The Power of Using Templates as a Professional Squarespace Designer
In our recent webinar, SquareKicker co-founders Nick and Hannah explored a game-changing approach for the professional web design community: using templates as a strategic business tool. While professional designers on platforms like WordPress, Shopify, and Webflow have benefited from robust template ecosystems for years, this approach is still relatively new in the Squarespace community. Our discussion challenged common misconceptions and offered practical insights on how templates can help Squarespace designers enjoy the same advantages as designers on other platforms in order to scale their businesses and deliver exceptional results for clients.
Website Templates as Strategic Tools
Many professional designers feel a sense of impostor syndrome when considering templates, worrying that using pre-designed foundations somehow diminishes their value or expertise. However, as Nick shared from his personal journey as a designer, this perspective often stems from insecurity rather than client expectations.
"Templates aren't a shortcut—they're a strategic tool for scaling your business," Hannah emphasized during the webinar. This reframing shifts the conversation from viewing templates as a compromise to seeing them as a powerful asset in a designer's toolkit.
Meeting Client Expectations
An important insight from the webinar was about client priorities. Clients typically care about three things:
The final outcome and how it serves their business
The cost of the project
The timeline for completion
What they’re less likely to care about is whether you started with a blank canvas or a template. As Nick pointed out, "Clients don't care about your impostor syndrome—they care about the output and the work you're doing."
Drawing from her experience as a wedding dress designer, Hannah explained how many clients found it hard to picture the final dress just from sketches, which sometimes led to disappointment. The same thing happens with websites—clients often struggle to visualize the end result from abstract discussions or wireframes. Templates offer a clear starting point, making it easier for them to see and understand what they're getting.
Transparency with clients is key. Rather than hiding template usage, presenting it as a strategic advantage can actually strengthen client relationships:
Templates allow you to deliver a more comprehensive solution within budget
They enable you to focus more time on strategic elements that directly impact business results
Starting with proven design patterns reduces the risk of usability issues
The client gets more value because you're investing your expertise in customization rather than building standard components
This approach aligns with what Nick described during the webinar about his own client interactions: showing clients template options and letting them be part of the selection process often increases their engagement and satisfaction with the final result.
Get a free Guide to Presenting Templates to Your Clients including customizable scripts.
SquareKicker Templates: A New Ecosystem
SquareKicker templates go beyond a simple design file—they are part of a fully integrated ecosystem built to streamline the entire template experience for designers and clients alike. Unlike traditional templates that require manual installation or code adjustments, SquareKicker templates install directly into Squarespace with just a few clicks. This system ensures a seamless purchase, installation, and customization process, offering professional designers a powerful way to scale their businesses while maintaining creative control. Key advantages include:
Seamless Installation: Templates install directly into Squarespace's native environment with no complex code management required
Fully Customizable: Every element can be customized to match client branding
Natural Integration: Template sections work alongside standard Squarespace sections for maximum flexibility
Client-Friendly: Clients can easily manage their site after handoff without technical knowledge
Automatic Updates: Templates receive updates when Squarespace changes, eliminating maintenance headaches
3 Business Benefits for Designers using Squarespace Templates
Using templates strategically offers several powerful business advantages:
1. Scaling Your Business
Templates allow designers to take on more clients by reducing the initial design phase while still delivering custom results. This approach can be particularly valuable for growing agencies looking to standardize starting points while maintaining quality.
2. Client Presentation Advantage
Templates provide impressive starting points to show clients during the proposal phase, helping designers win more projects. This addresses the visualization challenge many clients face when trying to understand abstract design concepts.
3. Workflow Optimization
Starting with a strong foundation that already includes advanced features allows designers to focus on customization and client-specific elements rather than rebuilding standard components.
Addressing Common Concerns
Have you ever felt one of these concerns about using Templates? The webinar tackled several common objections head-on:
"Templates feel like cheating" This concern typically stems from designer insecurity rather than client perception. The value isn't just in creating something from scratch but in applying professional expertise to transform a foundation into something unique.
"Clients won't pay for template-based design" Clients hire designers for their expertise, time, and project management—not just their ability to build from scratch. Most clients value outcomes over process and appreciate the cost efficiency templates can provide.
"Templates won't be custom enough" The demonstration clearly showed how dramatically templates can be transformed with customization, proving that the starting point doesn't determine the uniqueness of the final product.
Final Thoughts
As the Squarespace ecosystem continues to evolve, templates represent a powerful opportunity for professional designers to enhance their service offerings, improve client outcomes, and scale their businesses. By embracing templates as strategic tools rather than shortcuts, designers can focus more energy on the elements that truly set their work apart.
Using templates as a professional tool isn’t a new concept. Designers on platforms like WordPress and Shopify have been doing it for years to streamline their workflow and scale their businesses. Now, Squarespace designers can tap into the same benefits without compromising quality or creativity. Ready to work smarter? Explore SquareKicker’s premium templates and take your designs to the next level.
Start using templates as a strategic tool in your business today!
