- Choosing the Right Plan & Template
- Setting Up Your Squarespace Store
- Adding Products to Your Website
- Configuring Payment & Checkout
- Setting Up Shipping & Taxes
- Customizing Product Pages
- Managing Inventory Effectively
- Optimizing Your Store for SEO
- Useful Resources & Guides
- Final Thoughts & Next Steps
Looking to start an online business? Squarespace is a top choice for entrepreneurs who want a visually stunning and easy-to-manage eCommerce platform. With built-in tools for product management, payments, and marketing, Squarespace allows you to create a seamless shopping experience for customers. This guide will take you through every step of selling on Squarespace, from choosing the right plan to optimizing your store for maximum sales.
Whether you're setting up a small handmade shop or a large online business, understanding Squarespace's eCommerce features will help you launch and scale successfully. Let’s dive into the essential steps to build a high-converting online store.
Choosing the Right Squarespace Plan and Template for eCommerce
Before you start adding products and setting up your store, you need a Squarespace plan that supports online selling. Not all plans include eCommerce features, so it's crucial to choose the right one based on your business goals.
- Business Plan: Allows selling but charges a 3% transaction fee per sale.
- Commerce Basic: Removes transaction fees and adds essential eCommerce tools.
- Commerce Advanced: Includes advanced features like abandoned cart recovery and real-time carrier shipping.
Next, selecting the right template is just as important. While all Squarespace templates are customizable, certain ones are designed specifically for eCommerce. Look for templates that offer clean product pages, strong call-to-action buttons, and mobile-friendly designs.
Setting Up Your Squarespace eCommerce Foundation
Now that you’ve selected a plan and template, it’s time to configure the foundational settings of your store. This step ensures that your store is functional, organized, and ready for customers.
- Go to Commerce → Setup in your Squarespace dashboard.
- Enter your store name, business address, and preferred currency.
- Set up basic configurations, including inventory tracking and order notifications.
Customizing your store’s settings at this stage will save time later when you start selling. Setting up automated email notifications for order confirmations and shipping updates can also improve customer experience.
Adding Products to Your Squarespace Website
Your products are the core of your online store, so listing them properly is essential for conversions. Squarespace makes it simple to add and manage products, but optimizing your listings can make a big difference in sales.
- Navigate to Commerce → Inventory and click “Add Product.”
- Fill in product details: name, description, price, and SKU.
- Upload high-quality images and ensure they are optimized for fast loading.
- Add product variations (size, color, etc.) if applicable.
- Enable inventory tracking to prevent overselling.
Configuring Payment Processing
To start selling, you need to set up a payment gateway. Squarespace integrates with Stripe and PayPal, allowing you to accept credit cards, Apple Pay, and other digital payment methods.
- Go to Commerce → Payments and connect your preferred gateway.
- Ensure you select the correct currency and region for accurate transactions.
- Test transactions before launching your store to verify everything works smoothly.
Mastering Squarespace Shipping and Tax Settings
Shipping and taxes are critical parts of your store setup, as they impact pricing and customer experience. Squarespace allows you to configure different shipping methods and apply automated tax calculations.
- Go to Commerce → Shipping and set up flat-rate, weight-based, or real-time carrier-calculated shipping.
- Enable free shipping for orders over a certain amount to boost sales.
- Under Commerce → Taxes, configure tax rates or enable automatic tax calculations.
Customizing Product Pages and Checkout
A seamless and visually appealing shopping experience increases conversion rates. Squarespace’s editor allows you to customize product pages and checkout to improve usability.
- Use the drag-and-drop editor to adjust product page layouts.
- Enable express checkout to reduce cart abandonment.
- Highlight customer reviews and testimonials for social proof.
Managing Inventory on Squarespace
Inventory management helps prevent overselling and stockouts. Squarespace allows you to track product availability and set up stock alerts.
- Enable automatic inventory tracking for each product.
- Set up low-stock notifications to restock in time.
- Mark out-of-stock items with "back in stock soon" messages to retain potential buyers.
Optimizing Your Squarespace Store for SEO
SEO is key to driving organic traffic to your store. Squarespace includes built-in tools to help improve search visibility.
- Use descriptive product titles and keyword-rich descriptions.
- Optimize images with alt text to improve accessibility and ranking.
- Ensure your store loads quickly and is mobile-friendly.
Utilizing Squarespace Marketing Tools for Online Sales
Squarespace offers various marketing features to help boost sales. From email campaigns to social media integration, these tools allow you to reach more customers.
- Use Squarespace Email Campaigns to engage past buyers with promotions.
- Connect social media accounts to promote products on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest.
- Leverage discount codes and pop-ups to encourage conversions.
Useful Links
Adding Products to Your Store – Learn how to add and configure different types of products, including physical goods, digital downloads, and services.
Setting Up Shipping Rates – Guide on how to configure shipping methods, including flat-rate, weight-based, and carrier-calculated options.
90+ Top Plugins to Achieve Your Goals with Squarespace!
Elfsight created dozens of useful plugins to make your website more attractive and boost its performance in so many ways. Try these no-code solutions for free on Squarespace!
Conclusion
Selling products on Squarespace is simple when you follow the right steps. By setting up your store correctly, optimizing for SEO, and leveraging marketing tools, you can build a profitable online business. Remember to continuously analyze performance, update your store, and improve customer experience for long-term success.