Squarespace 7.1? Here's My First Impressions + Some Tips
Over the last couple weeks or so I've been messing around with the new Squarespace platform (and sharing a bit on my Good as Gold Insta stories, here).
I got a few replies and questions on my Insta, so I wanted to properly wrap up some thoughts and answer those questions here. This new version is still in testing, so its hard to know what the launched one will look like, but I know this is a platform SO many of us are using these days and I wanted to share the d-low on what I've found so far.
Side note before I dive in :: Everything below is based on what Squarespace has released so far — both in support articles, and within the new platform itself, and I’m sure at least a few of these things will change. The info here is based on what I could find in October, 2019. There's also no timeline from Squarespace when the new version will be fully launched... So... who knows. 🤔
Overall, WTF is the deal?
So it’s only really the whole ‘template’ and Design styles thing that’s changing — everything else with the main settings and analytics and products etc is staying the same.
There’s no real emphasis on the different ‘templates’ anymore, as it’s just one overall template that you can customise from there. I can see why they’d do this, but I think it will defo force people like me (Designers, and people who are creating SS websites for clients) to be more creative with how they use the platform, because we’re all gonna be building it from the same ‘base’ layout now.
They’re dubbing the new update Squarespace 7.1. (With the current version being 7.0).
Pro's of Squarespace 7.1 🙋♀️
👉 It’s way easier to create a website if you want to go full DIY. There’s a lot of pre-designed 'layouts' to choose from when you go to create a new page, or a new ‘section’ on your page — so you don't have to create things 'from scratch' as much (but you can if you choose to). There's also more support/help in the Design settings when it comes to choosing fonts and colours. For example, there's an option where you can create a colour palette from an image you upload. It's pretty cool. (See an example below)
👉 There’s a little more flexibility and options with most of the Design settings, especially with the colours. For example, there's now a lot more options for design settings within each 'section' of a page. You can set the alignment and colours for each section, instead of for the entire website. This will come in SUPER handy when designing things like long form sales pages, where you have a lot of content you need to break up. (See example below).
👉Adding a new colour palette via image upload
👉Switching up the colours of a 'section' within a page
Con's of Squarespace 7.1 🤦♀️
👉There’s WAY more limited options with the header design. This is one of my least favourite changes, and I can imagine other designers and SS users aren’t too stoked about it. It just means almost every SS website will have one of the same few layout options.
👉There’s also no double header option anymore. I’m using on both of my websites, as you can see here, where I've got the top header with the icons/tagline/etc, and the second header with the menu/logo/etc. I really loved this feature, as a way to break up header content, so I’m not stoked they’ve taken it away.
👉You can’t export or transfer your site from 7.0 to 7.1. So basically the only way you’re going to get a new site on 7.1 is by creating a WHOLE NEW site. I can see why this is the case, because the new platform is very different to the old one... Also, currently there’s no way to export data, blog posts, pages, or anything, between the versions… So if you have a large website on SS, this is going to be a pain in the ass ‘cause you’ll literally have to copy and paste everything to a new site. This is also why I don’t have ANY plans on moving my websites over anytime soon.
👉No more ‘Cover Pages’. Although I don’t really use these anymore, I’m kinda gutted they took them away. In the past I found them really good for sign ups, or quick promotions, or random shit like that. I also know quite a few people still use them.
👉It's gonna take more work to create a website that's different — in my opinion. This could also be a Pro, depending on how you look at it. Just based on me playing around with the new platform, the fact that there's only really one base 'template' to work with means the layout options are a lot slimmer... So take this how you will. 🤷♀️
And some questions (and answers) that I wanted to share...
👉‘So which version should I create my new website on?’
First off, I just I wanted to mention that personally am still using 7.0 for both of my websites, and I don’t have any plans to change any time soon. It’s not worth my time right now, and I’d rather wait it out to see if the expand the options and features. I’d rather focus on learning how it works and thinking about how I want to craft new Design Kits to suit it.
Also, there’s obvi a TON of people who are still using version 7.0, and the fact that you can’t just easily ‘transfer’ your site to the new platform will be a huge deal breaker for a lot of people. I imagine they’ll still support 7.0 as much as they can, and then over the next few years push people towards 7.1 (as they’ve done in the past with previous versions). So I just wanted to throw that out there, if you’re on 7.0, you’ve got nothing to worry about.
There's no single easy answer to this question, so here's some things to consider if you have been wanting to create a new website on Squarespace ::
If any of the above ‘Cons’ are deal breakers for you, stick with the current version, 7.0. It’s not worth the change right-this-minute. Just keep an eye on the launches and updates, then decide if/when you wanna change!
If you have your eyes on a Good as Gold Design Kit that you LOVE, grab it, and set ‘er up on 7.0. I’ve also just lowered the price on all 4 Design Kits, from $575 CAD (about $430 USD), to $425 CAD (about $320 USD)! They still include all of the same good shit to help you dial your online home.
If you’re already on Squarespace, and your website has a lot of content, you might wanna stay where you are right now. Then, when you’re 100% sure you want to move to the new version and refresh your website/brand, do it then, because it’ll take time (and $$, if you hire people to help you).
If you’re comfortable with Squarespace, and you’re creating an entirely NEW brand/website, you could def start with 7.1. Just keep in mind, it’s still in testing so some of the options you see on your back end of the site can and probably will change over time.
Either way, you can sign up for a free trial and fuck around with the new version just to see how things work and decide if it’s gonna be right for you.
Got any specific Q’s you wanna throw at me? Hit reply and I’ll do my best to help ya out!
👉‘What does this mean for people who create Squarespace websites for their clients, or design kits/templates?’
Personally I don’t see this as thaaaat big of a deal. Yes, some things are a pain in the ass... But if anything, it’s just gonna force us to be more creative with how we use the platform. Yes, they did add more features to help the average non-designy person to create a slick website, but none of those features include custom imagery and custom templates and all of the good shit it actually takes to create a website that’s different. That’s always where the Designers and pro’s come in.
As someone who does create Squarespace websites for a job, and who also has Design Kits and other SS resources — this is all part of the game when you make shit for a platform you don’t have any ‘steak’ in. Of course it’s gonna change, and it’s on us to adapt with that.
👉‘How do these changes fit in with the Good as Gold Squarespace Design Kits?’
Well, for one, the current collection of Design Kits isn’t going anywhere! Nothing is really changing here, as you can still create a website and use these Design Kits with no probs at all. Squarespace 7.0 is still totally available and good to go. Also, there's a new lower price on all Kits! They're now $425 CAD (previously $575 CAD).
But in terms of future collections, I will most likely be creating these on 7.1 moving forward. I didn’t have any plans to release new Design Kits until 2020 anyway (cause I have a couple other things I wanna launch in the mean time 😉), so that’ll give me a decent amount of time to play with the platform some more, and design some solid AF Design Kits for it. Also, hopefully by then it’ll be more readily available and out of testing.
Here's some offish links ::
🙋♀️Here's the main article on Squarespace about 7.1
🙋♀️And here's where you can create a new website on the 7.1 platform
So those are some overall first impressions! As you can prob tell, the con's far outweigh the pro's for me right now, and there's a good handful of shit I really hope they can iron out before the full launch. I'll def share more as I learn more too. ✌️
Stay golden,
