Creating your own website doesn't have to mean hiring a web designer or spending weeks learning how to code. With Squarespace and a free website template, you can create a professional-looking website that reflects your brand, showcases what you offer and gives potential customers somewhere to find you online.
Whether you're starting a photography business, launching a coaching service, setting up an online shop or building your personal brand, a website template gives you a starting point without having to design everything from scratch.
In this guide, we'll walk you through how to create a Squarespace website using a free template, from choosing the right design to customising your pages and getting ready to launch.
1. Choose a free Squarespace website template
The first step is finding a template that suits your business and the type of website you want to create.
A website template is a pre-designed website layout that you can customise with your own branding, images and content. Instead of starting with a blank page, you'll have a structure to work from.
At Template Twist, we offer a collection of free Squarespace website templates designed for different businesses and industries.
You can explore templates for:
Photographers - showcase your portfolio, services and client enquiries.
Coaches - introduce your programmes, share testimonials and encourage bookings.
Virtual assistants - explain your services, packages and how clients can work with you.
Online stores - display your products and create a branded shopping experience.
When choosing your template, think about more than just the colours and images. Look at the overall layout, the pages included and how easily visitors can find the information they need.
Explore our free Squarespace templates to find a design that suits your business.
2. Get your free Squarespace template
Once you've found a design you like, the next step is getting it into your Squarespace account.
When you choose a free template from Template Twist, you'll complete the checkout process without paying for the template itself.
After your order, your template will be added to your Squarespace account as a new trial website. Your invitation will be sent within 24 hours.
You don't need an existing paid Squarespace subscription to get started.
Important: The template itself is free, but Squarespace is a paid website platform. You'll need an eligible Squarespace subscription when you're ready to publish your website.
This means you can explore the design, experiment with your branding and start building your website before committing to a paid plan.
3. Customise your website's colours and fonts
One of the easiest ways to make a Squarespace template feel like your own is to update its colours and typography.
Your website should reflect your business rather than looking exactly like the original demo.
Update your brand colours
Squarespace allows you to create colour palettes and apply them throughout your website.
Start with a small selection of colours:
A primary colour that represents your brand.
A secondary colour to complement it.
A neutral background colour.
An accent colour for buttons or important details.
Try to keep your colour choices consistent across your website. Using too many different colours can make a design feel disconnected.
Choose your fonts
Typography plays a big role in how your website looks and feels.
For example, a modern sans-serif font can create a clean, contemporary appearance, while a serif heading font can give a brand a more editorial feel.
Squarespace's Site Styles settings allow you to update your website's fonts without needing to edit code.
Tip: Prioritise readability. Your website might look beautiful, but visitors still need to be able to read your headings, descriptions and buttons comfortably.
4. Replace the demo images with your own
Your images are one of the most important parts of your website's visual identity.
Most website templates include example photography to demonstrate how the finished website could look.
Replace these images with photographs that represent your business, services or products.
For example:
A photographer might feature their best portfolio images.
A coach could include professional brand photographs.
A virtual assistant might use workspace photography and personal headshots.
An online store should use clear, consistent product photographs.
Where possible, use your own high-quality images rather than relying entirely on generic stock photography.
Remember to add descriptive alt text to meaningful images. This improves accessibility and helps search engines understand what your images show.
5. Add your website content
Once you've updated the visual design, it's time to replace the example text with information about your business.
You don't need to write long paragraphs for every section. Clear, helpful content is often more effective than complicated descriptions.
Your homepage
Your homepage should quickly explain:
What your business does.
Who your products or services are for.
Why someone should choose you.
What visitors should do next.
Include a clear call to action, such as View My Services, Explore My Portfolio or Shop the Collection.
Your About page
Use your About page to introduce yourself or your business.
You could share your background, experience, values and what makes your approach different.
Try to focus on the information that will help potential customers feel confident about working with you.
Your services or products
If you're a service provider, explain what you offer and what customers can expect.
If you're selling products, organise them into clear categories and include useful descriptions, images and pricing.
Your contact page
Make it easy for visitors to get in touch.
Depending on your business, you might include a contact form, email address, booking link or social media profiles.
6. Make your Squarespace website mobile-friendly
More people browse websites on mobile devices, so it's important to check how your design looks on smaller screens.
Squarespace 7.1 includes mobile editing features that allow you to adjust how content appears on different screen sizes.
Before launching, check that:
Text is easy to read without zooming.
Buttons are large enough to tap comfortably.
Images aren't awkwardly cropped.
Sections appear in a logical order.
Navigation is straightforward.
Forms are easy to complete.
Don't assume that a website looks perfect on mobile simply because it looks good on a desktop.
Take time to preview and test your pages on different devices.
7. Set up your basic website SEO
Search engine optimisation (SEO) helps search engines understand your website and can improve its chances of appearing in relevant search results.
You don't need to become an SEO expert before launching, but there are a few useful things to get right.
Write descriptive page titles
Each page should have a clear title that describes its content.
For example, instead of simply using Services, a photographer might use Wedding Photography Services in Kent.
Add SEO descriptions
Write a short, informative description for each important page.
This gives search engines additional context and may be used as the description shown in search results.
Use clear headings
Organise your content with headings that explain what each section is about.
Your main page heading should clearly describe the page, while smaller headings can introduce individual topics.
Add internal links
Link between relevant pages on your website.
For example, your homepage could link to your services, portfolio and contact page.
Internal links help visitors navigate and make it easier for search engines to discover your content.
Optimise your images
Use descriptive filenames where practical, compress large images and add useful alt text to meaningful images.
These small improvements can contribute to a more accessible, faster and easier-to-understand website.
8. Connect your domain and launch your website
Once you're happy with your website, it's time to get ready for launch.
You'll need to choose a Squarespace subscription that supports the features you want to use.
You'll also need a domain name, which is the web address visitors use to find your website.
If you purchase an eligible annual Squarespace plan through a qualifying Template Twist template, you can receive 25% off your first year, subject to the offer's terms.
Before publishing, complete a final website check:
Test your navigation and buttons.
Check your contact forms.
Proofread your content.
Review your mobile layouts.
Confirm your SEO settings.
Make sure your domain is connected correctly.
Check that your website is publicly accessible.
Once everything is ready, you can launch your website and start sharing it with your audience.
Frequently asked questions
Can I create a Squarespace website for free?
You can start building a Squarespace website using a trial without immediately purchasing a subscription. Template Twist also offers free website templates. However, Squarespace requires a paid plan to publish and maintain a live website.
Do I need coding experience to use a Squarespace template?
No. Squarespace includes visual editing tools that allow you to update text, images, colours and layouts without writing code. Some advanced customisations may require CSS or JavaScript, but everyday website editing generally doesn't.
Can I customise a free Squarespace template?
Yes. You can replace the demo content with your own branding, photography, text and business information. You can also adapt the layout to suit your needs.
Can I use a Squarespace template for an online store?
Yes. Squarespace supports online selling, including physical and digital products, depending on your subscription and the features available on your plan.
How long does it take to build a Squarespace website?
It depends on the number of pages, how much content you need to prepare and how extensively you customise the design. A simple website may take a few days, while a larger website can take longer.
Will my Squarespace website appear on Google?
Squarespace websites can appear in Google search results, provided they're publicly accessible and eligible for indexing. However, indexing and rankings aren't guaranteed. Useful content, good website structure and appropriate SEO settings can help search engines discover and understand your pages.
Ready to create your own Squarespace website?
You don't need to start from scratch to build a website that looks professional and feels like your brand.
With a free Squarespace template, you can focus on adding your own content, refining your design and creating a website that supports your business.
Explore our collection of free Squarespace website templates and find a design you can make your own.