Susana_SQSP

I try to always think in terms of what would be useful for potential clients.
For smaller companies I imagine your point of difference is crucial as it may help them decide between you and the competition. Also if you have any values that are important to your customers or your process.
I work very closely with several other key suppliers of for content writing, digital marketing,  photography and video so I will present them as part of my network on the about page. That is a good point of difference for me as they are like staff but even better as they are dedicated professionals not just employees on the clock, they have skin in the game.

Hey @kjdawson1,
While there isn't a search field in the 7.1 template store where you can type the template name to find it, there are two options you might want to consider:
A. Select "All Templates" under the "Browse By" menu at the top left of the page. Then you can use cmd+f (Mac) or ctrl+f (Windows) to type the name of the template and quickly find it.

B. Directly visit the template's demo site at https://templatename-demo.squarespace.com/. In this case, you'd be replacing the name of the template in the URL. 

I'm a big fan of using a CRM tool. I just moved from Dubsado to HoneyBook and it's been amazing. Most things are automated on my end, which saves me time. And the client sees a cohesive branded experience and isn't waiting on me for certain steps.
Just one example, after they pay their deposit they are automatically prompted to answer a questionnaire and set up a strategy call.

In addition to using Squarespace Campaigns (as suggested above) you could also use Mailchimp or Zapier to automate this. Squarespace Campaigns is far easier to manage but the other services have free plans. 
I don't recommend using the post submit suggestion if you want to avoid fake and spam email addresses. This method will provide the user will a link to the PDF without validating their email address, whereas the other options will require a valid email address because if the user provides a fake one they'll never be emailed with the PDF. 🙂

This forum is not routinely monitored for product feature requests but you can raise this with Squarespace by opening a ticket through Customer Care. 
 

Navigation is the first thing I think about, how to keep it clear and concise.
Also important to remember the user journey, say you have a Services page, you probably want to include an option for them to go to the bookings page / contact page from there.
I believe a sites homepage is its most important tool, I ensure users can get to all of the most important areas of the site from this page, in both the navigation bar and the pages content. 

Your website’s navigation might not be the first thing you think about when setting up your website, but it is a key aspect of your customer’s experience with your brand. A smooth navigation setup can really make an impact and encourage repeat visitors.
A common goal for navigation is making sure your visitors don’t have to click more than 2-3 times to get from one section of the website to another. Some achieve this by sketching their site out on paper first. Others put everything in first, then let their analytics do the talking. Everyone has different strategies to achieve their perfect site navigation.
What has been most helpful to you when setting up your website’s navigation? Share in the comments below!
 

Your website and brand’s personality is established by your overall styling choices like fonts and colors. But it’s through the imagery you choose that your website’s tone and message can really shine.
You can take your own photos or use stock images, or you could choose to use infographics instead. Whichever you decide to do, choosing compelling images can help further your business goals. 
What are ways you’ve used imagery on your website? What kind of impact did it have? Share in the comments below!
 

There are a variety of details to consider when setting up your online store, all in service of the ultimate goal: helping your customers find what they’re looking for and complete checkout smoothly. 
Get a head start by brainstorming tags, categories, and subcategories so customers can quickly find what they are looking for and browse related items. Think early on about which shipping options and potential discount codes might serve you best. These kinds of  decisions can have a direct impact on performance.
How do you make sure your online store is set up for success? Share in the comments below!
 

I really enjoy visiting:
https://www.loopinsight.com
https://shawnblanc.net
https://daringfireball.net
http://www.marco.org
 
What I like about these sites is that they are content-driven, and they purposefully do not have bells and whistles flying all over the place. There are no pop-ups, no videos starting when you visit, and no over-the-top web design fads. Their advertising is unobtrusive. In addition, they are so sure of their content and that the visitor will return that their hyperlinks do not open new tabs. 
These sites have a minimalist look and they are easy to navigate since there is not a bunch of navigation folders or link hierarchies. In these websites, their blogs are the focus. They keep their site updated and fresh, but not to the point that you are overwhelmed with content.
You can tell there are real people with real life demands running these websites. Their joy keeping these websites running and sharing their thoughts with the world is very apparent. When visiting these sites, they feel like I am talking to a friend who is telling me about something they read or came across around the internet. Not only do I enjoy visiting the above sites, many times they lead me to other great sites and content.
Some of the content is original, other is from other sources but they link to those sources (the post titles themselves take you to the external links) , h/t (hat tip) if they read it somewhere else, and they make relevant comments on these external posts. 
I like how each blog post takes you to the place of origin and somewhere near the title you will always find the ∞ permalink. 
I really like the Squarespace feature, "Link Post Title to Source URL." However, I wish Squarespace could have a way to make all links open in the same tab, as well as a way to have the ∞Permalink show up next to the post title.
I really enjoy using Squarespace because it is so useful, elegant and intuitive, and those two things (permalink next to post title and open all links on the same tab) would make it just amazing!
 
Update: 
Tuanphan kindly shared a code on how to make all site hyperlinks open on the same tab.
Here is the link.

A nonprofit’s online presence is key in its success. A website provides the perfect opportunity to educate the public about your cause as well as allow visitors to show support to the mission. Creating an impactful website will encourage new and returning visitors to share your cause, donate, and even volunteer.
From strategically placed call-to-action buttons and Donation Blocks to striking the right balance between text and infographics, there are many ways to improve your website’s impact. 
What are your tried and true tips and tricks for launching an effective nonprofit website? Share in the comments below!

With 77% of internet users in 2019 reporting that they read blogs regularly, it’s no wonder starting a blog is such a popular endeavor. While seemingly simple and straightforward, blogs can often be more time consuming and require more effort than anticipated. 
Hindsight is often 20/20. What do you wish you knew before starting your blog that would’ve made the whole process smoother? What best practices can you share to help set others up for success?
Share in the comments below!
 

Wish I had known more about summary blocks and the fact you can make a "list" of blog posts a whole lot more exciting looking with some design tweaks. 
https://myrandomviews.com/storysummary
Update:
Another thing I wish I knew is that you can isolate and group  blog posts using a category filtered by a hyper-link.  They will show up in list layout or as featured posts, depending on how your blog is styled, and  your template setting, but these posts look like they have their own 'page" without actually having to use one. So I mix things up on my site, some posts in a summary block on their own pages, and some grouped using hyperlinks. Those links can go anywhere, on the nav bar, in a folder on a button. And those links can be used outside the site, in emails, social media posts, lots of things. The url slug will take you to the first item in the folder. 
myrandomviews.com/special-stories
 

Create and schedule your posts in one place. Adding social sharing links to your blog posts will be quite helpful. You can also add social posts to your website.
Hope it will be helpful to you.

Late last year, Squarespace launched Member Areas, allowing you to add gated areas within your site. These Member Areas give you the opportunity to increase brand loyalty, get to know your customers, as well as create a new revenue stream. 
With virtually endless options on how to use it, how have you incorporated gated content and what kind of impact has it made on your brand/business?
Share in the comments below!
 

Building a social media strategy can be tricky, but once you crack the code, it can be so helpful in building and maintaining a brand. Posting on-brand content for your community can help validate your brand as well as increase recognition and recall. 
What are ways you have found it useful to integrate social media into your website and brand?
Share in the comments below!
 

With the end of year holidays behind us and Valentine’s Day around the corner, there’s always something to anchor content, a product line or sale to. Catering to every holiday can also be a daunting task. How do you decide which ones make sense for you to engage with? 
Tell us which ones you lean into and why in the comments below!
 

Hi everyone, 
Thank you for flagging this issue. We’ve noted this for our Design and Engineering teams to review, and they’ll use this feedback when implementing fixes and improvements in future releases.
For any further questions regarding this issue, please reach out to the Customer Support team.

I have a logo that I made using Squarespaces logo maker. I don't use it all the time, and I have one that is animated, it moves like a shutter click as well. My logo is the name of my site. It is a play on words. I am a photographer, writer about  my life and view of life, faith, (never politics) and I write about the view through my motorhome window, which can be random at times.  My wife came up with the name.  my random views
 

Why exactly are logos so important?
 
Logos help set the tone for your business, as they are often your brand’s first impression on potential customers. As we know, our brains can process images more quickly than text, so having a logo helps users identify and remember your brand. Think of it as your company’s ID in your customers’ minds, it’s how you stand out among your competitors. 
 
How did you decide on your logo? What do you like most about it? What core message or feeling did you want your logo to convey?
 
Tell us all about your logo in the comments below!
 
P.S. If you’re looking to create a business logo, check out Squarespace’s Free Logo Maker to get started. You can also learn more about logos with our Help Guide: Creating a great logo.
 

Hi everyone, 
Thank you for flagging this issue. We’ve noted this for our Design and Engineering teams to review, and they’ll use this feedback when implementing fixes and improvements in future releases.
For any further questions regarding this issue, please reach out to the Customer Support team.

After the whirlwind of the holiday season, things tend to calm down significantly. You spent the last few months getting all these new customers and expanding your community; now, how do you keep your audience engaged in the new year? Is it newsletters? New stock? 
Share your tried and true methods on engaging your audience after the holidays in the comments below.
 

Thanks, @SusanaR! Replied to you via that new support ticket.

Hey @brandi_sqspace, 
We'll definitely need to take a closer look into this. I'll be creating an email ticket associated to the email address tied to your Squarespace account so we can keep the convo there. 
In the future, if you encounter any technical issues or need assistance with your forum account specifically you can reach out to the Community Team directly. 

Contact Forum Admin to do this @MaddieSmith @Jo_G @SusanaR