Why Squarespace?
Squarespace is a powerful website builder and no code tool that allows you to build dynamic and exciting layouts in an intuitive interface. Squarespace's Fluid Engine editor makes it easy to control text, images, video and much more. It's one of the leading website builders on the market and is affordable too.
Why a Squarespace template?
Whilst Fluid Engine makes it straightforward to add content and style it to your liking, there is still a learning curve to it. You will pick up the basics in an hour or two and probably have to refer to a few tutorial videos to get you on your way. A template is pre-built by a professional designer, and all the hard work is done for you. An example is our own Coffee Shop Squarespace template. Sure, you will have to add your own content, such as website copy/text and images, but with the template designed, it makes that job so much easier and can save you days, if not weeks, of time.
There are hundreds if not thousands of templates for Squarespace. Below are the very best we have hand picked for coaches and therapists.
#1 Flora
This is a beautifully themed template based on, you guessed it - flowers! It has a wonderful feel to it, and it's top of this list for a reason. The home page has a stellar parallax animation, as well as other animations throughout. You could do a lot worse than this template with minimal editing. It's on the higher side of pricing for templates, but the quality is there - you get what you pay for! A true gem of a design and one of the best Squarespace templates for coaches, for sure.
#2 Noir
Noir has a solid design and has a real authentic feel to it. The contrasting light and dark colours work really well to give the robustness you need in many coaching and therapist websites. There are strong calls to action through the pages, which will encourage customers to get in touch.
#3 Cure Better
Another solid addition to the Squarespace template scene. The images really work well here and add to the overall vibe of the site. I do recommended using your own yet similar images to site. Having high quality authentic images, can alone make you stand out from your competition. The white space in this template has been well considered and this template is probably suited to a more experienced coach or therapist.
#4 Meriden
The three preceding templates are all custom-built templates by designers outside of Squarespace. Not to be completely overlooked is the 100 or so templates that Squarespace have made available for free. This Meriden template is one of the most atheistically pleasing templates of the lot. For me it has the best colours which are strong and vibrant without going overboard. You can save yourself $200-$500 and going with this template, the only issue is that many other sites use it too!
View Demo / Free
#5 Identity
Identity packs a powerful punch as a template and website. The colours and imagery are bold and vibrant. Whilst not target exactly for coaches this template could be modified quickly to suit that market and this is definitely suited to a coach or therapist with a strong personality.
#6 Nashville
This is another example of a beautifully designed template. You can tell from the imagery and colours used chosen here, that this template has been created by an experienced designer. There are polished animations which add to character. High grade photos give this template an outstanding vibe.
#7 Verano
Verano is a popular template by Big Cat Creative, which seems to have been around the Squarespace scene for many a year. This design has subtleties in the colours and imagery which give it a high caliber. The font choice is unique, and this template stands out from the crowd. Another prime template worthy of its mention in this top 9.
#8 Good Vibes
Good Vibes is the second template from Applet Studio in this coaching/therapist selection category. The guys and girls are this design shop are a talented bunch and this template is first rate. The colours and white space give it a fabulous and upbeat mood. Definitely one considering if you are a coach or therapist with a strong personality.
#9 Evans
Last but far from least, Evans is a strong candidate for a male coach. The loud and bold typography really makes a statement here. Although for speakers this one could be easily modified for a coach. (All Squarespace 7.1 templates for that matter 7.1 can be easily modified, it's one of the strong selling points of the platform.) Definitely consider this template if you have a loud brand voice, and a unique personality and that's something you want to portray on your website.
5 top tips for coaching/therapist sites.
CTAS
CTAS(call to actions) should be prominent and used throughout a coaching site. You may think people will "just" get in touch, but study after study proves that having calls to action in prominent positions make for more enquiries.
Check in mobile and tablets
You make be designing and viewing your Squarespace site on a desktop or laptop machine but the chances are that your audience is on a mobile device. Some industries have 90%+ viewing on mobiles. The average is somewhat more in the 50/50 range. No matter it's vital you make sure your site works and works well on mobile and tablet devices.
Keep language simple
Don't use complex language unless you are sure your audience will understand it. Even if they do - writing simple terms that a 5th grader can understand is the best move for your site in the majority of scenarios.
Authentic photos
A lot of these templates work well because of the imagery and it's likely you will need to swap them out with your own images. Having a high quality photographer on hand can be very beneficial and critical to the success of the look and feel of your site. If on a budget contact your local college photography department and say you are looking for help. They might not be Annie Leibovitz, but they will likely be able to help you a lot.
USP
As a coach or therapist, why do your customers choose you over your competition? It's one of the pertinent business questions, and if you don't have a respectable answer, your time in business could be in danger. What makes you stand out? This is a question very well worth considering.
Have fun choosing a template, and feel free to comment on Twitter with any feedback.