what’s the deal with squarespace?

January 13th, 2009 · 15 Comments

Lately I’m bursting with ideas for projects I want to start. One thing that might be relatively easy to knock off the list is a portfolio site for my design stuff. I’m not looking for jobs or anything, but if I wait until I am looking for a job to start pulling things together… well, that would be a nightmare.

I think I want the site be formatted like a blog, because I want to be able to update it quickly every time I finish a project. Which leads me to Squarespace – has anyone used it? I know Whitney from Darling Dexter uses it for her photography portfolio, and I really like this example that I found on SquareSpace’s website. Perfect.

For those of you who haven’t heard of Squarespace, it’s an online platform that allows users to drag and drop, point and click, to create a customized website from a lot of basic templates. You do have to pay for it ($8 per month for the most basic setup) but that includes hosting…

So. Is it really as easy to use as they say?

[image via zoompress studio]

Categories: blogs & blogging, books, DIY, graphic design, personal work

Responses to “what’s the deal with squarespace?”

please sir

January 13, 2009 at 4:44 pm

Yes I would like to know too – still debating about trying the free trial!

darling dexter

January 13, 2009 at 5:21 pm

I use it for Darling Dexter too — I’m in love it…so easy :) They also have pretty good support which is needed from time to time!

Ali

January 13, 2009 at 5:56 pm

holy. crap. these are awesome. now I won’t have to pay flywheel to make me a website…erase this comment :)

Esz

January 14, 2009 at 6:31 am

Hi!
My boyfriend has been using Squarespace for some time now for his photography website. He hasn’t had any issues with it at all. There was only one hiccup at start up trying to get his bought domain to point there – but that was the fault of the domain register company not Squarespace. So I would highly recommend them!
This is his site:
http://www.jonathanvb.com

Design Lovely

January 14, 2009 at 6:08 pm

My wedding photographer went through square space and his images took forever to load. He says they were at 72 dpi. But I have seen other square space sites that don’t so maybe he was doing something wrong. I actually really like yahoo sitebuilder and its super easy to use. I would almost go as far to say it’s comparable to dreamweaver in some aspects.

ellie

January 14, 2009 at 7:28 pm

thanks for all the input!

ellie

January 15, 2009 at 6:50 pm

here’s an update – i spent some time last night playing with a layout, and it is very easy. not completely customizable if you don’t know any css i think (not quite as drag and drop as i had envisioned) but still very cool. i’m going to check out some more squarespace sites and see if the slow loading is a universal problem, design lovely!

kickpleat

January 16, 2009 at 4:42 pm

I haven’t used squarespace yet myself, but it seems really simple. I have used http://www.cushycms.com/ and it’s simple, but not very customizable. It’s good for static sites (changing text, swapping photos)…and it’s free.

Renee

January 16, 2009 at 5:15 pm

Hey! I know Krystyn, one of the designers for squarespace and I bet she’d be willing to answer any questions you have. She’s just about one of the nicest people ever, too, which helps!

Jonathan

January 16, 2009 at 7:07 pm

I’ve never really had too many problems with slow loading of my squarespace website. Only issue I quickly overcame at the start was the size of my photos in the galleries- if their kept to under 100Kb they load fine. I think value for money and ease of updating are the real drawcards for Squarespace. Highly recommend.

Donna

January 21, 2009 at 12:38 am

Squarespace is great for doing a basic blog. I’ve found it does canned stuff really well, but if you want to do something custom it’s a little hard to bend to your needs.

Brooke

January 22, 2009 at 1:27 am

Hi Ellie

I’m a fan. It’s so streamlined compared to other blog hosts.. I’ve only been using it for a few months, but it’s working out well thus far. And I agree that their support team is very attentive.

ellie

January 25, 2009 at 3:55 pm

thanks! i’m glad so many people are using it and liking it.

Christi

February 20, 2009 at 8:59 pm

You can look at my site – I’ve been there for about three years and love it. They’ve added all kinds of neat stuff lately and if you look at the examples, I think it’s highly customizable – esp. with the backgrounds available now. You do have to know some HTML/CSS to really whip it out, but otherwise, it rocks.

arlee

April 3, 2009 at 12:48 pm

I’ve been using squarespace for almost 5 years and love it. The support is awesome, and FAST. There’s a wee bit of a learning curve, but the customizable options make it worthwhile. I do have other blogs on other “hosts”, but my squarespace is my baby :}

please sir
January 13, 2009 at 4:44 pm
Yes I would like to know too – still debating about trying the free trial!
darling dexter
January 13, 2009 at 5:21 pm
I use it for Darling Dexter too — I’m in love it…so easy :) They also have pretty good support which is needed from time to time!
Ali
January 13, 2009 at 5:56 pm
holy. crap. these are awesome. now I won’t have to pay flywheel to make me a website…erase this comment :)
Esz
January 14, 2009 at 6:31 am
Hi!
My boyfriend has been using Squarespace for some time now for his photography website. He hasn’t had any issues with it at all. There was only one hiccup at start up trying to get his bought domain to point there – but that was the fault of the domain register company not Squarespace. So I would highly recommend them!
This is his site:
http://www.jonathanvb.com
Design Lovely
January 14, 2009 at 6:08 pm
My wedding photographer went through square space and his images took forever to load. He says they were at 72 dpi. But I have seen other square space sites that don’t so maybe he was doing something wrong. I actually really like yahoo sitebuilder and its super easy to use. I would almost go as far to say it’s comparable to dreamweaver in some aspects.
ellie
January 14, 2009 at 7:28 pm
thanks for all the input!
ellie
January 15, 2009 at 6:50 pm
here’s an update – i spent some time last night playing with a layout, and it is very easy. not completely customizable if you don’t know any css i think (not quite as drag and drop as i had envisioned) but still very cool. i’m going to check out some more squarespace sites and see if the slow loading is a universal problem, design lovely!
kickpleat
January 16, 2009 at 4:42 pm
I haven’t used squarespace yet myself, but it seems really simple. I have used http://www.cushycms.com/ and it’s simple, but not very customizable. It’s good for static sites (changing text, swapping photos)…and it’s free.
Renee
January 16, 2009 at 5:15 pm
Hey! I know Krystyn, one of the designers for squarespace and I bet she’d be willing to answer any questions you have. She’s just about one of the nicest people ever, too, which helps!
Jonathan
January 16, 2009 at 7:07 pm
I’ve never really had too many problems with slow loading of my squarespace website. Only issue I quickly overcame at the start was the size of my photos in the galleries- if their kept to under 100Kb they load fine. I think value for money and ease of updating are the real drawcards for Squarespace. Highly recommend.
Donna
January 21, 2009 at 12:38 am
Squarespace is great for doing a basic blog. I’ve found it does canned stuff really well, but if you want to do something custom it’s a little hard to bend to your needs.
Brooke
January 22, 2009 at 1:27 am
Hi Ellie
I’m a fan. It’s so streamlined compared to other blog hosts.. I’ve only been using it for a few months, but it’s working out well thus far. And I agree that their support team is very attentive.
ellie
January 25, 2009 at 3:55 pm
thanks! i’m glad so many people are using it and liking it.
Christi
February 20, 2009 at 8:59 pm
You can look at my site – I’ve been there for about three years and love it. They’ve added all kinds of neat stuff lately and if you look at the examples, I think it’s highly customizable – esp. with the backgrounds available now. You do have to know some HTML/CSS to really whip it out, but otherwise, it rocks.
arlee
April 3, 2009 at 12:48 pm
I’ve been using squarespace for almost 5 years and love it. The support is awesome, and FAST. There’s a wee bit of a learning curve, but the customizable options make it worthwhile. I do have other blogs on other “hosts”, but my squarespace is my baby :}

Mint