The Big Squarespace Decision: BYO Squarespace Website from a Template, or Hire a Designer?

Why This Matters

It’s rare to hear of anyone launching a new business or growing an established one these days without at least a passing nod to a website. Love it or loathe it, your digital front door is where most people get their first impression, often before you’ve had a chance to say “hello.” Get this right, and you’re laying a smooth path to credibility, customer engagement, and smoother sales. Get it wrong, and you might find yourself answering awkward questions like, “Are you still in business?” or “Is this website safe to use?”

People often overlook how much time and effort goes into launching a website, and it’s usually more complex than expected. Website builders such as Squarespace promise a shortcut, but the real stumbling block arrives once you create an account: should you take full control and build your site from a template, or hand things over to people who know their pixels from their padding?

The stakes for this decision are high. If you choose the wrong path, you risk wasted weekends, a tired-looking website, or unnecessary spending on work you could have handled yourself. Make the right call and you'll be proud to share your website. After years in the web design trenches, I can tell you that the best choice depends on your unique needs. What matters is making an informed decision with both eyes open.

Common Pitfalls

You’re not alone if you find the choice overwhelming. In fact, most people slip into the same potholes, regardless of their industry or level of digital savvy:

• Believing DIY is always cheaper (and not counting your time or the cost of rookie mistakes).
• Thinking that hiring a designer means giving up all creative control.
• Underestimating the learning curve required to make a template look unique and professional.
• Assuming a one-size-fits-all approach will tick every box, from SEO to accessibility.
• Failing to factor in ongoing website edits and updates once the initial build is “done”.

The overly optimistic person who starts planning a one-week install often ends up with a “coming soon” holding page that gets ignored for months. My job here is to help you dodge those potholes with a clear, step-by-step remedy.

Step-by-Step Fix

Let's break down the three main routes: building your Squarespace site yourself using a template (DIY), co-building through a guided workshop, or investing in a fully custom build with expert support. Stick with me as I walk you through each approach, with real guidance and practical pointers gleaned from many years (and the odd coffee-fuelled late night).

Step 1: Get Honest About Your Starting Point

Before you sign up for anything, it pays to take stock. What is your real working knowledge of design, tech, and how much time you can spare? Do a quick self-assessment:

• Are you comfortable with new software and self-learning?
• Do you enjoy design and branding, or does it fill you with dread?
• What’s your real deadline, and will you actually stick to it?
• Do you have someone in your business (a partner, trusted friend, very patient teenager) who could sanity-check your work?

Once you’ve got a proper sense of where you’re at, you’ll know if the DIY option is within reach or whether it would be too challenging.

Step 2: Explore Your DIY Options (Template Route)

If you’re up for some hands-on work and you’ve ticked the “comfortable experimenting” box, Squarespace’s template system is genuinely forgiving. Templates like those in the Pixelhaze Store are built to help you get started quickly. Think IKEA flat pack, but with less chance of finding leftover screws.

• Pick a template that suits your industry and feel. Most beginners get the best results when they prioritise clarity and structure over flashy animations.
• Set aside a chunk of time for learning the ropes. You’ll want to get friendly with Squarespace’s design settings, page layouts, and ecommerce modules if you plan to sell online.
• Customise core areas: logo, font, colour scheme, navigation menu, and essential business information.
• Build out essential pages: Home, About, Services (or Products), Contact.

Expect teething problems, especially around image sizing and mobile layouts. Keep things uncluttered and focus on clear information rather than endlessly adjusting design tweaks.

Step 3: Upgrade to a Guided Workshop (If DIY Feels Too Much)

Maybe you like having skin in the game but want the safety net of someone talking you through it. This is where a good workshop pays dividends. At Pixelhaze, our flagship Workshops take the guesswork out of the process, walking you through:

• Brand clarity and project brief
• Template selection aligned with your needs (no more endless scrolling)
• Setting up navigation, integrating email opt-ins, and sorting out basic analytics
• Practical design do’s and don’ts: keeping visual hierarchy logical, maintaining consistency, and building trust across your pages
• Handover and essential training so you don’t panic when a button moves or a page vanishes

You’ll learn the logic behind certain layouts, how accessibility works, and what to prioritise if time is tight. The workshop provides education, professional polish, and enough momentum to keep moving forward.

Step 4: The Bespoke Route – When Only Custom Will Do

Not every website can be built effectively with a template, regardless of how much Squarespace promotes it. If your business needs advanced integrations, standout branding, or you’re working in a highly competitive industry, consider going “full custom” with an expert agency package.

The bespoke route covers:

• Detailed discovery workshops (working out technical requirements, integrations, and styling before a single page is built)
• Professional design and copywriting (no more staring at blinking cursors, wondering how to make “About Us” not sound wooden)
• Custom code or advanced plugin use (booking systems, CRMs, complex forms)
• Ongoing support and maintenance so your site stays updated and secure long after launch

This approach involves a higher investment but results in a website built for your processes and your industry, not just another cookie-cutter design with a new look.

Step 5: Build In Ongoing Support (Whichever Route You Take)

A new website is never truly “finished.” Updates crop up, business needs change, and at some point you’ll want to add something new. Don’t saddle yourself with a site you don’t know how to keep in shape.

• For DIY: Schedule time every month to review your analytics, check for broken links, and refine content.
• For Workshop/Bespoke: Make sure your package covers a support window (e.g. 3–6 months of on-call help), or know where you can get reliable ad hoc assistance.
• Keep an archive of branding assets, policy templates, and key images so you’re never hunting them down in a panic.
• Block off time for periodic site audits: check for accessibility, SEO tweaks, speed improvements, and fresh content ideas.

What Most People Miss

The most common oversight is not a missing design feature or fancy integration. The real issue is mindset. The people who get the best results from their new Squarespace site do three things:

1. They accept that every route involves learning, ongoing tweaks, and the occasional mistake. Instead of aiming for perfection, they focus on getting the essentials right and learning as they go.
2. They ask for help early, before small blockers turn into show-stoppers. This applies whether you’re building entirely alone or working with a team.
3. They see their website as a tool for ongoing growth instead of a finished product.

There’s no quiz at the end, no single way to approach these routes. The important thing is to have a clear vision and avoid unpleasant surprises.

Jargon Buster

• DIY (Do It Yourself): Rolling up your sleeves and building your website from scratch, typically using a starter template plus your own research.
• Template: A pre-built design you can customise to suit your branding, rather than designing from scratch.
• Workshop Route: A structured guided course, often with live sessions and expert check-ins, to walk you through the build.
• Bespoke or “The Works”: A fully personalised site built by professionals, involving design, content, integrations, and ongoing support.
• Responsive Design: Ensures your website looks good on different devices, especially mobiles and tablets.
• SEO (Search Engine Optimisation): The approach that helps your website appear higher in search results.
• Navigation: The menus and links that guide visitors around your website.
• Analytics: Data about who visits your website and what they do. This information helps you understand what’s working and what isn’t.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Can I really build my own website with no experience?
A: For the essentials, yes, assuming you have patience and a willingness to learn. Squarespace is built for non-techies, but prepare yourself for occasional frustration and a reasonable learning curve.

Q: Will my site look like everyone else’s if I use a template?
A: Only if you leave it untouched. With thought and effort (and using your own imagery, copy, and branding tweaks), templates can be made to feel completely unique. Avoid the temptation of changing everything except the actual content. Instead, focus on clarity and usability.

Q: Is it worth paying for a pro?
A: If you have more money than time (or sanity), bringing in a designer or agency is a smart move. It frees you to focus on running your business, and you’re spared the late-night tech puzzles. Measure the cost in both cash and the opportunity cost of your own time.

Q: How long does it take to go live?
A: DIY builds vary widely. A simple setup could take a weekend, but most people need several weeks. Workshop builds are usually 2–4 weeks. Fully bespoke projects average 1–3 months, depending on complexity.

Q: What if I want to switch options halfway through?
A: This is fairly common. Starting DIY doesn’t lock you in. You can hire help to finish or polish your work, or join a workshop mid-way. Just keep backups and document what you’ve built.

Q: Where should I look for inspiration?
A: The Pixelhaze Store is a solid start for templates. Browse competitor sites, jot down what you like and dislike, and always look at real examples on both mobile and desktop.

The Bigger Picture

Getting your website project right gives you a platform that scales with your needs. Instead of feeling embarrassed when someone asks to see your site, you can move forward with confidence and credibility as well as free up time for what actually matters. Streamlining your decision at the beginning by choosing the right route, services, or workshop saves you headaches now and also protects your budget and reputation in the long run.

Some believe a website should launch and then be left alone to gather dust. In reality, every site I’ve seen perform well is reviewed regularly, updated smartly, and has an owner or team who understands not just what’s on it, but why.

Whether your next step is picking out a template with a flask of coffee, booking a workshop with people who speak plain English, or going all-in on a custom agency build, the important thing is to get started. The worst website decisions come from people who get stuck overthinking and never move forward.

Wrap-Up

If you’re still on the fence, that’s absolutely normal. It’s common to feel tempted to “just check one more review” or wait for inspiration to strike. The best time to get started is now; the next best is tomorrow with a mug of tea and a clear plan. Squarespace gives you every technical tool you need. Your job is to choose the route that matches your strengths and helps close your skill gaps.

Want more helpful systems like this? Join Pixelhaze Academy for free at https://www.pixelhaze.academy/membership.