Looking to take your filmmaking, video-editing, or streaming talents beyond YouTube, Vimeo, TikTok, or Twitch? A personal website filled with your best work can attract potential clients, grow an audience, and help flesh out your brand. It can even serve as an alternate source of income — think virtual classes or behind-the-scenes exclusives that are ripe for monetizing.
As far as website builders go, Squarespace(opens in a new tab) is a popular pick for creatives because it takes a streamlined approach to site management and design. With pricing starting as low as $16 a month, all of its plans(opens in a new tab) include 24/7 customer support, unlimited bandwidth, performance metrics, SEO features, ecommerce tools, and SSL security(opens in a new tab). It also maintains a huge library(opens in a new tab) of stylish, mobile-optimized templates that are easily customized using drag-and-drop page elements; you don't need any coding experience to create a visually stunning site that runs smoothly.
Even better yet, every single one of those templates supports video.
Truthfully (and depending on how decisive you are), this could be a blessing or a curse. On the one hand, you've got so many templates to choose from — over 230, to be more specific. On the other hand, you've got so many templates to choose from that it can be hard to settle on a select few, especially if you're still not sure exactly how you want your site to look.
Below, you'll find Mashable's guide to choosing the right Squarespace template for video and a roundup of our current favorites.
What is a Squarespace template?
A Squarespace template or theme is a pre-built demo website that'll serve as "a starting point to help inspire your site's design," according to its support center(opens in a new tab). You can leave that website mostly as-is and simply repackage the demo content with your own branding, or give it a top-to-bottom makeover with different colors, font packs(opens in a new tab), layouts(opens in a new tab), and content blocks(opens in a new tab) — it all depends on how unique you want your site to be (and how much time and effort you feel like spending on it).
Templates work differently depending on the version of Squarespace(opens in a new tab) you're running. You've got two options as of 2023:
Squarespace version 7.0 contains 91 templates(opens in a new tab) it sorts into different "families" that share the same fixed structure and formatting options. Some experienced Squarespace designers prefer using this version because a handful of its advanced functionalities still aren't available in the newer one (the Brine(opens in a new tab) template family's parallax scrolling(opens in a new tab) effect, for example), but the inability to mix and match features from different families can make it feel inflexible.
Squarespace version 7.1 merged all 140-plus of its templates(opens in a new tab) into one family, so all of them share the same features and style elements. The demo designs wind up looking a little more homogenous, but the trade-off is that you can easily switch between templates without risking content loss. Version 7.1 templates can also be built out using Fluid Engine(opens in a new tab) (new as of mid-2022), Squarespace's next-gen, grid-based content editor; it offers more flexibility for block placements and layout options compared to the platform's Classic Editor.
Some fine print: It's technically possible to move from version 7.0 to version 7.1(opens in a new tab), but that usually involves a manual rebuild and a hit to your site's search ranking. If you're not sure which version you should use, go ahead and boot up Squarespace's free 14-day trial(opens in a new tab) — that'll let you explore both before locking in a paid plan.
How do you add video to a Squarespace site?
You can add videos to your site(opens in a new tab) in three different ways, which also depend on the version of Squarespace you're running.
Embed videos from YouTube, Vimeo, Animoto, or Wistia using a URL or embed code. This works with video blocks(opens in a new tab), embed blocks(opens in a new tab), gallery blocks(opens in a new tab), gallery pages(opens in a new tab), cover pages(opens in a new tab), lock screen backgrounds(opens in a new tab), and some banners(opens in a new tab) and product pages(opens in a new tab) (depending on the template family) in version 7.0, and with videos pages(opens in a new tab), video blocks, embed blocks, section backgrounds(opens in a new tab), lock screen backgrounds, and some gallery blocks (depending on the site area) in version 7.1. You can even include livestreams from YouTube and Vimeo, but note that they may not work after the stream is over depending on your settings.
Upload .mp4, .m4v, or .mov files. Version 7.1 also lets you add clips directly to any video page or section background (up to 5GB or 500MB, respectively). These play on the platform's custom video player and feature editable titles, descriptions, URLs, thumbnails, and metadata. Note that all Squarespace plans come standard with just 30 minutes of high-resolution video storage, but you can upgrade by activating its Member Areas feature for an extra fee. (More on that in a sec.)
Swap static images for animated .gif files. Sound-free GIFs that play and loop automatically can go anywhere on your site where images are supported, including image blocks(opens in a new tab), banners, and gallery blocks. Both versions of Squarespace give you this option.
This one comes with an important caveat as well, which is that Squarespace doesn't include any video metrics in its analytics(opens in a new tab) tab. Plays of embedded videos may add to your total view count, but you'll have to contact your host (e.g., YouTube) for more intel.
What other video tools does Squarespace offer?
Squarespace has launched a few cool new video-related tools within the past couple of years, one being the aforementioned Member Areas(opens in a new tab) feature. Add it to your plan for as low as $9 a month to unlock more video storage and the ability to gate certain content on your site, including virtual workshops, tutorials, packages, and newsletters. It makes a good in-house alternative (or supplement) to Patreon or YouTube channel memberships, as you can charge users a one-time fee or a recurring subscription for access.
Squarespace fleshed out(opens in a new tab) its free Unfold(opens in a new tab) app for social content with additional video features in 2022, adding a Slideshows tool that can stitch a series of images and clips for TikTok or Instagram Reels (complete with custom templates, filters, and effects). It's available for both iOS(opens in a new tab) and Android(opens in a new tab).
Users can also take advantage of Squarespace Video Studio(opens in a new tab), an app for creating premium videos you can share directly to your site and/or on social media. (This one's available exclusively for iOS.) Featuring professionally designed video templates you can autofill with your site's brand styles and product images, its AI voiceover tool and built-in teleprompter (with script length suggestions!) make it easy to whip up clips on the fly. It's free to download with any Squarespace plan or trial, with full access unlocked for Business and Commerce subscribers.
How do you pick the right Squarespace template?
Squarespace's templates tab(opens in a new tab) lets you filter its library by type and topic, which should help you condense your pool of candidates quite a bit. Hit the "View Demo Site" button after clicking on any template to see what a live version could look like — very few include video, unfortunately, but keep in mind that they're fairly easy to add almost anywhere on a site. Squarespace notes(opens in a new tab) that "you may find it easier to start with a design that's already close to how you want your site to appear," so focus mainly on colors and layouts that catch your eye.
Need some better direction? Keep scrolling to check out seven Squarespace templates that work especially well for video right off the bat.
Note: Most of our recommendations are from Squarespace version 7.1, but we've sprinkled in a few options from version 7.0 that continue to stand out. Templates have been labeled accordingly.
