What’s worth knowing in the Squarespace world.
For designers, developers, and people building businesses around Squarespace.
Unlocking Square Secrets with Paige Brunton
This month is our 8th year business anniversary and we're celebrating with a series called Into the SQSP Metaverse: 33 Portals Through Web Design And Entrepreneurship.
“When you truly understand who it is that you’re trying to serve, then you can just really serve them well and communicate that like, ‘I’m in your head. I know exactly what you’re thinking right now.’”
As a college student with a travel blog, Paige found herself more interested in redesigning her website than blogging about her travels. This hobby turned into a side hustle, building websites for others on Squarespace for a few hundred dollars.
But life took an unexpected turn when Paige met a charming German man and moved to Germany to be with him. Unable to use her degrees due to the language barrier, Paige decided to turn her side hustle into a full-time web design business. With no option to network in person, she turned to blogging to attract clients.
Paige dove into the world of online marketing, posting two blog posts per week on Squarespace, online business, and topics that would interest business owners. Her dedication to blogging paid off, landing her on the first page of Google search results and helping over 500,000 people build their websites in just a few years.
However, Paige soon realized that she had hit a ceiling with her one-on-one client work. Instead of becoming a web design agency, she decided to create an online course to teach others her Squarespace knowledge, design best practices, and SEO strategies. This led to the creation of her two successful courses, Square Secrets and Square Secrets Business.
One of the key lessons Paige shares in her courses is the importance of knowing your ideal client. By understanding their struggles, fears, and pain points, you can better serve them and communicate effectively through your marketing messages.
Paige's story is a testament to the power of the digital world and the opportunities it presents. Her dedication to her craft, her willingness to adapt, and her ability to leverage the knowledge of others have made her a successful online entrepreneur.
As Paige once said, "I wish people would realize what unbelievable things blogging will do for your business because if they did, everyone would be doing it." This quote captures the essence of her story – the power of blogging and online marketing to reach and help countless people.
Another inspiring quote from Paige is, "When you truly understand who it is that you're trying to serve, then you can just really serve them well and communicate that like, 'I'm in your head. I know exactly what you're thinking right now.'" This quote highlights the importance of understanding your target audience and tailoring your messaging to resonate with them.
Paige Brunton's journey in the SQSP Metaverse is a shining example of what can be achieved with determination, passion, and a willingness to embrace the digital world. Her story serves as an inspiration for aspiring entrepreneurs and a reminder that sometimes, taking an unconventional path can lead to incredible success.
How to Moov with Perseverance and Innovation
This month is our 8th year business anniversary and we're celebrating with a series called Into the SQSP Metaverse: 33 Portals Through Web Design And Entrepreneurship. This is Portal #4
“Always be doing something. Never just sit back and hope one day that your email inbox is going to blow up because that’s not how it’s going to work.”
Cody's story began five years ago when he needed a website built for a music project. After being scammed out of his money by a supposed designer, Cody decided to take matters into his own hands. He tried various website builders, and eventually found Squarespace. Despite having no prior experience, he found enjoyment in building the website and decided to learn more about web design.
As he honed his skills, Cody realized that there was a gap in the market for affordable web design services catering to small businesses and solo designers. This led to the creation of Move Labs, a company that builds websites for free and only charges a monthly membership fee for ongoing management and updates.
Cody's perseverance and entrepreneurial spirit also gave birth to Ghost Plugins, a platform that offers free Squarespace plugins and templates. Soon, they will be launching Ghost Plus, a subscription service providing unlimited templates for a flat monthly rate. This service aims to help small teams and solo designers save time and money.
Throughout his journey, Cody has learned valuable lessons that he shares with fellow Squarespace entrepreneurs:
1. Be patient: Success doesn't happen overnight. It takes time to learn, grow, and build a sustainable business. Cody advises against expecting instant results and instead focusing on honing your craft and being persistent.
2. Hustle and take action: Don't just sit and wait for clients to come to you. Reach out to potential customers, network with like-minded individuals, and always be doing something to grow your business.
Cody's story is a testament to the power of perseverance and the importance of continually learning and growing. His innovative approach to web design services has not only helped him build a successful business but has also provided valuable resources for other Squarespace entrepreneurs. By following Cody's advice and embracing patience, hustle, and constant growth, fellow designers can find success in the Squarespace metaverse.
Listen to his story here.
Code Queen: The Story of Becca Harpain and Inside the Square
This month is our 8th year business anniversary and we're celebrating with a series called Into the SQSP Metaverse: 33 Portals Through Web Design And Entrepreneurship. This is Portal #3.
The California sun was setting as Becca Harpain sat hunched over her laptop, her fingers flying over the keys. She was deep in the digital trenches of Squarespace 7.1, the platform's latest version that had sent shivers of anticipation and trepidation throughout the web design community. But Becca was not daunted. Instead, she was thrilled by the challenge.
For years, Becca had been a Squarespace entrepreneur, a self-proclaimed CSS super nerd who spoke the language of computers with fluency and flair. She had a knack for transforming web pages into breathtaking digital canvases, and she was about to do it again. But this time, it was different. This time, she was not just redesigning a website. She was reshaping her destiny.
“I want to become a lot more of a resource than just a one-off. I want to make it easy for people to narrow down what they need.”
Becca's journey into the Squarespace metaverse began in a small town deli across a startup company. Tired of smelling like turkey, she had taken the job as a phone operator at the startup, which eventually led her to the world of online marketing. With ten keywords and a hundred dollars, Becca dived headfirst into Google Ads, kickstarting her career in the digital realm.
Years later, she was managing a global marketing campaign, dealing with six-figure budgets, three languages, and multiple countries. But as thrilling as it was, the fast-paced world of marketing began to wear her out. She longed for the creativity of art, the joy of design. So, she pivoted, teaching herself CSS and starting to build websites for clients.
Becca's pivot led her to create Inside the Square, a platform where she shared her CSS knowledge with the Squarespace community. Every Tuesday, she would post a new video or article, sharing her insights and tips. The response was overwhelmingly positive, and Inside the Square quickly gained traction.
But Becca wasn't satisfied with just sharing her knowledge. She wanted to empower others to become experts themselves. Inside the Square is Becca's brainchild, her gift to the Squarespace community. With a wealth of free CSS tutorials and the launch of Custom Code Academy, she is on a mission to democratize web design, distilling years of experience into a comprehensive and accessible course.
“I’m a very high energy person. I like to channel that energy into a lot of different directions. Picking one path and focusing on it has been a really big part of Inside the Square”
As Inside the Square continues to grow, Becca is excited about the future. She's redesigning her website, organizing her content, and creating cheat sheets for those who want to dip their toes into CSS. She's also nurturing her community, fostering collaboration, and helping her students become experts.
Through all her trials and triumphs, Becca remains committed to her mission: to empower Squarespace entrepreneurs to become CSS experts. As she charts her course through the Squarespace metaverse, Becca's story serves as a beacon of hope for aspiring entrepreneurs. It demonstrates that with passion, creativity, and a bit of code, they too can etch their mark in the digital universe.
Listen to her story here and check out her new podcast Think Inside the Square.