8 Lessons Learned Selling Squarespace Templates
Selling Squarespace templates can be rewarding, but it’s not as simple as uploading a design and watching the sales roll in. It requires strategic thinking, audience-building, and a long-term commitment. If you’re willing to put in the work, it can be a great income stream—but if you’re looking for quick wins, this probably isn’t for you.
After years of selling templates, here are eight lessons I’ve learned:
1. Content Marketing is Non-Negotiable
If you want to sell templates, you have to create content. Blog posts, tutorials, YouTube videos, Pinterest graphics—something that educates or inspires your audience. A template alone isn’t enough; people need to see it in action, understand its benefits, and feel confident in purchasing.
Templates sell best when you provide valuable content that attracts and nurtures potential buyers.
2. You Need an Audience (And You Need to Build It)
No audience = no sales.
Most people don’t wake up thinking, I need a new Squarespace template today. Your job is to build a community of people who are likely to need one soon.
Start with:
SEO (so you show up when people search for templates)
Email marketing (so you stay top of mind)
Social media (so people see your work in action)
Paid ads (if you’re ready to scale)
Figure out where your buyers are already looking and meet them there.
3. Conversion Rates Are Lower Than You Think
Selling templates is a numbers game. Even with great marketing, most people who see your templates won’t buy—so you need volume.
Improve your conversions by:
Offering a freebie (like a mini-template or guide) to build trust
Using testimonials and case studies
Making it easy to preview your template
Offering a money-back guarantee (if it makes sense for your business)
Expect low conversion rates at first, but keep optimizing.
4. This is a Long-Term Game
Selling templates is not a quick-cash scheme. It takes time to gain traction.
You’ll need to:
Continuously update your templates
Create new designs based on demand
Engage with your audience consistently
Most successful template sellers aren’t just designers—they’re marketers and business owners playing the long game.
5. Differentiation is Everything (The Market Isn’t Too Saturated)
A common question: Is the Squarespace template market too saturated?
My answer: It depends.
There are a lot of templates out there, but there will always be people looking for something unique. Maybe they need a template for a niche that isn’t well-represented, or maybe they want something highly customized.
Instead of competing with existing designs, focus on what’s missing. There’s always room for something new.
6. How Much Money Can You Make?
Let’s break down the path to $100,000 selling templates.
If you sell a $274 template, you’d need to sell one per day to hit that goal.
Alternatively, you could create a template membership for $100/month and aim for 83 members.
Neither of these will happen overnight. You need a ramp-up period to:
Build your audience
Optimize your marketing
Increase your average order value
Start by solving a real problem. If your templates genuinely make people’s lives easier, you’ll have a reason to keep going.
7. Templates Let You Earn Back Your Time
When I started selling templates, I was transitioning from custom client work to digital products. The biggest win? Time.
After my daughter was born in 2017, we had a lot of hospital visits and specialist appointments. If I were still relying on billable hours, I wouldn’t have had the flexibility I needed.
Selling digital products like templates allowed me to create assets that continued to generate income—even when I wasn’t actively working.
If you’re designing websites regularly, you’re already creating templates. The shift is turning that work into a scalable, sellable product.
8. Marketplaces & Affiliates Can Accelerate Growth
Marketplaces
When launching, leverage existing platforms where buyers already exist:
Creative Market & Etsy (popular for Squarespace templates)
Ghost Marketplace (Squarespace-specific)
Google Shopping Ads (which often feature these platforms)
You can also list on SquarespaceThemes.com—my own directory for templates.
Affiliates
One of my favorite strategies: let other people sell for you.
An affiliate program means others promote your templates and earn a commission on sales. This helps you reach new audiences without doing all the marketing yourself.
Some great affiliate tracking tools:
Peachs
ThriveCart
Affiliatly
Last Word
Selling Squarespace templates is a great business if you’re strategic and committed. It’s not just about making beautiful designs—it’s about solving problems, building an audience, and marketing effectively.
If you’re just starting, here’s my advice:
Buy a template to see what works.
Start with one great design that solves a real problem.
Focus on content marketing and getting in front of buyers.
Be patient. Growth takes time.
Let me know your thoughts in the comments—I’d love to hear about your template-selling journey!