Build a Squarespace Website in 3 Hours

1. Seth Familian
Founder + Principal, Familian&1
THE 3-HOUR
WEBSITE

2. SETH FAMILIAN, FOUNDER + PRINCIPAL, FAMILIAN&1
A BIT ABOUT ME 2
BUSINESS STRATEGY
GROWTH HACKING
PRODUCT MANAGEMENT WEB PRESENCE
TEACHING + EDUCATION PROCRAFTINATION

3. MY 7-YEAR PLATFORM JOURNEY 3
2015-Present2009-2011
+
OR
2012-2014
+
OR
Secure · Intuitive
Elegant · Affordable
Customizable · FAST

4. MY SQUARESPACE PORTFOLIO (SO FAR) 4

5. LET’S BUILD A SITE IN 3 HOURS! 5
‣ Start with goals + structure
‣ Identify your content + assets
‣ Setup Squarespace basics
‣ Create + populate site pages
‣ Finalize + publish

6. THE 3-HOUR WEBSITE
GOALS + STRUCTURE
6

7. GOALS + STRUCTURE
DEFINE YOUR GOALS
7
‣ 1-3 per website
‣ Verb + noun structure
‣ Clear + outcome-oriented
‣ What are your 3 goals?
E.G.
“INFORM POTENTIAL CLIENTS”
“GENERATE NEW EMAIL LIST SIGNUPS”
“CAPTURE NEW LEADS”

8. GOALS + STRUCTURE
IDENTIFY CONTENT TYPES
8
‣ 2-4 per website
‣ Each drives a page or section
‣ Driven by EXISTING assets
‣ What are your content types?
- ARTICLES/BLOG POSTS
- IMAGE COLLECTIONS
- EMBEDDED VIDEOS/PRESENTATIONS
- "ABOUT” / STATIC PAGES
- CALENDAR(S) OF EVENTS
- CONTACT/INQUIRY FORMS
- PRODUCTS TO PURCHASE

9. DEFINE YOUR
ARCHITECTURE
GOALS + STRUCTURE 9

10. GOALS + STRUCTURE 10
DEFINE YOUR
ARCHITECTURE

11. GOALS + STRUCTURE 11
DEFINE YOUR
ARCHITECTURE

12. GOALS + STRUCTURE
DEFINE YOUR
ARCHITECTURE
12

13. GOALS + STRUCTURE
DEFINE YOUR
ARCHITECTURE
13

14. GOALS + STRUCTURE
CREATING AN
ARCHITECTURE
14
Current
Exhibits
Gallery
Events
Gallery
Directory
Private
Events
Leasing
Space
Bergamot
History
Contact
Us
Join
Email List
Google
Map
Follow on
FB, etc.
1. LIST CONTENT
ON POST-ITS

15. GOALS + STRUCTURE 15
2. GROUP POST-ITS
INTO 3-5 ITEMS
+ A FOOTER
Current
Exhibits
On View
Gallery
Events
Events
Gallery
Directory
Explore
Google
Map
Visit
Private
Events
Leasing
Space
Bergamot
History
Contact
Us
Learn
More
1. LIST CONTENT
ON POST-ITS
Follow on
FB, etc.Join
Email List
Site
Footer
CREATING AN
ARCHITECTURE

16. GOALS + STRUCTURE
CREATING AN
ARCHITECTURE
16
1. LIST CONTENT
IN A TRELLO LIST

17. GOALS + STRUCTURE 17
2. GROUP CONTENT
INTO NAV LISTS
1. LIST CONTENT
IN A TRELLO LIST
CREATING AN
ARCHITECTURE

18. GOALS + STRUCTURE 18
COMMON QUESTIONS
‣ Can I have more than 5 nav items?
‣ What about dropdown menus?
‣ How do I plan for future site sections?
‣ What about hidden site pages?

19. THE 3-HOUR WEBSITE
CONTENT + ASSETS
19
- WHAT ASSETS DO YOU HAVE?
- WHERE ARE THEY LOCATED?
- SELECTING A URL
- DEFINING YOUR LOGO + COLORS

20. CONTENT + ASSETS
EVALUATE YOUR CONTENT
20
- ARTICLES/BLOG POSTS
- IMAGE COLLECTIONS
- EMBEDDED VIDEOS/PRESENTATIONS
- "ABOUT” / STATIC PAGES
- CALENDAR(S) OF EVENTS
- CONTACT/INQUIRY FORMS
- PRODUCTS TO PURCHASE
‣ How many of each type?
‣ How are they categorized?
‣ Where are they located today?
‣ How do they SCALE over time?

21. ‣ Arrange files into Nav-based folders
‣ Title files intuitively!
‣ Create a site content outline
‣ Capture urls for embedded files
CONTENT + ASSETS
ORGANIZE YOUR CONTENT
21

22. ‣ Logo on a transparent background
‣ Pick Title, Text & Background colors
‣ Get HEX codes for each color
CONTENT + ASSETS
DEFINE YOUR BRAND ASSETS
22
coolors.co
withoomph.com

23. CONTENT + ASSETS
PUT EVERYTHING IN TRELLO!
23

24. VISUAL DESIGN WITH DATA
BREAK TIME!
24
‣ Stretch your legs
‣ Hydrate or grab a snack
‣ We’ll start again in 15 mins!

25. THE 3-HOUR WEBSITE
SQUARESPACE BASICS
25
- ACCOUNT SETUP
- TEMPLATE SELECTION
- LOGO + BASIC COLORS

26. SQUARESPACE BASICS
SET YOUR LOGO + TITLE
26

27. SQUARESPACE BASICS
SET YOUR STYLES
27

28. SQUARESPACE BASICS
EDIT YOUR SUBDOMAIN
28

29. THE 3-HOUR WEBSITE
POPULATE SITE PAGES
29
✓ IMAGE GALLERIES
✓ SUMMARY BLOCKS
✓ ARTICLES/BLOG POSTS
✓ CALENDAR(S) OF EVENTS
✓ STATIC PAGES
✓ COLUMNS + LAYOUTS
✓ EMBEDDED CONTENT
✓ CONTACT/INQUIRY FORMS

30. THE 3-HOUR WEBSITE
FINALIZE + PUBLISH
30
✓ TEST FORMS
✓ TEST ALL CLICKS
✓ CONNECT SOCIAL ACCOUNTS
✓ MIGRATE YOUR A-RECORDS (NAMECHEAP!)
✓ /SITEMAP.XML » GOOGLE WEBMASTER TOOLS
✓ WAIT + FINAL TEST BEFORE TELLING THE WORLD

31. DISCUSSION TIME
VISUAL DESIGN WITH DATA 31
QUESTIONS · FEEDBACK · IDEAS · INSIGHTS

32. BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY…
HAVE FUN!
32

33. THANK YOU
KEEP IN TOUCH!
33
SETH@FAMILIAN1.COM · @SETHFAM1