There is a debate circling the web.
And it’s not about whether it is Yanny or Laurel. Or whether THE dress is a black & blue dress or gold & white dress. I mean really people? This is what goes viral?
This debate affects your business online. And it’s whether to go WordPress or Squarespace.
Sure there are other platforms out there and some are working great for many businesses. But these are two of the biggest players and also the two I personally have the most experience with.
I’m certainly no web design expert but I do happen to have sites on both platforms.
Squarespace or WordPress? Or Both?
Immensely Social here is a self-hosted WordPress site. WordPress is how I got started and there are many things I still love about it. But sometimes as online solopreneurs/entrepreneurs we get too busy tweaking our sites, installing plugins only to have them cause a crash, and focusing on design more than our content. While I will most likely stick with WordPress for this site, I have chosen Squarespace for other sites for it’s more minimalistic design and ease of use plus all in one platform and hosting.
If more interested in WordPress, I am using WP Engine to host this site and the wonderful BrunchPro Theme.
WordPress recently updated to add boxes for a more drag and drop blogging style mimicking Squarespace at first I was not sure I liked it , but now I guess I’m getting used to it and it feels more intuitive.
Using WordPress? Hit me with a comment and let me know whether you like the update and why or why not. I’m curious.
While Squarespace has some great templates and they are easy to manipulate sometime you just want a different design fast and easy.
That is where the lovely Mike and Brittni of Station Seven come in. Whether you go WordPress or Squarespace , they have some awesome templates to choose from. But I particularly adore their unique Squarespace kits.
Mike and Brittni switched over to Squarespace with their site and the redesign is clean and lovely true to their style.
A Website Kit Is Life Changing
My first experience with Station Seven Squarespace kits was with the Acadia theme. I adored my site after using that theme, but more recently they came out with a new theme Lady Nomad. As a Lady Digital Nomad myself, I found this theme to be even more perfect. Full disclosure, Mike and Brittni were kind enough to gift me this theme so I could share about it here with you.
Mike + Brittni over at Station Seven gave me a coupon code for you. Just click the button below and use coupon code IMMENSELYSOCIAL for 15% off your order!
I’m still in the middle of an overhaul at LoriHil.com. I’m going to start blogging there too all about life and work abroad with ditch the 9 to 5 strategies so if you are interested in that be sure to stay tuned. The blog links to my Medium at the moment, but different content coming soon. Even though it is not completely ready yet, I wanted to take the opportunity to share with you how Squarespace and Station Seven kits can help you create an awesome website way faster and easier.
Let me walk you through the simple process.
When you head over to Station Seven you will then choose the shop tab. And then the “Shop all Squarespace Kits” button. Here you can see all the gorgeous styles like the one I previously used Acadia and my current fave Lady Nomad. But they are all lovely.
You can also simply click the picture of one of the themes below to learn more:
If you want to see their WordPress themes click here for the shop and scroll down a bit more for the button “Shop All WordPress Themes.”
How Do You Choose?
Remember, one of the reasons to switch to Squarespace is the ease of use and to not keep redesigning your site. So I suggest you really explore and pick a theme or kit and stick with it a while.
Ask yourself what you need from your website. Decide on the focus. The Lady Nomad theme will make it easy for me to create and sell my own digital products which is in the plan for the future. I also like that it has a courses tab that create a great page where I am currently showcasing my online Skillshare courses.
In order to make a great theme choice, you need to know:
- Your business needs
- Focus and Goals
- What customizations you want to make
Ready, Set, Go!
Station Seven has a more in-depth blog post on choosing here How To Choose A Theme
You can also head over to Station Seven and click the Showcase tab to see sites using the different themes for inspiration and to explore which one will work best for your biz.
Once you decide on a theme you can choose to buy just the theme and install yourself or have it installed and setup for you. Since this is Immensely Social where we DIY your online business, I’m going to recommend the first option.
What You Get with Website Design Kits and How It Works
What’s really cool about Station Seven Squarespace Website Design kits is when you decide to set them up yourself, it’s like getting a course in customizing and designing on Squarespace thanks to the awesome step-by-step video tutorials that walk you through everything.
Via Station Seven:
The fact that they have added templates that are now editable in Canva is another huge bonus for me. You do not have to pay for Photoshop to make each graphic your own. They show you how to copy the ready-made templates into Canva so you can add your own pictures, words, and colors.
Create Unique Images for Website Design
You can create really unique images with BeFunky using filters and features that Canva doesn’t have and then add them to the Canva Templates that come with the Squarespace kits.
I talk more about using BeFunky with Station Seven and share some videos using the Acadia Kit in this post:
Create Unique Web Graphics Yourself with BeFunky!
To make your graphic design even easier, Station Seven also has social media bundles and branding kits. Click the graphics below to view.
And even a lead magnet template, also editable with Canva, so you can be up and running with everything you need from website to social media to email marketing fast with your brand looking fabulous whether you are starting from scratch or redesigning.
Their blog is a helpful resource on Squarespace too so be sure to check it out.
If you choose to use Squarespace and a Station Seven kit, you do not need any additional hosting accounts or domains as everything is handled inside Squarespace. You will just need:
Easy Website Design
I’m supporting Station Seven because I really adore their business. The kits are great, I love that it is a couple working together, and they live out their focus on making branding and design easier for solopreneurs.
They are helping me focus and get back on track working on my own sites and brands in between helping clients with their content marketing. And that adds value to my life as I hope this post adds value to yours. Website design does not have to be hard.
Cheers,
Are you Pro WordPress, Squarespace, or another platform? I want to know so hit me with a comment. What do you use for your website design?
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