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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.