram plug-in to encourage readers to follow your content on that platform.
- Use the design settings to customize the widget’s appearance to match the aesthetic of your page. You can adjust settings like image sizes, layout, and styling to ensure a cohesive visual experience.
Now you’re ready to share your vision or business with the world! Start your free Squarespace trial today (no credit card required) and use the code “EVERYGIRL” to enjoy a 10% discount when you’re ready to publish your website. Please note that this post was created in partnership with Squarespace, but all opinions expressed are those of The Everygirl editorial board.