Thinking About Starting a Website? Learn to Build a Squarespace Website Without Learning a Line of Code

Squarespace is a versatile, intuitive platform you can use to build any type of website, from a for-fun hobby blog to an e-commerce store, without code. But being code-free doesn’t mean Squarespace is without any learning curve at all -- you’ll need to pick a domain, design your site and create your core pages. I’ll walk you through all of the basics, from choosing a domain to creating your first pieces of content. How to build a Squarespace website: From choosing a domain to creating your first content Squarespace homepage Choose a domain Your domain is the address people use to access your website (for example, our domain is cnet.com ). It’s often the first thing they see about your site, and it’s the tool they’ll use to get back, so it’s important to choose the right one. Specifically, you want a domain that is: Relevant: Your domain should relate to your site’s topic in some way, ideally through the use of popular keywords. For example, if you’re building a photography portfolio, you might want to include the word “photos” or “photography” in your domain. This helps people connect your domain to what your site is about, making them more likely to remember it. Short: Shorter domain names may be easier to remember. They’re also easier to fit into recommendations on social media platforms with character limits. So, sticking with the photography example, it might be wiser to use “photos” than “photography.” Easy to spell and say: Simple pronunciation and spelling -- often achieved through the use of common words -- makes it easier for people to talk about your site, both in real life and online. Connected to the right domain extension: .com is the most trusted and memorable domain extension, making it the best option for most websites. The only exception is when you want a specific extension to signal what your site is about (like a .org domain for a nonprofit) or what audience it serves (like a .ca domain for a business only working with Canadians). You can get high-quality domain suggestions -- and find out if they’re available right away -- from a domain name generator like DomainWheel . Once selected, you can either register a domain with your Squarespace plan (getting it for free for the first year) or buy it separately from a domain registrar . I generally prefer using a domain registrar, as this often saves you more money in the long run. Select a Squarespace plan Squarespace requires you to sign up for a free trial and set up the basics of your site before purchasing a plan , but it’s still important to know what you’re willing to spend -- and what you need from your hosting -- upfront. Squarespace’s Basic plan costs $16 a month for unlimited storage and bandwidth, plus full access to the website builder. Accordingly, Basic is excellent for building for-fun blogs, professional portfolios and service-based businesses. You’ll also get e-commerce features, which can be helpful...

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