The Strategic Launch: A Squarespace Checklist for Service Providers
If you’re getting ready to push your Squarespace site live, you’ve done the heavy lifting. But as a business owner, it’s easy to get caught in the DIY design phase and lose sight of the bigger picture.
In great web design, beauty and strategy aren't at odds—they’re teammates. A stunning site builds immediate trust, while a solid strategy ensures that trust leads to a booked call.
Before you share your work with the world, run through this streamlined checklist to help you make sure your site is as functional as it is aesthetic.
🛠️ Section 1: UX & Clarity
User Experience (UX) is just a fancy way of saying "don't make your clients work too hard." Keep it simple.
The Hero Statement: Within the first few seconds of landing, is it obvious what you do and who you do it for? Clarity beats cleverness every time.
The "Book Now" Anchor: Your primary Call to Action (CTA) should be a permanent fixture in your header, in your “top-fold” (that’s the first section of your website) and appear again at the bottom of the page, just before the footer.
Minimalist Navigation: Limit your main menu to 4–5 essential items. Try to avoid nested drop-downs with too many pages. Again, keep it simple. Everything else (Privacy Policy, Instagram link, etc.) can live in the footer.
Clear Service Tiers: Make sure your offerings are easy to distinguish. If a client has to guess which package fits them, they likely won't choose any.
📱 Section 2: Mobile Performance
Most of your traffic will likely come from mobile. Squarespace’s Fluid Engine is great, but it requires a manual "tech check."
The Thumb Test: Open your site on your phone. Are buttons easy to hit with a thumb? No tiny links or cramped spacing?
Text Hierarchy: Ensure your headlines aren't massive on mobile, forcing the user to scroll forever just to finish a sentence.
Image Optimization: Do your images load quickly? High-res files are beautiful, but site speed is a huge part of a "premium" experience. Ensure your images are crips and clear but the image files are not too big.
⚙️ Section 3: The Technical "Pro" Polish
These are the small details that signal you’re a pro who pays attention to the details.
Custom 404 Page: If a user hits a dead link, don't show them a system error. Use a cute, friendly, helpful custom 404 page that points them back to your homepage or services.
Form Flow: Test every contact form. Check the post-submit "Thank you" message—is it warm and helpful? Does it tell them when they can expect to hear back?
The Little Icon (Favicon): That tiny image in the browser tab is like the wax seal on a letter. Adding your own logo there makes your design more professional.
Site Description: Check your SEO settings to ensure that when your site appears in search results, the description feels inviting and professional.
🤝 Section 4: Building Connection
In a 1:1 business, the design needs to facilitate a relationship.
A High-Quality Portrait: Is there a clear, warm photo of you? Seeing your face helps build that essential bridge of trust before the first call even happens.
Integrated Social Proof: Don't just dump testimonials on one page. Place them near the specific services they mention so they provide context.
A Clear Path Forward: Does every page end with a suggestion of what to do next? It’s a helpful way to guide your guest through the experience.
The Mindset Shift: From DIY to Intentional Design
To get the most out of Squarespace, it helps to shift how we look at certain design choices. It’s less about "correct vs. incorrect" and more about moving from a basic setup to a strategic one:
From "Looking Cool" → To Building Trust: Aesthetics are the hook, but consistency and clarity are what make a client feel safe enough to hire you.
From Following a Template → To Mapping a Journey: A template is just a starting point. Intentional design includes moving blocks around to create a path that leads the user exactly where they need to go.
From a Catch-all Menu → To a Curated Path: Instead of showing them everything you’ve ever done, show them the 3-4 things they need to see to make a decision today.
From "Site is Done" → To "Version 1.0 is Live": The best sites aren't static; they’re living tools that you’ll tweak and refine as you get more data on how people actually use them.
Launching is just Version 1.0. The best sites are the ones that evolve as the business grows. The first thing to do is to get it live! Then, see how people interact with it, and refine from there.
We can help! Book in for a Design Day to polish what you’ve got.
