How to create a course with Squarespace member areas

Online courses are a fantastic way to share your expertise, build a loyal audience, and create an additional income stream. If you're looking for a platform to host your course, Squarespace might be a surprisingly good fit. This blog post will guide you through the basics of course creation on Squarespace, while our accompanying YouTube video provides a detailed visual demonstration.

Squarespace as a Course Platform

Let's take a look at the pros and cons of using Squarespace to create your online course:

Pros:

• Ease of use: Squarespace is well-known for its user-friendly interface and drag-and-drop website builder, making course creation less intimidating.

• Integrated design tools: Create a beautiful, professional-looking course that matches your existing brand and website.

• Streamlined branded experience: Keep everything within your Squarespace ecosystem for a seamless student experience.

Cons:

• Limited advanced course features: Squarespace lacks the more robust features found on dedicated course platforms (like complex quizzes, progress tracking, advanced analytics, etc.).

• Transaction fees: Squarespace charges transaction fees on course sales, which can add up over time.

Best for:

• Simple online courses: Squarespace shines with courses aimed at self-paced learning without the need for fancy bells and whistles.

• Creators who already use and love Squarespace: If you already have a Squarespace website, adding a course can be a natural extension.

Step-by-Step Guide

• Setting Up Your Member Area

  • Begin by accessing the Member Areas feature within your Squarespace dashboard.

  • Give your member area a descriptive name and establish the basic access settings (password protected, invite-only, etc.).

  • Connect your preferred payment processor (Stripe, PayPal) to enable student enrollment.

• Customizing Your Course Experience

  • Email Notifications: Craft personalized welcome messages, payment confirmations, and any other automated emails your students will receive. Match the tone and branding of your course.

  • Member Navigation: Design a clear and intuitive navigation menu within your member area. Guide your students to their lessons, any community features, and their account settings with ease.

• Structuring Your Lessons

  • Squarespace leverages its blogging functionality for course creation. Each lesson becomes a blog post.

  • Utilize clear titles, video embeds, text content, downloadable resources, and any other elements that enhance the learning experience.

  • Consider using categories or tags to organize lessons into modules or topics for easy navigation.

• Creating Your Sales Page

  • Design an eye-catching sales page that clearly outlines the benefits of your course and what students will learn.

  • Include testimonials or social proof to build trust.

  • Feature a prominent "Join Now" button that seamlessly takes potential students to the secure checkout process.