The learning curve for some Content Management Systems (CMS) can be steep, frustrating, and overwhelming to a business owner. I recommend either Squarespace or Wix. Both are all-in-one CMS’ of choice because their systems are streamlined and straightforward for the tasks you could take on once we build the website. In addition, these flexible and feature-rich platforms are one of the most powerful, cost-effective solutions out there to get your business on the track toward success.

Squarespace and Wix have eCommerce plans available. This is great because you can sell your goods online right out of the gate or scale up once you’re ready to sell online. Not only can you sell products and services, but gift cards too. Nonprofits benefit as well, as they have the chance to take donations or integrate third-party plugins like DonorPerfect.

Need a members-only area? You can build a Membership site to sell exclusive content or courses too!

Knowing that all the templates are compatible with these features is great for any business that wants to scale up when they're ready. Fear not if you're moving products from Big Cartel, Etsy, or Shopify; Squarespace and Wix can accommodate that too.

There are significant differences between the platforms, like Mac or PC style differences. They are both very robust in their offerings, with the main difference being how they operate. Squarespace seems "cleaner" and more streamlined with a less steep learning curve. On the other hand, Wix can be a little confusing and may overwhelm some users, but some will be comforted by all the options with Wix because it feels like you're getting a lot. Both give you almost everything you would need. I've drawn some comparisons below, but there's a host of information and comparison articles to further your research. Important: When researching, ensure the article includes Squarespaces new editor, Fluid Engine.

For a full breakdown and comparison view: Squarespace Pricing or Wix Pricing

- Squarespace and Wix are widely used and broadly supported. Their combined market share is over 50%, with Wix in the lead.

- Both provide hosting, a domain, a content management system (CMS)

- There's a large selection of templates on both platforms, but Squarespace edges out Wix for beautifully designed templates. Having said that, everything is customizable and able to sit in its own lane.

- Squarespace has a structured editor, while Wix is unstructured. What does this mean? Squarespace's drag-and-drop Fluid Engine editor snaps blocks like text, buttons, images, etc., to a grid system. This newly released editor gives more flexibility than their Layout Editor and is an upgrade for the platform. This heats up the competition with Wix, whose unstructured editor allows you to drag and drop anywhere on the page.

- Who's Editor is better? I still give the edge to Squarespace. Why? Squarespace lets me add CSS code to fine-tune a website's design. I can better accommodate any page to the different sizes of a device's viewport, or for creativity's sake, I can add fun tricks I know that don't exist through the platform interface. Wix does not allow for this, and the freedom to do anything can lead to frustrating problems.

- Both are feature-rich, allowing you to add just about anything you need, but Wix has more variety of options within each core feature. However, Squarespace is gaining ground on this, and generally, they've figured out that balance where they don't leave you longing for more or overwhelmed with options. Generally, Squarespace has thought more about the psychology of their user interface and the end user interfacing with a built website. Therefore, the core feature options will be manageable for the website owner and the person interfacing with the website.

- Along with the core building blocks of websites, both offer eCommerce, email marketing, booking systems, member areas, blogs, and more.

- Squarespace offers Award-winning 24/7 customer support with email replies within an hour. Live chat is available from 4am to 8pm EST, Monday through Friday. Wix also has 24/7 customer support. You have several options with them: use their chatbot, submit a ticket, or request a callback. The ability to speak to a living, breathing human depends on your plan. Of course, you always have the option to delegate any issues to me, also a living, breathing human.

- Both are actively maintained for functionality and security, which makes you feel like you have your own IT department.

- Squarespace Commerce and Wix Stores' cart systems have no limit on the total number of products you wish to sell on your site. However, that's where the similarities end. On Squarespace, there are limits to the number of products you can have on each store page. Version 7.1 can have up to 10,000 products, and version 7.0 is limited to 200. In addition, each product can have up to 250 variants, like size, color, and the like. Wix allows for 1,000 variants per product. Wix also provides 6 product options per product, and each option can have up to 100 choices.

- Squarespace and Wix also allow you to offer gift certificates, receive donations, sell digital products, collect info with forms, process payments, charge tax, calculate shipping, and more.

- SEO is built into the system for users to initiate and maintain through their system. In that vein, you can see how well your efforts are going with access to analytics on both platforms and the ability to connect Google Analytics.

Ticket + event management, taking hotel reservations, and their Wix Fit for Fitness Pros.

Building a website can be daunting, especially when establishing a new site. I will help you overcome the initial hurdles of setting up, designing, architecting, and implementing your new website to ensure you achieve the best possible results and take advantage of all available features.

Once I complete the website, clients usually only need to focus on the blog and or shop portion of the system, cutting the learning curve considerably. Non-technical users can maintain their websites. As you become more familiar with the admin interface, you can tackle site maintenance tasks independently, allowing you to spend your budget more effectively on strategic changes rather than routine maintenance. However, if you don't have the time, I offer services to help with this on an 'as needed' or 'recurring basis.'

We start on Zoom or with a phone call. If we both feel we’re the right fit, I will write a Proposal outlining the Scope of Work. Once accepted, you will sign the contract and pay a retainer to secure my services.

After the new client intake process is completed, we will have a project kickoff meeting where we will start getting into the details of your business. Some owners view this as having an active partner in their business, which they find comforting during what can feel like an exciting, but overwhelming time. Most small business owners start one business in their lifetime; I have helped numerous business owners start this journey and can help you too. I am a coach as much as I am a designer and developer, so tell me everything. You may be surprised at the ways I can help your business.

Next up, discovery and asset collection. This is where you share whatever you have in terms of photos, logos, documents, graphics, Creative briefs, a business plan, an Annual Report (nonprofit), text, quotes, videos, news links, relevant site links, food menus, brochures, forms, and or PDFs. Then I begin constructing the website’s structural outline of pages while guiding the client or copywriter to deliver the written content.

I continue to design, develop, place content and provide basic SEO. Once this is complete for a final rough draft of the desktop version, I review the website with you for final revisions & you sign off that the site is ready to go. After that, I write the final responsive CSS styling code for mobile devices.

The final stretch involves us both conducting a quality check, and then I launch the website. That’s when the real fun begins! Your business is online, and you can pat yourself on the back with a little celebratory bubbly because it’s a big deal and a big accomplishment!

Responsive web design is today's gold standard and the behind-the-scenes magic that gives your website the flexibility and fluidity to appropriately resize itself for whatever device you view the site with.

Much like when water is poured into different containers, the water takes the shape of the container it's in; content is the "water" of a website that can resize and adjust to fit an iPad, mobile phone, laptop, or desktop screen.

People access your site from multiple platforms, it's essential to have a website that meets your consumers' viewing needs, or they'll move on to the next business in their search results. I can help you retain potential customers with a website that meets today's standard of best practices.

It’s an eye-catching way to provide potential and existing customers with the main information about your business. Essentially, the site aims to communicate straightforward essential information about your business, exactly like the content-driven printed brochures do. In fact, the Team Jones website was built from their old brochure. If you’d like to learn more about it, read the case study.

Yes. Typically, this includes between $250 and $500 per month depending on the size of the project.

I do, but I also take checks and receive bank transfers.

Squarespace provides designations to people that have demonstrated that they are experienced professionals. I get special access to tools, perks, resources, training, and product updates to provide excellent service and support to my clients.

Home, About, Services, Contact.

Blog, FAQ, Pricing, Case Studies, Testimonials, Portfolio.

Whether you need a blog or not depends on your marketing strategy, the type of business you are, whether you have a budget for advertising that allows you to bypass this, whether you like to write or can afford a copywriter, and if you have time.

Yes. At a minimum, you should connect your website to Google Analytics. Connecting will help your site gain trust with the Google search engine.

Other services that fit under the SEO umbrella include a Google Business Profile (formally known as Google My Business), Bing Places for Business, Google Ads, getting listed on Google and Bing Maps, Yelp, Nextdoor, and whatever directory you need.

I can set you up on the right path to success, helping you fuel organic growth or help you transition to more specialized services like Hubspot with the foundation laid correctly right from the beginning.

Contact me!