How to Choose a Squarespace Web Designer
10 Things to Look For Before Hiring (plus a few extras)
If you're thinking of hiring a Squarespace web designer, there are plenty of options to choose from.
At first glance, many designers may appear to offer similar services: custom design, responsive layouts, SEO setup, revisions, and launch support. But the quality of the finished website and the overall experience of getting there can vary considerably.
Choosing the right designer involves more than simply finding a portfolio you like. You also want someone who understands your business goals, communicates clearly, knows the Squarespace platform, and can provide guidance throughout the project.
Here are ten things I recommend considering before hiring a Squarespace web designer, as well as some questions you should ask and red flags you should look out for.
1. Review their actual client work
A designer's own website should naturally look polished, but their client portfolio can tell you much more. Look through several completed projects and ask:
Do the websites feel distinct from one another?
Can the designer adapt to different brands and industries?
Is it easy to understand what each business offers?
Are important calls to action clear?
Do the websites feel polished on both desktop and mobile?
Does the design seem appropriate for the client rather than simply reflecting the designer's personal style?
I've worked with businesses across more than 20 industries, and each has its own challenges to solve. A healthcare clinic, restaurant, consultant, fitness studio, technology company, and nonprofit should not simply receive the same website template with different colors and photos swapped in.
The overall objective should be to create a website appropriate for the specific business, audience, and goals. Examples of the distinct websites I’ve launched can be seen throughout my portfolio.
2. Consider their Squarespace experience
If you've already decided to build your website on Squarespace, working with someone who regularly uses the platform can make a huge difference.
An experienced Squarespace designer should understand more than how to simply build pages. They should have the platform knowledge and technical expertise needed to support your specific project requirements.
For starters, they should know how to effectively use Squarespace’s drag-and-drop Fluid Engine (version 7.1), and have familiarity with the older Classic Editor (version 7.0), particularly when working with legacy Squarespace websites or upgrading an existing site to the current platform.
They should also be comfortable working with:
responsive layouts, including desktop, mobile, and tablet optimization
custom CSS and JavaScript (at minimum, a basic understanding)
Squarespace’s Acuity scheduling or third-party scheduling integrations
e-commerce (if the project requires)
blog collections
proper contact form setup
domain connections and DNS records
third-party integrations / embeds
URL redirects when needed
Google Search Console
foundational SEO
Platform experience helps a designer understand Squarespace’s strengths and limitations, when custom code is worthwhile, when a native solution is sufficient, and when another platform may be a better fit altogether. For example, a large-scale online store with highly complex e-commerce requirements may be better served on Shopify.
Squarespace Circle status can also provide an indication of experience within the platform. I'm a Squarespace Circle Platinum Partner, which is earned by successfully launching a significant number of Squarespace websites per year. This partner tier also grants me access to the highest level of benefits that I can pass on to my clients, such as website subscription discounts, extended trial periods, early feature releases, and advanced design resources.
Credentials can provide useful additional context, but they should never fully replace reviewing a designer's actual work.
3. Look for strategic guidance, not just execution
Web design should be collaborative.
You understand your business better than your designer, so your feedback and perspective are essential. But you shouldn’t have to make every website decision yourself.
A professional designer should be willing to explain why they recommend a particular layout, page structure, call to action, or user flow. Sometimes that also means pushing back on an idea.
My own approach is not to simply take a client’s instructions and execute without question. If I believe there is a clearer or more effective way to accomplish something, I explain why and provide a recommendation.
That professional judgment is a large part of what you’re hiring a designer for.
4. Make sure they understand the actual business goals
Before focusing on colors, fonts, layouts, or animations, a designer should understand what the website needs to accomplish. Important questions might include:
Who is the target audience?
Why are visitors coming to the website?
What information do they need?
What action should they take?
What isn’t working on the existing site?
What would make the redesign successful?
Defining the actual business goals early can shape the website strategy and lead to measurable results.
For example, by asking the right questions during the initial planning for the website redesign of Tørst, we identified that increasing private event inquiries was one of the client’s primary goals. The Brooklyn restaurant and bar already had strong visibility, but the old site offered little information about booking private events, had no clear paths to inquire, and didn’t provide an accurate presentation of the venue itself.
The redesign introduced a dedicated Private Events page, stronger calls to action, and a streamlined inquiry form. Within two weeks of launch, Tørst saw an increase in reservations and private event inquiries, now receiving at least one to two contact form submissions per day.
5. Evaluate their design process
A strong portfolio doesn’t automatically mean the project itself will be organized. Before hiring someone, make sure you understand how the project will move from initial conversation to launch. A typical process may include:
Discovery and onboard
Content collection (brand guidelines, logo, written copy, images, etc.)
Initial planning and design
Client review and feedback
Revisions and remaining buildout
Responsive optimization
Backend and SEO setup
Domain connection and launch
Training and handoff
For my own projects, I generally start with an introductory call where we discuss the website goals, followed by an onboarding phase where we finalize the project details in a detailed proposal and gather all required content in a shared Content Hub.
Once everything is ready, I typically design the homepage first, collect feedback on the overall direction, and then use that approved style as the foundation for the remaining pages. Feedback is collected using Workflow.design, a click-and-comment feedback tool that allows us to efficiently keep track of updates and streamline the feedback process for a highly collaborative approach.
When the website is fully approved, I handle the launch process. This includes helping set up the Squarespace subscription, connecting the domain, and transferring ownership. I also provide 30 days of free post-launch email support, with personalized tutorial videos and ongoing website maintenance if needed.
A clearly defined process helps keep the project organized and ensures both the designer and client know what to expect at each stage.
6. Understand how revisions and feedback are handled
Revisions are a normal part of a custom website project. What’s important is having a clear system for collecting and implementing feedback. More revisions do not necessarily mean better service. You’ll want to ask:
How many rounds of revisions are included?
How should feedback be submitted?
How are multiple stakeholders handled?
What happens if additional revisions are needed?
Will the designer provide recommendations when reviewing feedback?
For my own projects, I generally include two rounds of revisions, though the exact number may vary depending on the scope and timeline. I also schedule feedback at specific stages of the project to catch any misalignment early and avoid unnecessary rework later.
To keep feedback organized and easy to reference, I use Workflow.design, which allows comments to be tracked directly on the site in progress. I also recommend designating one primary point of contact when multiple stakeholders are involved so feedback can be consolidated and conflicting direction is minimized.
I don’t simply implement every request without review, either. I evaluate feedback from a professional standpoint and provide recommendations, along with the reasoning behind them, when I believe a different approach would better support the project goals.
7. Make sure responsive design is included
Squarespace websites are responsive by nature, but designers still need to make adjustments to ensure the layouts actually work well across device sizes. Not every desktop layout will automatically result in an optimized tablet or mobile experience. Responsive design should be treated as part of the design process, not as an afterthought.
A professional designer should review and optimize elements such as:
font sizes
spacing
image crops
columns
content order
buttons
navigation
section height
interactive elements
8. Ask how they approach SEO & AIO during the project
Not every web designer provides ongoing SEO and AIO strategy, but the foundational setup should always be considered during a professional website build or redesign. This may include:
page titles
meta descriptions
proper heading hierarchy
URL structure
internal linking
image optimization and alt text
redirects
Google indexing
mobile responsiveness
clear, well-structured content that search engines and AI systems can easily understand
SEO is especially important during a redesign or website migration because existing pages may already have search visibility. Changing URLs unnecessarily or failing to implement redirects can create avoidable problems after launch.
AIO adds another layer by making sure the website clearly communicates who the business is, what it offers, who it serves, and how its services, expertise, and results relate to one another. Well-organized service pages, FAQs, case studies, and descriptive content can all help AI-driven search tools better understand and surface that information.
9. Consider how the website will work after launch
A website should be practical for the business to manage and expand over time.
This was an important part of my project for DGA Health, a private healthcare clinic in London, which involved redesigning and migrating the website from WordPress to Squarespace. In addition to simplifying navigation and restructuring appointment booking paths, I created reusable service page templates and standardized blog layouts so the clinic could continue expanding the site independently as its services and content grew.
For my projects, I also provide personalized recorded training specific to the finished website along with post-launch email support. The goal is for clients to feel confident managing updates on their own while still knowing they can reach out if they need additional help.
A website shouldn’t become difficult to maintain simply because the original designer is no longer actively working on it.
10. Pay attention to communication and support
Communication is one of the most important and often overlooked parts of hiring a web designer. Website projects involve a large number of individual decisions, so clear communication keeps the process manageable. During your initial conversations, pay attention to whether the designer:
answers your questions clearly
explains technical concepts in understandable language
asks thoughtful questions about your business
establishes realistic expectations
communicates what they need from you
provides clear next steps
What questions should you ask a Squarespace designer before hiring?
If you’re comparing designers, consider asking the following questions. The answers should give you a much clearer picture of what working with that designer will actually be like:
How much experience do you have with Squarespace?
Can I see relevant examples of your work?
What is included in the project fee?
How many rounds of revisions are included?
How is feedback collected?
Is responsive optimization included?
What foundational SEO work do you provide?
Will you handle the domain connection or migration?
What happens when the website launches?
Will you teach me how to manage the website?
What post-launch support is included?
What do you need from me before the project begins?
What are some red flags when hiring a web designer?
Every designer works differently, but there should be clear expectations on both sides. Be cautious if:
the designer cannot show completed client work
every project in the portfolio looks nearly identical
the project scope is vague
there is no defined process
they guarantee specific Google rankings
mobile optimization isn’t discussed
ownership of the website is unclear
there is no plan for launch or handoff
communication is already difficult before the project begins
The right Squarespace designer should make the project easier
Choosing a Squarespace designer shouldn’t come down to visual style or price alone. A strong portfolio may initially get your attention, but there are additional qualities that can make the difference between simply receiving a new website and having a successful website project. Look for someone who combines:
strong design
Squarespace expertise
strategic thinking
clear communication
an organized process
responsive optimization
foundational SEO knowledge
thoughtful training and handoff
Looking for a professional Squarespace web designer?
I'm Dan Cohen, a New York-based Squarespace web designer and Squarespace Circle Platinum Partner. I've worked with businesses across more than 20 industries to create custom websites focused on design, usability, clarity, and long-term growth.
If you're considering a new Squarespace website or redesign, you can explore my portfolio, review my services, or schedule a free intro call to discuss your project.
