3 Things to Add to your Client Sites as a Squarespace Designer
As a Squarespace web designer, I’m always working to improve my client processes to make things easier for both the client and me! Today I’ll share a peek behind the curtain on an actual client site in progress. And I’ll show you 3 things I add to my client sites that you may want to consider adding to yours. Keep reading or scroll to the end for a video walkthrough.
1. Sandbox page
In the Not Linked Section of the Pages menu, I include a Sandbox (playground) page.
This is a page where I've used code to remove the header and footer, and it includes sections that are similar to (or exactly like) other sections on their website. I typically include a couple of Fluid Engine sections, a Classic Editor section, an Auto Layout List section, and sometimes a Gallery Section if we’re using that on their site.
This way the client can play around on this page and not worry about breaking anything on their live pages.
You’ll want to make sure you hide this page from Search Engines inside the page settings so it doesn’t show up for anyone else.
It’s like training wheels for the clients and helps build their confidence before they move into updating any public-facing content.
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2. Customized Help page
This is another page I create in the Not Linked section of Pages and also make sure to hide it from Seach Engines.
On this page, I list short (usually 2-3 minute) customized videos with things like how to add a blog post or how the accordion blocks work. I know a lot of people have a library for their clients with these things, but I find that just taking a few extra minutes to create these specific to the client - based on what they're actually seeing - makes things so much easier for them.
I also “back up” all the custom code on the site here, just in case. This also helps me (along with the custom code walkthrough videos) in case I come back to the site months later and need a quick refresher.
This page also includes:
style info (fonts & colors)
information about support
how to book with me after their included post-launch support ends + a coupon because clients are awesome
post-launch SEO best practices
→ I use Loom to create the customized videos. It’s fast and easy.
3. Saved Sections
Squarespace is rolling out this feature at the end of 2022 and it’s an AWESOME one. You can read more about it here, but essentially it lets you create a section library to reuse across your website. I use all 50 spots available to create so I use all of them to back up the most important (or hardest to recreate) sections of the website. This serves as a “fail-safe” for the client and me. This is so new I haven’t had to use it yet, but I can see that it will be really helpful in the future.
+ keep a free backup for 6 months
Along those same lines, because I'm a circle member, I get a six-month trial on a website. As soon as the site is approved, I make a duplicate of it. So for six months I know I have a duplicate of the site exactly as it was when it was launched.
Those are just some things I do to make not only my life but my clients’ lives easier. And I hope that these tips help you as well!
