A Guide to Setting Up for Online Sales

Starting an eCommerce store on Squarespace is a big and exciting step toward growing a business online. Whether you’re a bringing a business to the next level or an entrepreneur getting started, Squarespace makes it easy to create a beautiful and user friendly eCommerce store that really shows off your brand. Read on for some of the key steps to setting up your store to start selling online with confidence.

1. Getting Ready to Launch Your eCommerce Store

Choosing the Right Plan

Starting with the basics - picking the right Squarespace plan. If you’re planning to sell online, you’ll want to go with either the Commerce Basic or Commerce Advanced plan. These plans come with all the tools you need to accept payments, manage products, and keep track of orders without any extra fees getting in the way. If you’re not sure which plan is right for you, take a look at the Squarespace pricing page to help you make the best choice.

Setting Up Your Domain

For those not in the know your domain name or URL is your store’s name online - it’s where all your digital marketing and SEO work will send your hard won customers. Picking the right one is important for your brand, but don’t worry, it’s also straightforward. A custom domain not only helps with branding but also makes it easier for customers to find you online through search engines.

Squarespace is a premium provider when it comes to domain registrations and management, making the whole process smooth and hassle-free. You can search for and register a new domain directly through their platform, ensuring everything is managed alongside your website. Already have a domain you love? No problem—Squarespace makes it easy to connect it to your new store, keeping everything in one place.

Here’s a quick look at how to set up your domain with Squarespace:

1. Purchasing a New Domain
   If you’re starting from scratch, simply head to your site’s settings, navigate to the “Domains” section, and follow the prompts to search for and register your perfect domain.

2. Connecting an Existing Domain
   Got a domain already? You can easily connect it to your Squarespace site. Just update your domain’s DNS settings following the step-by-step instructions provided by Squarespace.

3. Transferring a Domain
   Want to bring everything under the Squarespace umbrella? You can transfer your existing domain to Squarespace, making renewals and management super simple.

For detailed instructions on setting up your domain—whether you’re purchasing, connecting, or transferring—check out Squarespace’s domain setup guide.

2. Designing Your Storefront

Selecting and Customising a Template

Now that your domain is set up, it’s time to design your storefront. Squarespace offers a wide range of beautifully designed templates that are perfect for creating an eCommerce store. Each template is fully customizable, so you can make changes to create a unique online presence that truly reflects your brand. Here are a few popular templates to consider:

• Almar: A modern, minimalist template that’s perfect for showcasing high-quality product images. Its clean design keeps the focus on your products, making it a great choice for fashion and lifestyle brands.

• Hester: This template offers a bold, engaging design with plenty of space for product images and descriptions. It’s particularly well-suited for businesses that want to make a strong visual impact.

• Paloma: A stylish and sophisticated template that works beautifully for luxury brands. Paloma’s layout is designed to highlight curated collections and individual products elegantly.

Once you’ve picked your template, customizing is a breeze. You can adjust colours, fonts, and layouts to match your brand’s identity. Personalize your site by adding your logo, choosing a colour palette that reflects your brand, and selecting fonts that convey just the right tone. For more tips on customization, Squarespace’s template customization guide is super helpful.

Adding Essential Pages

Every online store needs a few key pages to make the shopping experience smooth and enjoyable for your customers:

• Home Page: This is your first impression, so make it count with featured products and a clear value proposition that instantly communicates what your brand is all about.

• Shop Page: This is where all your products are displayed. Keep it organized so customers can easily browse through your offerings and find exactly what they’re looking for.

• About Page: Share your story here. Let your customers know who you are, what you stand for, and why they should choose your products. A compelling About page can build trust and foster a connection with your audience. Have a read of our article on creating the perfect About page here.

• Contact Page: Make it easy for customers to reach out with questions or concerns. Include multiple contact options, such as a form, email, and social media links.

Remember, the key to keeping visitors engaged is to use high-quality images and compelling content that resonates with your audience. Great visuals and clear, concise messaging can make a big difference in how your site is perceived.

3. Setting Up Your Product Catalogue

Creating a well-organized and visually appealing product catalogue is key to generating sales in your online store. With Squarespace, setting up your product catalogue is straightforward, but taking the time to do it right can really enhance your store's performance.

Adding Products

Adding products to your store is easy with Squarespace, but there are a few things to keep in mind to ensure your products look great and are easy for customers to find:

1. Uploading Images
   High-quality images are key to showcasing your products. Use well-lit, high-resolution photos that clearly display your product from multiple angles. Squarespace lets you upload multiple images per product, so take advantage of this to give customers a comprehensive view of what you’re offering. Lifestyle images, where products are shown in use are a brilliant way to help customers visualize how your products fit into their lives.

2. Writing Descriptions
   Your product descriptions should be clear, informative, and to the point. Focus on the key features and benefits of each product, and try to answer any questions your customers might have within the description. To help with SEO, think about what terms your customers might use when searching for products like yours, and include those naturally in your text. For more, check out our blog on writing effective product descriptions.

3. Setting Prices
   Make sure your pricing is competitive and transparent. Include all costs upfront, and if you're offering discounts or special deals, make sure these are clearly displayed. Squarespace also allows you to add variants, such as different sizes or colours, each with its own price—so don’t forget to set these up if applicable.

4. Additional Product Information
   Beyond the basic description, consider adding detailed product specifications, materials used, care instructions, or any other information that might be relevant to your customers. If you’re selling food products don’t forget to include nutritional info as well as details on any allergens.

Organising Products

A well-organized product catalogue makes it easier for customers to find what they’re looking for and enhances your store’s overall user experience and SEO performance.

1. Using Categories
   Group your products into categories that make sense for your store. For example, a clothing store might have categories like "Tops," "Bottoms," and "Accessories." This helps customers quickly navigate to the section they’re interested in. If your inventory is large, you can also create subcategories to further refine the shopping experience.

2. Implementing Tags
   Tags are another way to organize products, typically used for more specific details that might not warrant a full category. For instance, you might tag products with "Summer Collection," "Eco-Friendly," or "Best Seller." Tags also help with filtering products on the shop page, allowing customers to sort by specific attributes they’re interested in.

3. Optimizing for SEO
   Both categories and tags contribute to your site’s SEO. Use descriptive, keyword-rich names for your categories and tags, as search engines use these to understand the content and structure of your store. Make sure each category and tag has a unique and descriptive title and meta description to help with SEO and improve click-through rates from search engine results.

4. Product Arrangement
   Consider how products are displayed on your shop page. Squarespace allows you to choose the order of products, so place your best-sellers or new arrivals at the top. You can also highlight individual products to draw attention to them.

By taking the time to carefully add and organize your products, you make sure that your customers have a smooth and enjoyable shopping experience, which can lead to increased sales and customer satisfaction. For more details, you can refer to Squarespace’s product setup guide and guide to categories and tags for additional tips.

4. Fine-Tuning Your eCommerce Settings

Setting Up Payment Gateways

Making it easy for customers to pay is a no brainer. We’ve all given up on sites that take too long. Squarespace supports several payment gateways, including Stripe and PayPal, so you can choose what works best for your customers. Setting these up is straightforward, and you can follow the steps in Squarespace’s payment setup guide to get everything configured.

Shipping and Tax Settings

Setting up shipping and taxes can feel tricky, but Squarespace simplifies the process. You can choose from various shipping options, like flat rate or weight-based, and configure local taxes based on where you’re selling if relevant to your business. This helps ensure there are no surprises for your customers at the checkout. For more guidance take a look at Squarespace’s shipping setup guide to get things just right.

5. Enhancing the Shopping Experience

Integrating SEO Best Practices

It’s always a good idea to start with strong SEO practices to help more people discover your store. To ensure your products show up in search results, make sure each product page is optimized with relevant keywords in titles, meta descriptions, and image alt text. If you’re new to SEO or just need a refresher, Squarespace’s SEO guide is a great place to start or check out our library of articles on all things SEO.

Setting Up Email Notifications

Keeping your customers in the loop is important. Set up automated email notifications for order confirmations and shipping updates. These not only keep your customers informed but also add a professional touch to your store. Squarespace’s integrated email system is the easiest way to start. For more check out the setup guide.

6. Launching and Promoting Your Store

Finalising Your Store Settings

Before you go live, it’s a good idea to double-check everything -test your checkout, make sure your site looks great on mobile devices, and ensure all your links work. A final pre-launch checklist can save you from any last-minute surprises and ensure your store is ready for customers.

Starting an eCommerce store on Squarespace is a fantastic and user friendly way to grow your business online. By following these steps, you’ll be able to create a beautiful, easy to use store that attracts customers and drives sales. If you need any further advice or help creating your new store, don’t hesitate to reach out to us at letstalk@usual.ie. We're here to help you succeed!