Squarespace Website Planning and Wireframing Basics

Learning Objectives

By the end of this chapter, you'll be able to:

1. Plan your Squarespace website structure effectively
2. Create simple wireframes to guide your design process
3. Build a navigation structure that works for your users
4. Organise your content before you start building

Introduction

Building a website without planning is like trying to build a house without blueprints. You might get somewhere, but it won't be pretty.

This chapter covers the essential first steps of website planning and wireframing specifically for Squarespace. We'll walk through how to organise your ideas, structure your content, and create a roadmap for your site before you touch a single design element.

Good planning saves you hours of frustration later and helps you create a website that actually works for your visitors.

Lessons

Planning Your Website Structure

Before you open Squarespace, you need to know what you're building.

Step 1: Define your website's purpose

Write down exactly what your website needs to do. Are you selling products? Showcasing your work? Sharing information? Be specific.

Step 2: List your essential pages

Most websites need these core pages:

• Homepage
• About page
• Contact page
• Your main content pages (services, products, blog, etc.)

Step 3: Organise your content

Group related content together. If you're a photographer, you might have separate galleries for weddings, portraits, and landscapes. If you run a business, you might group services by type.

Step 4: Create a content inventory

Make a list of everything you need for each page:

• Text content
• Images
• Videos
• Contact details
• Any other media

Keep all your content in one folder on your computer. This saves time when you're actually building the site.

Creating Your First Wireframe

A wireframe is a simple sketch of your webpage layout. No colours, no fancy fonts – just boxes showing where things go.

Step 1: Start with your homepage

Draw a rectangle for your page. Add boxes for:

• Header (logo and navigation)
• Main content area
• Footer

Step 2: Add your content blocks

Sketch where you want your key elements:

• Hero section (the big banner at the top)
• Introduction text
• Main call-to-action button
• Any other important sections

Step 3: Keep it simple

Don't worry about making it perfect. Use basic shapes and simple labels. The goal is to plan your layout, not create a work of art.

You can sketch on paper or use simple tools like Balsamiq, Figma, or even PowerPoint. The medium doesn't matter – the thinking does.

Building Navigation That Works

Your navigation is how people move around your website. Get it wrong and visitors will leave.

Step 1: List your main pages

Look at your content groups from the planning stage. These typically become your main navigation items.

Step 2: Keep it simple

Aim for 5-7 main navigation items maximum. If you have more, consider grouping some pages together or using dropdown menus sparingly.

Step 3: Use clear labels

"Services" is better than "What We Do". "About" is better than "Our Story". Use words your visitors would use, not clever marketing speak.

Step 4: Think mobile-first

Your navigation needs to work on phones. Test your navigation labels – are they short enough for mobile screens?

Step 5: Plan your page hierarchy

Some pages are more important than others. Put your most important pages in the main navigation. Less important pages can go in the footer or as subpages.

Practice

Time to put this into action:

1. Write down your website's main purpose in one sentence
2. List all the pages you need
3. Group related pages together
4. Sketch a basic wireframe of your homepage on paper
5. Create a simple navigation structure with 5-7 main items

Don't spend hours on this – 30 minutes should be enough to get started.

FAQs

Do I need special software to create wireframes?
No. Paper and pencil work perfectly fine. Online tools like Figma or Balsamiq can help, but they're not essential for basic planning.

How detailed should my wireframes be?
Keep them simple. Boxes and labels are enough. You're planning structure, not designing the final look.

Can I change my plan later?
Absolutely. Your wireframe is a starting point, not a contract. You can adjust as you build and learn what works.

What if I have too many pages for my navigation?
Group related pages together or use dropdown menus. You can also move some pages to your footer navigation.

Should I plan every page or just the homepage?
Start with your homepage and main pages. You can wireframe other pages as you need them.

Jargon Buster

Wireframe – A simple sketch showing where elements go on a webpage, without any design details like colours or fonts

Navigation structure – How your website's pages are organised and linked together through menus

Content inventory – A list of all the text, images, and other materials you need for your website

Page hierarchy – The order of importance of your pages, determining what goes in main navigation versus secondary locations

Mobile-first – Designing for mobile devices first, then adapting for larger screens

Wrap-up

Planning your website structure and creating wireframes might seem like extra work, but it's time well spent. You now have a clear roadmap for building your Squarespace site.

Your next step is to take your wireframe and start building in Squarespace. With your structure planned out, you can focus on making it look good rather than figuring out what goes where.

Remember, your plan can evolve as you build. The important thing is that you've thought through the basics before you start.

Ready to start building? Get your Squarespace account set up and begin turning your wireframe into reality: https://squarespace.syuh.net/pixelhaze