Is Squarespace Good for Blogging? An Honest Review
Table of Contents
Where Squarespace Shines for Bloggers
Where Squarespace Might Fall Short
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Thinking of starting a blog and considering Squarespace as your platform? It's a popular choice, but is it the right choice for you?
After four years of designing Squarespace websites, I’ve seen the pros, cons, and what makes Squarespace a contender (or not) in the blogging world. Let’s dive in and give you the insights to make the best decision.
Where Squarespace Shines for Bloggers
Squarespace is the ideal solution for bloggers who want to focus on writing instead of the technical aspects. Here are the main benefits of using Squarespace:
Ease of Use: Squarespace is popular for its user-friendly interface. Setting up a blog, composing posts, and handling basic tasks is intuitive, even for non-techies.
Visual Appeal: Squarespace offers beautifully designed templates, making your blog look polished and professional from the get-go.
Built-in Tools:
Blogging: Features like categories, tags, scheduling posts, and basic SEO are all part of the package, no extra plugins required.
Analytics: Without going to Google Analytics, you can get insights into your blog's traffic, popular posts, and where visitors are coming from.
Email Campaigns: Easily promote new blog posts to your subscribers with Squarespace's Email Campaigns tool.
No-Hassle Maintenance: Squarespace handles software updates and security for you, making behind-the-scenes blog management a breeze.
Mobile-Optimized: Squarespace templates can be easily adapted to different screen sizes. Squarespace also automatically generates AMP (Accelerated Mobile Pages) versions of your blog posts, potentially boosting mobile SEO.
Where Squarespace Might Fall Short
Limited Customization
Squarespace doesn't have a vast plugin library compared to an open-source platform like WordPress. You won’t get the most cutting-edge features to design, optimize, and promote your blog. Heavily modifying blog post layouts or the overall sidebar structure can be difficult to implement and maintain.
Potential for Slower Speeds
You can’t remove Squarespace’s built-in codes whether your website utilizes those codes or not. This restricts the possibilities for speed optimization. If top-tier speed control is critical for your blog, you might want to explore self-hosted platforms like WordPress.org.
Affiliate Programs May Favor Self-Hosted Websites
There's a generally held belief that self-hosted websites have an advantage when applying for affiliate programs. Some affiliate programs, particularly those with higher-end products or services, might perceive a self-hosted website as more established and trustworthy.
This may or may not be true. In my experience, affiliate programs prioritize content quality over where the website is hosted. You can double check the requirements for the affiliate program you plan to apply to before making a decision.
The Verdict: It Depends on Your Needs
Squarespace overall is good for blogging. It provides a streamlined, visually appealing way to share your writing. However, it's not a one-size-fits-all solution. Consider your experience level, design priorities, and potential growth when deciding if it's the perfect blogging home for you.
✨ Pro-Tip: Try Squarespace's 14-day free trial to get a feel for the blogging interface before diving in. It's the best way to experience the ease of creating and editing posts, navigating the blogging features, and seeing if the workflow matches your preferences.
Key Takeaways
Squarespace is a great match for busy bloggers who want simplicity, ease of use, and essential blogging and SEO features.
Consider other platforms if you need advanced customization on your blog or want control over every aspect of your site's technical optimization.
