How to Create a Squarespace Website to Sell Online Courses: A Step-by-Step Tutorial
This is a text tutorial for a video we made on the NYC TECH CLUB Youtube channel on learning how to use Squarespace to make a website and sell digital products like an online course. In this tutorial, we’ll walk you through the entire process, from choosing a template to setting up your courses, pricing plans, and more. By the end, you’ll have a fully functional website where students can preview and purchase your courses.
Step 1: Get Started with Squarespace
- Visit Squarespace:
- Go to Squarespace.com (this is an affiliate link and it supports this channel at no extra cost to you).
- Click Get Started.
- Choose Your Website Type:
- Select Courses to filter templates designed for online courses.
- For this tutorial, we’ll use the Bloom template.
- Preview and Select the Template:
- Click Preview to see how the template looks.
- Once you’re happy, click Start with This Design.
- Name Your Website:
- Enter a name for your website (e.g., “AI Code Tutor”).
- Click Continue.
Step 2: Customize Your Website
- Add a Course:
- Click Add a Course to start creating your first course.
- Choose a course template (e.g., Course 2 for a horizontal layout).
- Edit Course Details:
- Rename the course if needed.
- Add videos, PDFs, and other resources to your lessons.
- Set Up Pricing Plans:
- Go to Pricing Plans to create subscription tiers (e.g., monthly or one-time payments).
- Add descriptions, bullet points, and pricing for each plan.
- Configure the Paywall:
- Decide whether the paywall appears on the course overview page or only when users try to access locked content.
Step 3: Customize the Homepage
- Edit Sections:
- Hover over any section and click Edit to customize text, images, and buttons.
- Use the Edit Section option to change background colors, images, or videos.
- Add or Remove Blocks:
- Click Add Block to insert text, images, buttons, or other elements.
- Drag and drop blocks to rearrange them.
- Mobile Optimization:
- Switch to the mobile view to ensure your website looks great on all devices.
Step 4: Upload Course Content
- Add Lessons and Chapters:
- Go to Course Content and click Add Lesson to upload videos, PDFs, or other resources.
- Use the Video Tab to embed videos from YouTube or Vimeo.
- Set Lesson Thumbnails:
- Upload custom thumbnails for each lesson to make your course visually appealing.
- Use Accordions for FAQs:
- Add dropdown sections for FAQs or additional information.
Step 5: Set Up Payments
- Enable Squarespace Payments:
- Go to Payments and click Get Started to set up your payment processor.
- Choose from options like credit cards, PayPal, Apple Pay, and more.
- Test Transactions:
- Use the Test Mode to ensure everything works smoothly before going live.
Step 6: Publish Your Website
- Review and Save Changes:
- Double-check all sections, pricing plans, and course content.
- Click Save to apply your changes.
- Upgrade Your Plan:
- To go live, upgrade from the 14-day free trial to a paid plan.
- Share Your Website:
- Copy your website URL and share it with your audience.
Pro Tips for Success
- Brand Your Website: Use custom colors, fonts, and logos to make your site unique.
- Optimize for SEO: Add keywords to your course titles and descriptions to improve search rankings.
- Engage Your Audience: Use email campaigns and social media to promote your courses.
Final Thoughts
Creating a Squarespace website to sell online courses is easier than you think! With the Bloom template and this step-by-step guide, you’ll have a professional-looking site in no time. Don’t forget to use the affiliate link in the description to get started and support this channel.
If you found this tutorial helpful, give it a thumbs up and subscribe to the NYC Tech Club YouTube channel for more tips and tutorials. Happy building! 🚀
This tutorial is optimized for readability and SEO, with clear headings, bullet points, and actionable steps. Let me know if you need further assistance!