She Found Me Through ChatGPT: Proof That Nicheing Down (Still) Works
Yesterday I had a discovery call with a potential client and she opened with:
“I found you through ChatGPT.”
What?! Really? Tell me more...
She was looking for a Squarespace professional who specializes in working with healers and conscious business owners. And guess what? That’s exactly my niche.
I am SO glad I took the time a few years ago to update my SEO and start creating content for the people I actually want to work with. That little digital breadcrumb trail? It led her straight to me.
Moral of the story: THIS STUFF WORKS.
Organic traffic is still a thing.
SEO is still a thing.
Blogging is still a thing.
Content marketing isn’t just a buzzword, it’s still very much a thing.
Even if it feels like you’re posting into the void, even if your analytics are meh and your traffic is a ghost town—keep going.
Because here’s the truth: when you niche down, you help the people who need you most actually find you.
Not just random followers. Aligned, ready-to-pay, dream-clients.
Now, let me be clear: nicheing down does not mean flattening yourself to fit some overly specific internet box. You are allowed to be complex. You are allowed to evolve. As Walt Whitman said:
“Very well then I contradict myself,
I am large, I contain multitudes.”
Same, Walt. Same.
Nicheing isn’t about contradiction—it’s about clarity. It’s a hack to deliver the most impact and (bonus!) sustain yourself in the process. Especially in the digital age, platforms like Google, YouTube, and ChatGPT are literally trying to help people find you—but only if they know what to look for.
So no, you don’t have to abandon your multitudes. But yes—claim a niche.
Serve that niche with consistent content and aligned offerings.
Build it… and they will come. ChatGPT will make sure of it.
Not sure what your niche should be?
Book a Clarity Session with me. We’ll uncover your unique magic (aka your secret sauce) and map out how to start monetizing it—so you can build a life that actually lights you up.
Is Your Squarespace Website Accessible?
Is your Squarespace website accessible? If you aren’t sure, then you might want to keep reading. Doing so will ensure that you are up to date on the benefits that being compliant can bring such as creating an inclusive online experience and simultaneously protecting yourself from incurring any legal trouble down the road.
Case in point - A few weeks ago, a former website client of mine contacted me in a panic. She was asking me if the site I built her years ago was accessible because she had recently been threatened by a lawyer. I had to inform her that I wasn’t familiar with California law (where her business resides) and gave her some links of resources that might help her. That got me thinking though, how accessible was Squarespace?
Squarespace’s Accessibility Features
Not surprisingly, Squarespace does offer some accessibility features, like the fact that users can customize various aspects of their sites to improve navigation. However, it's important to note that the end product may not always be fully accessible to everyone.
To ensure ADA compliance for a Squarespace website, users are expected to familiarize themselves with ADA standards for accessible design, particularly if they operate within the US. Squarespace offers an article about how to make sites more accessible on their site and provides customization options, but it's ultimately the responsibility of the website owner to ensure compliance with accessibility regulations in their jurisdiction.
Determining whether a website is accessible involves assessing various factors, and while there's no universal metric for 100% accessibility, there are ways to improve overall accessibility. Squarespace recommends seeking assistance from experienced practitioners and provides resources specific to assessing and enhancing accessibility for Squarespace websites on their website.
While Squarespace provides creative freedom for users, not all websites built on the platform are inherently accessible. Squarespace acknowledges that accessibility is an ongoing effort and encourages users to prioritize accessibility in their designs. In other words, 'it's on you"!
My Verdict
While Squarespace does provide customization options and offers resources such as accessibility checklists, it's ultimately the responsibility of the website owner to ensure compliance with accessibility regulations in their jurisdiction. Keeping up with accessibility requirements in your region can put a lot of pressure on a small business owner which is why, if you can afford it, I recommend integrating a third-party compliance website such as accessiBe. Integrating accessiBe can bridge this gap, making Squarespace sites more accessible to all users and ensuring that you are compliant with the laws in your region.
The Importance of Accessibility in Web Design
Accessibility isn't merely a checkbox on a compliance list; it's a fundamental aspect of web design that impacts user experience and inclusivity. By ensuring websites are accessible, businesses can reach a broader audience and avoid potential legal issues related to discrimination.
Challenges with Squarespace Accessibility
While Squarespace offers visually appealing templates, they may not meet all accessibility standards. Basic accessibility elements are included, but they often fall short of the requirements outlined in guidelines like WCAG 2.1. This can pose challenges for users with disabilities, particularly those with visual impairments.
Introducing accessiBe
accessiBe provides a solution for Squarespace users seeking to enhance accessibility on their websites. Through its integration with Squarespace via the ADA compliance extension, accessiBe automates the process of making websites compliant with accessibility standards.
Implementation and Ease of Use
One of the key advantages of accessiBe is its ease of implementation. Even users with limited technical expertise can integrate accessiBe into their Squarespace sites seamlessly. The accessWidget, accessiBe's primary tool, simplifies the process by scanning and modifying the website to meet accessibility guidelines.
Benefits and Features
Once integrated, accessiBe continuously monitors the website for accessibility issues, providing updates and fixes as needed. This dynamic approach helps you conform to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) and comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) without requiring constant user intervention.
Customization Options
accessiBe offers various customization options to align accessibility features with a Squarespace site's branding. Users can customize colors, button placements, default text, language options, and button icons to maintain visual consistency and enhance user experience.
Limitations and Considerations
While accessiBe provides extensive customization options, it cannot customize fonts. This limitation may be a drawback for sites that rely heavily on specific typography for branding purposes. It’s also on the pricier side, especially for small business owners and creatives (the market I mostly serve). The expense however can be written off as a business expense and can also prevent further financial trouble should you get threatened with litigation like my former client.
Conclusion
In conclusion, accessiBe seems to simplify the process of making Squarespace websites accessible to all users. Its user-friendly interface, automated scanning, and customization options make it a valuable tool for Squarespace users looking to enhance accessibility and comply with regulations.
For further guidance on optimizing accessibility for Squarespace websites, users can refer to accessiBe's comprehensive documentation and support resources.
**This review was written in association with accessiBe
Curious about accessiBe? They are offering a seven day free trial on their site. Check it out here.
Key Takeaways from My Speaking Debut
Last Wednesday Squarespace paid for me to fly out from Tagazhout Morocco to Amsterdam to speak at Forward Festival and Self Made Summit about authentic community building.
Of course the night before my flight, I couldn’t sleep - classic Nicole. I didn’t feel nervous about my debut public speaking gigs but I suppose it was subconscious. My boyfriend drove me to the airport early in the morning and was gentle with me on the way but the security was not - apparently there was an issue with my passport since I’d entered the country in a van and was attempting to leave without it. I got it sorted but then I had a new challenge - a crammed flight. Word of caution if you ever fly Royal Air Maroc - you will be treated like anything but royalty. They will change the gate a million times and smirk at you when you ask what is going on and never turn on the A/C. The plane was FULL of coughing people and I was just thankful that I managed to grab a water at the kiosk before entering this mobile sauna.
My hotel thankfully included a taxi pickup and I laughed at the absurdity of it all. Just a few hours prior I was heading to the airport in an old Citroen and inhaling all the exhaust from the other old vehicles on the Moroccan freeway and here I was being whisked to my hotel in a new Mercedes that looked more like a spaceship. Just the day before I was using the bathroom in a hole in the ground and “showering” by boiling water and then strategically pouring it over myself while hovering over the same hole in the ground. When I got to my hotel, the first thing I did was take a proper shower, a rainfall shower with steaming temperatures.
Not feeling like going to a restaurant, I made my way to the grocery store and stocked up on all the items I hadn’t been able to indulge in since being in Morocco; prepackaged hummus, chocolate, and fresh lettuce. After gorging on my makeshift picnic in the hotel room, I immediately felt bloated and like a migraine was coming on. Was it a symptom of the processed food my body had just consumed in large quantities, a huge diversion from the fresh tagine I’d been eating daily in Morocco, or was it the fact that my period was about to start? Combine that with my lack of sleep, the horrible flight experience, and the stress looming from my upcoming speaking gigs and I had a recipe for disaster.
I managed to hold it all together and surprise myself, however. Not only did I deliver two speeches to two very different crowds, one to a room full of female entrepreneurs and another to a room full of cool designers and artists, but I managed not to get red or forget any bit of my presentation.
What were my key takeaways from the experience?
Women are awesome. I did ALL of that whilst bleeding.
I will try to avoid traveling during my winter phase if at all possible in the future - though I did it, and I did it well, my body was NOT happy. Now that I am back in Morocco, I am fighting a little illness that I know transpired as a result of not resting during my winter phase.
I actually LOVE public speaking, although I would prefer to talk about topics that invigorate me like overcoming self-doubt, tuning up your intuition, and taking leaps towards achieving self-actualization instead of website design and marketing. Regardless I am grateful to Squarespace for giving me this opportunity and for the surprising fire it ignited within me.
Do you factor in your moon phases when planning important events?
Here's How to Redirect Multiple Blog Posts, Events, or Products on Squarespace
I recently updated the slug on my blog. For those who aren’t web nerds, the slug is the URL, or that thing you type into your search bar to land on the web page you desire.
Instead of the old slug (/blog-content), I wanted it to be (/blog.)
So I updated in Squarespace in 2 seconds and boom, I thought I was good to go.
A few days later however I posted a blog post to my Linkedin. After a while, I realized it only had 3 impressions (much less than the 150 it usually pulls in). I decided to do a little investigating and that’s when I realized that when you clicked the link to the blog post it went to my 404 error page on my site, not the post!
Grrr.
Even website nerds screw up from time to time.
Not wanting to go back and create individual 301 redirects on ALL my blog posts from day 1, I found this simple solution which I will share now:
To redirect ALL items in a collection of blog posts, events or products on Squarespace, insert the [name] variable when creating the redirect.
Here’s an example: My old blog page's URL was /blog-content and I changed it to /blog. To make sure that visitors can still view my blog-content posts when they click an old link, I had to set up my 301 like this:
/blog/[name] -> /posts/[name] 301Please note that I am still using version 7.0 of Squarespace (if it ain’t broke don’t fix it). If you want to do this on 7.1, please note that the store page URL slugs include /p/ before the product URL slug, so the redirect would look like this: /store/p/[name] -> /buy/p/[name] 301
I am super grateful this was fairly easy to do within Squarespace otherwise I’d be in a big pickle. And ain’t nobody got time for that!
Hope that helped! If not, please get in touch and I’ll try to redirect you out of trouble.
How to Set Up a Member Area on Squarespace in a Few Minutes
Last week I had the privilege of showing a few hundred kindred souls how to set up a member area in Squarespace as a part of Sorelle Amore’s “Find Your Genius and Monetize Your Passion Workshop”. That’s when I got the idea to create a YouTube video sharing the same info.
I am really excited about this new feature on Squarespace. If you are confused about how to set up a Member Area, why you would need a Member Area, and whether or not you can set up a Member Area on an already existing site - this video will hopefully be helpful to you.
After watching, if you have specific questions about Member Areas, please do get in touch and I’ll answer them to the best of my ability.
4 Key Takeaways from Sorelle Amore's Creative Genius Workshop
Last night I blabbed for 20 minutes about the member areas feature on Squarespace.
My audience? 182 of Sorelle Amore’s followers who were hoping to tap into their creative genius and learn to monetize their superpowers. Not only was I excited to share my over ten years of Squarespace knowledge but I was also eager to gain some insights from this inspirational woman who has managed to grow a successful business that allows her to travel the world and connect with other awesome free humans.
Here were my key takeaways from the 1.5-hour-long presentation
Don’t chase trends. It’s easy to look at someone who is doing something unique like Sean Evans who interviews celebrities as they eat increasingly spicy chicken wings on his YouTube channel, and want to mimic him. I mean he’s got 13 million followers! But what works for one likely won’t work for another. And if it does it won’t be sustainable because part of what brings success is tapping into your unique creative genius which includes regularly pivoting as new life experiences and interests come up.
To discover your creative genius: first, write out a list of activities that make you lose track of time, next, list out specific skills or qualifications you have, and finally, ask your closest friends and family members what your five best qualities are. You can also write down any advice that people usually come to you for.
To help you start generating a following, and building credibility in your space, reach out to online communities such as Facebook groups. Spend some time in the comments responding to other people’s inquiries. Get a feel for what this community needs or a problem that they are trying to solve. That will lead you to a potential offering and if you become an active participant in the group you might even have a built-in audience when it’s time to launch.
Pivoting is ok and encouraged! This was a big aha moment for me. For a while, I have been cautious about sharing new projects or insights on my Instagram, Blog, Newsletter, and LinkedIn profile because 1/ I didn’t want to pigeonhole myself and then get bored of the topic and 2/ I didn’t want to confuse my followers. Every expert marketer will tell you to dial into your niche and deliver content that speaks directly to them. But I have so many interests, hobbies, and skills! It feels like a daunting task. I loved Sorelle’s example. She started as the selfie queen. She made self-portraiture her creative genius and ran with it. But now she doesn’t align with it the same way so she is pivoting in another direction. Sure you might lose people along the way, but you’ll also gain some too. Don’t let the fear of confusing people or losing followers prevent you from pivoting toward a direction that is more aligned with who you are right this moment.
That’s it for now! But I feel like that will give you enough to chew on for a while :)
What is your creative genius? How do you plan to monetize it?
What to Expect from Squarespace Circle Day + Germany Circle Day Meetup Deets
This just in…following the Squarespace Circle Day on August 24th, I'll be co-facilitating and speaking at the *virtual* Circle Day Germany Meetup on August 30th. Woo!
Before I go into details about what to expect at the Circle Day Germany Meetup, I’d like to take a moment to discuss what the heck Circle Day is and who is it for…
What is Squarespace Circle Day?
According to the website, Squarespace Circle Day claims to be the “summit for Squarespace Creators” which pretty much includes anyone who 1. currently has a Squarespace website, 2. is thinking about hopping on the Squarespace bandwagon, or 3. creates Squarespace sites for others. But honestly, after seeing the lineup of keynotes and workshop facilitators, I think Squarespace Circle Day is for any web designer or digital creator. Even if you are NOT a Squarespace fan or user, you will get something out of this summit.
Here is a list of the entire agenda. Some of the sessions will take place in person live in NYC, but a lot of them will be virtual. Unfortunately, all the tickets for the in-person summit are spoken for, but don’t be discouraged because there is a lot of value to be had on the inter-web version. Here are the sessions I am most looking forward to:
Turn Your One-Time Project Into Recurring Revenue by Clarrie Johnson
The Price is Right: How to Charge a Premium for Your Offering by Victoria Marcouillier
Brand Story Time: Building Sites That Captivate and Convert by Laura Scholes
Circle Live with Squarespace CEO and Founder, Anthony Casalena
And What About the Circle Day Germany Meetup?
The Circle Day Germany Meetup will be a place for you to stop by virtually to say hi, connect with other web designers or digital creators, and share key takeaways from the main event. There will be a few presenters including:
Myself, Webdesigner
Sarah Stark, Branding Expert and Webdesigner
Eleanor Mayrhofer, Webdesigner
Victoria Weber, Webdesigner
In addition to the aforementioned presentations, there will also be an introduction and a discussion afterward where attendees can address topics of interest related to Circle Day, give feedback, and ask questions.
If you are located in Germany and are a professional web designer or digital creator, a Squarespace fanatic, or just a curious little monkey, you can register for the virtual Germany Circle Day Meetup here.
Here's Why I Don't Offer Customizations
A long time website client recently had a request, she’s been slowly revamping her 7.0 site (instead of making the big switch to 7.1) and she wanted to create tables to showcase her offerings. She saw it on another site and liked the way it broke up the information.
I had hesitations and even drafted up a version in Squarespace that didn’t include a table which she promptly rejected. She had her heart set on a table and I wanted her to be happy so I obliged. I began the process of problem-solving, a process I usually enjoy because normally I land on a solution. But for the life of me, I could not find one this time around. Which drove me mad.
My philosophy with website building has always been “less is more”. Too many sites, especially those built DIY style, tend to be bloated, showcasing too much of the unnecessary stuff and making the actual important stuff hard to reach. Stop playing hard to get, will ya?
Anyways. I fought with it for a while and was <this close> to writing the client and telling her I give up when I had an idea, I would purchase a table-making widget, especially for Squarespace but wouldn’t you know, that turned out to be a big DISASTER. And then I had another plan, I would try outsourcing my work to one of those handy freelancer sites.
As a freelancer, I am not a big fan of these sites, you can read more about that here, but I had never tried them as a contractor. I signed up on Freelancer.com and placed the details of my project there. Within a few minutes, I was getting bombarded with offers ranging from 35 euros to 285 euros. I was also getting harassed in my messages by VERY eager people who wanted to work on the project. I quickly blocked them.
The varying offers had a lot to do with the country of origin and ultimately I decided on a woman living in India who had decent reviews and made a mutually beneficial offer. I accepted. Overall the experience was pleasant, she definitely delivered and even helped me tweak certain things with the code after the project was closed.
But…
Ultimately I decided to steer the client away from the customization altogether. Here’s why:
1/ Upon further inspection, the code was going to be cumbersome for the client to manage on her own. Every time she would need to edit the text or tweak the fonts/colors she would need to hire me. Or if I wasn’t sure, we’d have to ask the developer. This would quickly turn costly, something I am thoroughly against.
2/ When you install code or mess with the CSS on Squarespace you run the risk of distortion or misalignments on varying devices. Which is exactly what happened. When I viewed the tables on mobile, the text ran completely off the table. Not cool.
3/ Squarespace offers a lot in terms of design and functionality. You are literally paying an annual fee to use their professionally crafted designs and customer support, might as well get your money’s worth! It’s like people who stay at 5-star hotels and then spend the whole day and night out and about sightseeing. I’m the person who’d rather chill and enjoy the pool and amenities instead and catch a museum on the way to the airport.
My 2 cents: The whole thing was a good reminder of why I don’t typically offer customizations to clients and instead advise them to stick with the robust offerings of the Squarespace platform. And I advise you to do the same, especially if you are a conscious business owner who is just getting their website up and running.
Wanting to Give Your Site a Revamp? Get in Touch.
I Gave My Blog Page a Refresh
I recently refreshed my blog page on my website and I must say I really like it!
Here’s what it looked like before:
It’s not bad aesthetically speaking, but it wasn’t really practical. It was basically just a gallery of images and blog titles with no real organization. If a visitor wanted to get a feel for my writing and read my latest blog post then it would suffice. But if they wanted to dive deeper and gain insight from my previous posts, from years before, it wasn’t possible. Unfortunately, Squarespace only lets you display 20 blog entries at a time so in actuality there was no real way for my visitors to scroll through past blog posts even if they wanted to…unless I did something about it.
So that’s what I did.
Here’s what the new page looks like:
Here’s what I changed:
I added a search bar so visitors can search for a relevant topic.
I added a blog category section where visitors can click on a category if they want to see specific posts about that topic. Luckily I have been categorizing my posts by topic and tagging my blogs with keywords since the beginning. If you aren’t already doing this, I highly recommend it. It will help a ton if you ever want to organize your blog in the future.
I chose to display only 9 posts at a time. Now that visitors can easily search for topics that are relevant to them I didn’t want to bombard the page with too much information.
That’s it! What do you think?
Want to give your blog or website a refresh? Get in touch for a free consultation and we can discuss.
Seeking Squarespace Design Services in Berlin (or elsewhere?) Let Me Be Your Captain
What Awaits You in This Article
1. Why Choose the Squarespace Platform
2. The Limits of Squarespace
3. When to Seek Support from a Squarespace Professional
4. Types of Squarespace Support: Live Tutoring Sessions in Berlin or via Zoom, Tailor-made Virtual Workshops for Your Organization, and Email, WhatsApp, or Phone Support
5. Conclusion - Let Me Be Your Captain+ BONUS Booty
Why Choose the Squarespace Platform?
Squarespace is a renowned website design platform that offers an array of benefits for businesses and individuals seeking to create a professional and visually appealing website. With its user-friendly interface (drag and drop baby!!), stunning templates, and robust features, Squarespace provides a comprehensive solution for designing and managing websites with ease. From small business owners and creative professionals to entrepreneurs, Squarespace offers a range of advantages that make it an attractive choice for website design needs in Berlin and worldwide. Here are some key advantages:
User-Friendly Interface: Squarespace has a drag-and-drop interface that makes it easy to design and customize a website without any coding skills. This makes it accessible for beginners and those with limited technical expertise.
Stunning Templates: Squarespace offers a wide range of professionally designed templates that are visually appealing and responsive, ensuring that your website looks great on all devices, including desktops, tablets, and mobile phones. The templates are professionally looking, beautifully designed, and fiercely functional.
Robust Features: Squarespace provides a host of built-in features such as blogging, e-commerce, SEO tools, analytics, and social media integration, making it a comprehensive platform for all your website needs. It also offers e-commerce options and the ability to maintain memberships.
Professional Look and Feel: Squarespace templates are designed to be sleek and modern, giving your website a professional and polished appearance that can enhance your brand image. They are also minimalist which I love because there is just so much noise out there on the internet. It’s rare that people want to go to a circus show with flashy lights when entering a website. They usually want to find basic information fast.
Reliable Hosting: Squarespace provides reliable and secure hosting for your website, ensuring that it loads quickly and remains accessible to visitors at all times. All hosting is included in the annual price, so no need to worry about paying an extra bill.
Built-in SEO - Squarespace used to get a bad rap for their SEO functioning, but in recent years, they have really stepped up their game. According to Website Builder Expert, Squarespace scored a 5 out of 5 SEO rating in their research meaning it’s more than well-equipped to boost your site’s search engine rankings. That’s probably because it includes a sitemap, SEO setting for pages and items, clean URLs, automatic markups, SSL security, and built-in mobile optimization.
2. The Limits of Squarespace
While Squarespace offers many advantages, it's crucial to understand that it also has limitations as a website design platform. These limitations include the following:
Limited Customization: Although Squarespace offers a range of templates, the customization options may be limited compared to other website design platforms such as WordPress. This means that achieving highly unique and personalized designs may be challenging, especially if you have specific design requirements. But this limitation can also work to your advantage. Too many people try to complicate their websites. Less is (usually )more so if you have limited customization options, you’ll likely be better at delivering the basic information your user wants. Still, though, there may be times when customization like adding unique fonts or widgets is necessary. For that, you’ll need to seek out a Squarespace professional which can be costly.
E-commerce Functionality: While Squarespace provides e-commerce functionality, it may not be as robust as other platforms such as Shopify, making it less suitable for complex online stores. If you have extensive e-commerce needs, or your store contains hundreds or thousands of items, Squarespace may not be the best choice for your business.
Advanced SEO Capabilities: While Squarespace offers basic SEO features, it may not have all the advanced SEO capabilities that some businesses require. This may impact your website's visibility in search engine results and affect your overall SEO strategy.
Technical Challenges: Despite its user-friendly interface, designing and managing a website on Squarespace may still pose technical challenges for some individuals or businesses. Resolving these issues may require expertise and technical knowledge, which may not be readily available to everyone.
3. When to Seek Support from a Squarespace Professional
Despite its user-friendly interface, designing and managing a website on Squarespace may still pose challenges for some individuals or businesses. In such cases, seeking support from a Squarespace professional (like me:)!!) can be beneficial. This may be necessary when facing complex design or technical issues that require expertise to resolve. A Squarespace professional can provide guidance, troubleshooting, and solutions to help overcome any challenges that may arise during the website design process whether you’re a DJ designing her website in a cozy cafe in Berlin or you’re an eco-warrior designing a site for their off-grid hostel whilst sipping an alcohol-free pineapple daiquiri on the beach in the Bahamas.
Here are some situations when it may be a good idea to seek Squarespace design services:
Complex Design Requirements: If you have specific design requirements that go beyond the customization options available in Squarespace templates, a Squarespace professional can provide guidance and expertise to create a unique and personalized website design. Some examples include adding a multilanguage option to your site, installing a booking widget, or setting up a membership site.
Technical Issues: If you encounter technical issues during the website design process, such as troubleshooting errors or resolving coding-related challenges, a Squarespace professional can offer solutions and expertise to overcome these obstacles.
E-commerce Setup: If you need to set up an online store with complex e-commerce functionalities, such as custom product configurations, inventory management, or integration with third-party tools, a Squarespace professional can help you set up and optimize your e-commerce platform.
Advanced SEO Optimization: If you require advanced SEO capabilities, such as optimizing meta tags, managing redirects, or implementing schema markup, a Squarespace professional with expertise in SEO can help you optimize your website for search engines and improve its visibility in search results.
Time Constraints: If you, like many entrepreneurs, have limited time or resources to dedicate to designing and managing your Squarespace website, a Squarespace professional can take on the task and ensure that your website is designed and launched efficiently and effectively.
4. Types of Squarespace Support
As we near the end of the blog post, you might realize that, yes, you do in fact need some Squarespace support, but maybe you are still unsure what exactly that looks like. Below I will describe the kinds of support I provide and then you can reach out if any of it resonates with the help you are looking for.
Live Tutoring Sessions In-Person or Via Zoom - One of the best ways to receive Squarespace support is through live tutoring sessions. These sessions can be conducted with me in Berlin (or wherever I am traveling at the time), where you will receive one-on-one guidance from me, a certified Squarespace expert. Alternatively, live tutoring sessions can also be conducted remotely via Zoom, allowing for flexibility and convenience. During these sessions, I can provide personalized guidance on various aspects of website design, including template selection, customization, content creation, and SEO optimization. I can also just spend the entire time answering your questions. This can help you enhance your website and make the most out of Squarespace's features. In addition, I can also provide branding feedback and content marketing tips that will help you grow your business organically. To find out more about these sessions head here.
Tailor-made Virtual Workshops for A Group of Friends or Your Organization - If you have a team or organization in Berlin (or elsewhere) that requires Squarespace design services, tailor-made virtual workshops can be a valuable option. These workshops can be customized to meet the specific needs and goals of your group or organization, providing comprehensive training on Squarespace website design best practices and techniques. This can help your team acquire the necessary skills and knowledge to effectively design and manage websites on the Squarespace platform, resulting in a cohesive and professional online presence. Not in Berlin? No problem, I am often on the move and am willing to travel to you depending on distance, etc. Get in touch to discuss details.
Email, WhatsApp, or Phone Support - In addition, to live tutoring sessions and virtual workshops, I also offer support through email, WhatsApp, or phone. This allows you to communicate with me at your convenience with your favorite modality, providing guidance and assistance with your website design needs wherever you may be in the world. Whether you have questions, need help with troubleshooting, or require advice on design or technical issues, my email, WhatsApp, or phone support option can be a convenient and efficient alternative to live tutoring sessions.
5. Conclusion
So there you have it. After examining the many benefits Squarespace has to offer, you can hopefully better understand why Squarespace is such a popular website design platform. But as great as it is, it may not be suitable for everyone. With my help and expertise, however, you can learn to leverage its features and create a stunning and functional website for your conscious business or personal projects…especially if you are working with a limited budget. If you are ready to embark on an epic Squarespace design service adventure and create an impressive online presence that reflects your unique brand identity, get in touch and I’d be happy to be your captain. AYE AYE MATEY!
***BONUS BOOTY - anyone who builds a website with my special code gets 20% off their first year. ARGHHHH***
Hey, I want to help you share your gifts with the world. Get in touch today and let’s make this happen!
Here Are 5 of My Favorite Budget-Friendly Resources to Boost Your SEO
Whenever I have a consultation with a new client they inevitably ask me about SEO.
Uh, well I have one last question, is the CEO included?
CEO? Do you mean SEO?
Yes, SEO, is SEO included in the website design?
Most clients I work with know that SEO is important but they don’t really understand the mechanics behind it. That’s why I wanted to write this post - to demystify the elusive SEO.
When I build websites, SEO is indeed included in the website design because Squarespace has its own built-in SEO. You can read more about what Squarespace does for SEO here.
But….if you REALLY want to boost your SEO, I recommend spending a few hours diving deeper into your backend (no pun intended) and beef it up yourself.
First, though, I’d like to define what SEO actually is.
SEO stands for SEARCH ENGINE OPTIMIZATION. Essentially, SEO is a series of best practices that will help you improve your site’s ranking in search results such as Google or Bing. If you don’t have a lot of money to pay a professional SEO CEO, don’t worry, there are plenty of resources out there that show you exactly what to do so that you can skyrocket your web traffic.
Here are 5 of my budget-friendly resources to help boost your SEO:
Listen to this Twelfth House podcast episode entitled SEO is Spellwork with Team Holicistism. In the episode, they break down what SEO is and how to make it work for your site. The epsiode is great if you are an absolute SEO novice.
Go through this comprehensive Squarespace generated SEO Checklist and then start ticking the tasks off your list.
Take this FREE course all about Squarespace SEO.
Watch my 5-min SEO basics video where I walk you through the main areas you’ll be updating SEO on your Squarespace site.
Book a consultation with me to see if I can help :)
Best of luck to all of you magical beings out there :) Let me know if any of these resources were helpful or if you’d like to add your own to the list.
What Platform Should I Use to Build My Website?
Easy. Squarespace.
Here’s why.
They have beautiful/professional layouts that look like a million bucks
They include 24/7 Customer support in every membership.
There are plenty of free/cheap tutorials on Youtube and forums in case you get stuck.
They don’t require pesky plugins.
Last year I had a client who insisted on working with Wordpress since she had hosted her website on the platform for years. Normally I don’t work with WordPress, but she was PERSISTENT. A few minutes in and I wanted to pull my hair out. To me, WordPress is equivalent to the US Tax Code. Clocking in at 75,000 pages, the US Tax Code is complicated AF. Why? Because instead of deleting old outdated laws and regulations they keep ADDING MORE TO IT.
I don’t know about you, but when I go anywhere, I prefer to arrive at my destination with minimal stress and all of my hair. If you are looking to build your site on WordPress, I am assuming you prefer bumpy roads and bald patches.
I can’t speak for the other drag and drop sites out there. I think WIX might be an ok option. But because I’ve worked with Squarespace for so long (which should tell you something) - I really don’t see any point in checking others out. Perhaps this is not the answer you want, but for any conscious business owners who already have enough decisions to make - listen up…
Don’t overthink this. Just signup with Squarespace.
Sure there are downsides - like uh, it costs money. And if you want to add customizations or integrations like Acuity, you’ll have to upgrade your membership. But other than that it’s a powerful platform that will likely meet all of your small business expectations (user functionality + design aesthetic).
Want to save 20% on a year membership? Contact me for a coupon code.
How to Add a Dual Language Footer to Your Squarespace Site
UPDATE OCTOBER 12, 2023- the following blog post is obsolete since the latest Squarespace update. Instead, I recommend you follow this tutorial on how to make a dual-language site and then leave your footer general (with only social media icons, logo, and opening hours).
Lately, I’m being asked to build a lot of dual-language sites within Squarespace (rightly so, since I live in Berlin and most people speak 2+ languages.). While building the site in two languages is fairly straightforward (more on that in a future post) - the footer was still an enigma for me….until today! I finally cracked the code (with the help of a few forums).
In the text below I break down how to add a dual language footer to your Squarespace site. Hopefully, it makes sense. If not, don’t hesitate to holla!
Here’s how to add a dual language footer to your Squarespace site.
First, add this widget to your Chrome browser. It will highlight the section ID number on your Squarespace site.
Next, create 2 Footers (if you have already created one, you can just use the duplicate button and then translate your new one). To add a dual footer you can: Edit Site Footer > Click Plus icon > Add Blank Section (or just duplicate). The footer on top should be your site’s main language. The bottom footer should be your second language.
Then, using the Chrome extension, you need to identify what the Section ID is for each footer. I would recommend jotting down each footer’s section ID on a text doc.
Ex. Top footer/Main language= 6040bbd67f8d8741ab77457c,
Bottom footer/2nd language= 5ffdc44eeebe5c34a6cad988
Finally, you have to insert a little bit of code onto EACH PAGE. To do that, click the Gear button next to each page > Click Advanced > Click Page Header Code Injection.
Here’s the code to use:
For all of your Main Language pages insert this code:
<style>
[data-section-id=“SECTIONIDFORSECONDLANGUGEFOOTER”] {
display: none;
}
</style>
2. For all of your Second Language pages insert this code:
<style>
[data-section-id=“INSERTSECTIONIDOFYOURMAINHERE”] {
display: none;
}
</style>
If you have any questions, feel free to drop me a line!
Don't Stay Stuck....Here's a Website Roadmap for You to Follow
Getting started building your site is half the battle because let’s be real..you probably have a million and one other things to worry about. That’s why I wanted to create a quick blog post outlining the most important steps to take whether you are in the Preparing Stage, the Building Stage, or the Finalizing Stage. Let’s begin!
Preparing Stage- In this stage, you already have a solid business idea in place and are wondering how to attract your ideal clients or customers.
Stalk your competitors - don’t skip this step!!
Choose a template on Squarespace that you resonate with most.
Create a Site Plan which outlines all the text and content you’ll need for your website. You can also check out this blog post for inspiration on writing your content.
Collect images you’ll be using (I recommend Unsplash.com), design a logo for free on Canva, and then save them on your desktop in a designated folder.
Building Stage- In this stage, you will have already completed all of your tasks from the Planning Stage.
Get familiar with the backend of Squarespace. I recommend creating a trial website and just playing around with the different features before you begin building.
Take an online course that shows you the ins and outs of Squarespace.
Once you feel comfortable, you can start adding in the elements you’ve compiled from your site plan.
Don’t forget to update your site titles, headers, and URL’s and add a cute favicon.
Finalizing Stage- In this stage, you should have already completed all of your tasks from the Planning and Creating Stage.
Double-check that all of your backlinks, hyperlinks, and buttons link to the appropriate page.
Connect your domain.
Go through this SEO checklist and make sure you’ve addressed all of the points.
That’s it! That’s all you have to do (insert eye-roll). I know it’s a lot but I believe you can do it!
If you still feel stuck, don’t worry - help is on the way! I created this affordable in-depth course outlining all of the steps you need to follow (including Squarespace tutorials) when building your own site. Check it out here.
Writing Website Content Doesn't Have to Be So Elusive
Writing content for your website can feel really elusive, but it doesn't have to be. In this blog post, I share some tips on what content you should include on your website as well as best practices.
Obviously, it's always better to hire a professional to help you, but when you are first starting out and are ballin’ on a budget, you can use the tricks in this post to help guide your process.
Why is it important to have good content
Before I jump into what content you should include I want to point out why it’s important to have adequate text content in the first place. One, it clarifies your offerings and your expertise so your potential clients trust that you can solve their problems. And two, it’s important for SEO.
That being said, a lot of folks get carried away with their content creation process and end up complicating something that is actually supposed to help clear up your client’s confusion.
Here are the essential steps to writing good website content:
Stalk your competitors. You’ll hear me say this a lot and it’s SO important. You don’t have to reinvent the wheel. Stalk your competitors and jot down the tone of voice they are using as well as how long their blog posts, product descriptions, and about me sections are. Use their content as inspiration for length and tone when you write your own (but don’t copy verbatim because that’s just icky and will be bound to bite you back at some point. #karmasabitch)
Before getting started writing, answer the questions found on this blog post.
Keep it short. I won’t elaborate on this because I’d be breaking my own tenet but when in doubt, leave it out.
Record yourself talking about your product or your founder’s story and then transcribe the audio note and use it as website content. A lot of people don’t think they are good writers but that’s likely a limiting belief. If you can talk, you can write. And if you are passionate about the service or offering you provide, the excitement should come through when you talk about it. Imagine you are describing this product to your ideal client when you press record.
Use the Squarespace template as a guideline for text placement and length. Again, don’t reinvent the wheel. If your Squarespace template has a one-sentence descriptor on the home page banner image, don’t take it upon yourself to drop in a 20 line bio instead. Use the template to guide your content.
Need some clarity around your website content? Feel free to send me an email here.
Website Organization Blues? Here Are the Pages You Should Include on Your Website.
Don’t overthink this step. If you have completed the stalk Your Competitors exercise, you should have a better understanding of what pages to include on your site.
Here is my rule of thumb….
Don’t reinvent the wheel. Avoid using “cutesy” page titles and instead. keep it simple and generic. I know, generic sounds boring, but unless you are an abstract artist or The Riddler, it’s best to deliver page titles that allow your audience to easily navigate your site. After all, you are trying to solve a problem for your future client, not cause them more problems. If your site is hard to navigate, your bounce rate will be outrageous and your bank account will be empty. NO THANKS!
Here are my recommended page titles. Most websites should have the following pages plus any others that are relevant to your industry/business:
Home
This is essentially your “landing page” - have a nice catchy image, a beautiful memorable logo, and a navigation menu that is easy to navigate.
About
Tell your founder’s story here. Why are you in business, what steps did you take that led you here, what problem do you hope to solve for your clients?
Testimonials (or Reviews)
Why should someone hire you? Many service providers forget this page, but it’s SO important for customer acquisition! If you don’t have enough testimonials in the beginning, try to avoid faking them. Instead, offer your services for free or cheap in exchange for some killer reviews. Bonus, get them to leave the same review on Google or another rating site.
Services (or “Shop” if you are selling an item)
What are your services and how much do they cost? Make sure there is a clear CTA (call to action) on this page so your customers can books a session with you right away if they like what they see. Contact page- how can your clients get in touch with you? What are your hours?
Lastly, before I close out, refrain from making your navigation menu a mile long. If you have more than 6 or 7-page titles in your menu bar, you might need some help organizing your site….
Need help organizing your site? Feel free to send me an email here.
How Much Should I Charge for My Services?
How much should I charge for my services?
This is a question I get a lot when working with clients, especially if they are just starting out.
Unfortunately, there is no magical one size fits all formula to follow. All I can say is this….do your research.
If you have checked out my Youtube Channel or taken one of my website workshops, you know that I am a big proponent of stalking your competitors (or if you are anti-capitalist… your collaborators) in order to find out how THEY are doing things. Specifically, you can also find out exactly how much they are charging for similar services, products, or packages. If their prices aren’t listed on their website (ideal scenario) you can also reach out and pretend to be an interested customer (more skeezy scenario). Or you can just be radically transparent and tell them what you are up to. You can also reach out to virtual communities and ask people what they charge. Keep in mind though, that your rate depends on a LOT of factors such as market value (how much is your product or service worth in your specific region), how much time it actually takes you to create the product or service, how much time it takes you to do the administrative stuff associated with running your business, how much it costs to employ someone to help, etc.
While there is not a magic formula, the following tips can help you figure out best practices.
First, realize that EVERYONE has the ability to define and nurture their desired niche market and make them fall in love with you. If people fall in love with your brand (YOU) and your values, they will be willing to pay MORE than the market value (within reason). My values happen to be that I want to make website building accessible to ALL people not just those with deep pockets. That means my products and services are going to be LESS than the market value. But that' doesn’t mean I am undervaluing myself. This brings me to point #2….
If you are giving away your services for a very low amount and are left feeling depleted, deflated. agitated, or burnt-out - you are not doing anyone any favors. Don’t beat yourself up about it, but definitely don’t do it again. Instead, do this…
Work backward when determining what to charge initially. First, determine your desired hourly wage (don’t forget to factor in the extra costs that freelancers or self-employed people have to face such as health insurance, monthly bills, and expendable income), Then, determine how long it takes you to do your thing. If you are a massage therapist, it’s going to be pretty obvious, but if you are designing websites, it might be a bit more difficult. Make sure to include the time you will spend writing emails, and having meetings- this all counts as work!! So, let’s say my desired hourly wage is 50 euros an hour. And it takes me about 6 hours to build a nice website for a client plus another 2 hours for meetings and follow-ups— I would quote them at 400 euros. I might also add a few hundred dollars for any unexpected occurrences that come up. It’s up to you if you want to break it down for your client. Some folks want to be super transparent.
Now - if you are just starting out, it’s normal to be confused about pricing. There will be a period of time where you will just be experimenting to figure out how much you need to support the lifestyle you desire. Just make sure to log your hours so that next time you know whether you should raise or decrease your prices (although I wouldn’t recommend decreasing your prices if you are having no problems getting customers to pay you for your services.
I hope that helps!
I’d love to hear what services you are thinking about providing to your clients and how much you are going to charge. Feel free to send me an email here.
Ask Yourself These Questions for Clarity Surrounding Your Business & Offerings
On my contact page, I ask folks to fill out a questionnaire that will help me dive deeper into their desires for wanting to bring this website project forward. My hope is that by answering the questions, my potential clients will also gain some clarity on the products they are offering and who they hope to help in the process. Plus I love to read the responses :)
I came up with this questionnaire a few months ago when I found myself in a very anxiety-fueled transition phase. I had just spent half a year building a non-profit but found myself feeling consistently overwhelmed and unfulfilled. Looking back I think I was approaching burnout. Either way, it was exhausting and taxing on my nervous system. Months prior I felt like I was FINALLY on the right path, that I was aligned with my greater purpose and passion. My job was to help others gain life-changing skills and take control of their lives. How cool is that?
But a few months deep into the project, I found myself having major communication problems with my co-founder and feeling the most disempowered I’d ever felt in my life.
To help me get out of my own way, I sought out a channeling empowerment coach. I couldn’t afford her services (I was co-founding an NGO and getting paid zilch while still hustling/freelancing in my spare time to pay the rent.) Though her prices were out of my budget, I felt a good vibe with her on the initial consultation and asked if she would want to engage in a skill swap. Turns out, she was in need of a website and was willing to work with me in exchange. Score!
After a few weeks of working with her, the anxiety grew more intense and I could no longer pretend it was a normal part of co-founding a nonprofit. Though I initially started empowerment coaching with the hopes of overcoming my self-doubt and widening my perspective, I actually realized something much different. This wasn’t the path for me AT ALL. And so I made the very tough decision to walk away from the project.
Through the process of helping my coach build out her site, I realized I actually enjoyed the process a lot. So THIS was what it was like to like your job! Though I’d always built sites for clients on Squarespace, I’d never considered it something I could focus on full time. Nor did I realize that website building can actually be as impactful, as co-founding a nonprofit because you are helping others share their gifts and healing abilities. It was then that I decided to zone in on helping demystify and lessen the cost of the website building process especially for healers, conscious business owners, and non-profits - so that they can share their gifts with the world.
Below are the questions I started jotting down while trying to gain clarity around my new career focus. Answering them helped me define my target market and understand why I was doing what I was doing. I hope they help you too!
Why do you want to bring this idea forward?
Why haven’t you been able to bring it forward so far? What are your biggest challenges? Why do you want to bring this idea forward?
How do you want to feel once your offerings are available?
Who is your dream target market?
How do you hope your clients’ lives will change after your offerings are made available?
What is your biggest fear surrounding this project?
Dream up an ideal client testimonial. What did they say about the process/working with you? How did their life transform? What was their pain point and where are they now?
And for inspiration, here were MY original answers to the questions above.
Why do you want to bring this idea forward?
To help healers, artists, nonprofits and conscious business owners reach a wider variety of people, heal more people, bring light into the world. To drown out the fear and darkness.
Why haven’t you been able to bring it forward so far? What are your biggest challenges?
I never realized THIS was my thing. I thought I needed to be part of a team to make a big impact. I suppose I had imposter syndrome. No clarity. Distracted easily. Swept into someone else’s dreams because I didn’t trust my inner longing. My biggest challenges are NONE- I’m doing this. I hope to stay connected to my why and inner trust.
How do you want to feel once your offerings are available?
I want to feel like my talents and skills are helping others break free from their conditioning, feel confident, feel inspired to uplift others. I want to feel like my existence helps someone else feel comfortable in their skin and not alone. I suppose I want to feel not alone. I want to emanate joy and love.
Who is your dream target market?
My dream client is a healer, energy worker, author, intuitive, coach, therapist, yogi, or masseuse with conscious awareness and nonprofits.
How do you hope your clients’ lives will change after your offerings are made available?
I hope they’ll feel more confident and excited to share their gifts. I hope they’ll feel excited to share their website. I hope they’ll earn tons of money doing what they love and change others’ lives in the process.
What is your biggest fear surrounding this project?
My biggest fears are not embarking on it at all, losing momentum once I start, falling victim to self-doubt, overworking myself, or burning out.
Dream up an ideal client testimonial. What did they say about the process/working with you? How did their life transform? What was their pain point and where are they now?
“I didn’t feel comfortable putting myself out there. I started to develop healing abilities but didn’t feel I had the right to. I also didn’t feel it was right to ask for money in exchange for readings. I still felt like this couldn’t be a legitimate job. After working with Nicole, I was able to gain clarity around my offerings and confidence about pricing. She helped me realize that money is an energy exchange and that it was necessary to charge for my services so I didn’t burn myself out. My business is thriving and my clients are using their new insights to transform their lives.”