Yes, People Are Paying Upwards of $10k for Squarespace Designers

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Yes, website builders are designed to simplify the process of well.. building a website! But that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s easy and that every small business owner has success with them. In most cases creating a site can take time. It takes research and a developed understanding of style methods — and that time may not be available for someone without these skills but who needs their business online ASAP. 

If you want to make this a career change, you should learn the tricks of the trade to find out what value you really can offer.

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Is a Squarespace Built Website Really Worth $10K?

Yes, a Squarespace site is easily valued at $10k if not higher, depending on what it includes. If you’re new to this industry this is absolutely an achievable goal to put on your radar. 

First and foremost, it’s important to note that you’re not just selling a Squarespace site — you’re selling your experience. Some designers early on keep their prices pretty low depending on the amount of features they’re familiar with. If you’ve built just one Squarespace site, you definitely have experience and expertise that many small business owners do not, and already you are a highly valuable asset. So, when it comes to setting the prices for your services, you need to take into account your value, your speed, and your knowledge of design (which is more than just figuring out how to add a layout). The more experience you build, the more you can charge due to how fine-tuned you’ve made your work.

A good example of a new designer vs. an experienced one is that many people don’t realize the importance of a simple, effective navigation/mobile navigation menu. However, this can be one of the best tools to help make your website more lucrative and effective for the user/customer. A seasoned website creator will be privy to this information. They will know how to create a website with an effective navigation menu that will optimize the site and make it more profitable. This experience and understanding lead to a higher charge rate.

What Does it Take to Sell a Squarespace Site?

In order to sell a Squarespace site, you need experience and the ability to demonstrate the experience. This typically involves creating websites as well as a portfolio to showcase your experience. Either way, you need a way to clearly showcase your skills and what the client will be getting in exchange for their money.

You should be able to do the following:

• Know how to create an attractive, functional website: One of the top things you should do to justify charging higher costs for your Squarespace websites is to ensure that you’re designing attractive and functional websites. Websites that will positively impact a business. Two of the top reasons people seek others to create their websites is because they want to ensure that their website has a specific aesthetic and specific functions. Generally speaking, creating a simple website is easy for anyone. But once they have purchased the domain name and found a home for it, there are countless templates they can install to get the website up and running almost immediately, and choosing what will work best may feel like a guessing game without knowing what features appeal to site visitors. So, when they are reaching out, it’s because they are not satisfied with their options and are willing to pay more to ensure the site has the look and functionality they crave.

• Understanding Squarespace: Another of the top things you need to do is make sure you fully understand Squarespace features and back-end layout. Although the design process is relatively similar across the board, there are some features and functions that are specific to just the Squarespace platform. Make sure you have taken the time to fully understand the platform before marketing your services. For instance, changing fonts, color schemes, etc., is a major part of website design, but can be a complicated undertaking, especially in the event you need to change only one page of fonts, for example. Taking the time to ensure that you have mastered how to use these detailed functions on Squarespace is imperative to your professional status.

• Market your skills: One of the most important skills to have to sell high-cost websites is the ability to market your skills. As a freelance web designer, you can charge as much as you can convince others you deserve. This is where marketing comes into play. You may want to provide use cases, metrics, etc., to show the true value of investing in a high-quality website. For instance, if you are working with a client who has a great product but simply needs a great website to drive sales, you can show them how high-quality websites boost and drive sales. Since companies can make thousands or even millions of dollars off of one product, you can easily fit into their budget without question.

• Offer Great Customer Service: Your clients aren’t only coming to you for a great product; they also want great service. So if you are going to charge higher prices, you should also be giving them premium quality service. This means taking your time with the process and ensuring that you are catering to their every concern along the way. Send them video instructions with Loom when you send off their project, give them a checklist for regular maintenance, prepare them for running their website on their own once you’re finished.

How to Avoid Imposter Syndrome

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So how do you sell your skills at the appropriate price point, without feeling like a scammer? This is the hardest part for many, especially those who are newer to the industry. The simple truth is this can be a lot of money, even when you’re charging on the lower end of a few hundred to few thousand dollars. And when what you’re doing feels so easy (to you) it can be hard to believe you’re worth the paycheck.
First of all, realize that your work is not accessible for the average consumer. You’re solving a problem for people who are needing the things you can do with ease. What takes you a few days to weeks could easily take someone else months. Months that prevent their growth and stall their business development.

Next, move your target demographic away from the average consumer toward successful entrepreneurs and business owners who can afford your rate. Remember, you will be offering a service to those who are already seeking the service.

Yes, the rates will fluctuate from designer to designer. Yes, someone could find someone cheaper, but they may also pay double what you’re asking for and not even bat an eye. Learn enough to ensure that your charges make sense, and then stand firm on your pricing. If someone can’t afford the service, this means that they are not your target demographic, and there is no reason to feel bad about it.

Ready to Make $10K?

Overall, if you are a Squarespace web designer, or thinking about becoming one, this field can be life-changing. Nevertheless, you must be sure that you are providing them with high-quality services and an impressive end-product. We’ve designed over a thousand websites and we’re actively working to teach new or would-be designers how to find a career they’ll love.

Our youtube channel offers regular tutorials and walk-throughs of common Squarespace questions as well as product and extension add-ons that can advance your
We also have a wide range of free guides that can help you with your Squarespace site development, including how to optimize for SEO.  

We’ve also just launched a weekly newsletter with content updates and pro tips & tricks that will help you hit the cutting edge in the Squarespace world.