How to Use SquareSpace to Make A Website for Online Courses

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

  1. 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.
  1. Choose Your Website Type:
  • Select Courses to filter templates designed for online courses.
  • For this tutorial, we’ll use the Bloom template.
  1. Preview and Select the Template:
  • Click Preview to see how the template looks.
  • Once you’re happy, click Start with This Design.
  1. Name Your Website:
  • Enter a name for your website (e.g., “AI Code Tutor”).
  • Click Continue.

Step 2: Customize Your Website

  1. 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).
  1. Edit Course Details:
  • Rename the course if needed.
  • Add videos, PDFs, and other resources to your lessons.
  1. 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.
  1. 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

  1. 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.
  1. Add or Remove Blocks:
  • Click Add Block to insert text, images, buttons, or other elements.
  • Drag and drop blocks to rearrange them.
  1. Mobile Optimization:
  • Switch to the mobile view to ensure your website looks great on all devices.

Step 4: Upload Course Content

  1. 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.
  1. Set Lesson Thumbnails:
  • Upload custom thumbnails for each lesson to make your course visually appealing.
  1. Use Accordions for FAQs:
  • Add dropdown sections for FAQs or additional information.

Step 5: Set Up Payments

  1. 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.
  1. Test Transactions:
  • Use the Test Mode to ensure everything works smoothly before going live.

Step 6: Publish Your Website

  1. Review and Save Changes:
  • Double-check all sections, pricing plans, and course content.
  • Click Save to apply your changes.
  1. Upgrade Your Plan:
  • To go live, upgrade from the 14-day free trial to a paid plan.
  1. 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!