7 of the very best Squarespace templates for video

Seeking to take your filmmaking, video-editing, or streaming skills past YouTube, Vimeo, TikTok, or Twitch? A private web site stuffed together with your finest work can appeal to potential shoppers, develop an viewers, and assist flesh out your model. It might even function an alternate supply of earnings — assume digital lessons or behind-the-scenes exclusives which might be ripe for monetizing.

So far as web site builders go, Squarespace(Opens in a brand new tab) is a well-liked decide for creatives as a result of it takes a streamlined method to web site administration and design. With pricing beginning as little as $16 a month, all of its plans(Opens in a brand new tab) embody 24/7 buyer assist, limitless bandwidth, efficiency metrics, web optimization options, ecommerce instruments, and SSL safety(Opens in a brand new tab). It additionally maintains an enormous library(Opens in a brand new tab) of fashionable, mobile-optimized templates which might be simply personalized utilizing drag-and-drop web page parts; you do not want any coding expertise to create a visually gorgeous web site that runs easily.

Even higher but, each single a type of templates helps video.

In truth (and relying on how decisive you might be), this may very well be a blessing or a curse. On the one hand, you’ve got acquired so many templates to select from — over 230, to be extra particular. Then again, you’ve got acquired so many templates to select from that it may be onerous to choose a choose few, particularly when you’re nonetheless unsure precisely the way you need your web site to look.

Under, you will discover Mashable’s information to selecting the best Squarespace template for video and a roundup of our present favorites.

What’s a Squarespace template?

A Squarespace template or theme is a pre-built demo web site that’ll function “a place to begin to assist encourage your web site’s design,” in accordance with its assist middle(Opens in a brand new tab). You possibly can depart that web site principally as-is and easily repackage the demo content material with your personal branding, or give it a top-to-bottom makeover with completely different colours, font packs(Opens in a brand new tab), layouts(Opens in a brand new tab), and content material blocks(Opens in a brand new tab) — all of it is determined by how distinctive you need your web site to be (and the way a lot effort and time you are feeling like spending on it).

Templates work otherwise relying on the model of Squarespace(Opens in a brand new tab) you are operating. You have acquired two choices as of 2023:

• Squarespace model 7.0 incorporates 91 templates(opens in a brand new tab) it kinds into completely different “households” that share the identical mounted construction and formatting choices. Some skilled Squarespace designers choose utilizing this model as a result of a handful of its superior functionalities nonetheless aren’t out there within the newer one (the Brine(Opens in a brand new tab) template household’s parallax scrolling(Opens in a brand new tab) impact, for instance), however the incapability to combine and match options from completely different households could make it really feel rigid.

• Squarespace model 7.1 merged all 140-plus of its templates(opens in a brand new tab) into one household, so all of them share the identical options and elegance parts. The demo designs wind up trying a little bit extra homogenous, however the trade-off is that you may simply swap between templates with out risking content material loss. Model 7.1 templates will also be constructed out utilizing Fluid Engine(Opens in a brand new tab) (new as of mid-2022), Squarespace’s next-gen, grid-based content material editor; it affords extra flexibility for block placements and format choices in comparison with the platform’s Traditional Editor.

Some fantastic print: It is technically doable to maneuver from model 7.0 to model 7.1(Opens in a brand new tab), however that normally includes a guide rebuild and successful to your web site’s search rating. Should you’re unsure which model it’s best to use, go forward and boot up Squarespace’s free 14-day trial(Opens in a brand new tab) — that’ll allow you to discover each earlier than locking in a paid plan.

How do you add video to a Squarespace web site?

You possibly can add movies to your web site(Opens in a brand new tab) in three other ways, which additionally rely on the model of Squarespace you are operating.

1. Embed movies from YouTube, Vimeo, Animoto, or Wistia utilizing a URL or embed code. This works with video blocks(Opens in a brand new tab), embed blocks(Opens in a brand new tab), gallery blocks(Opens in a brand new tab), gallery pages(Opens in a brand new tab), cowl pages(Opens in a brand new tab), lock display backgrounds(Opens in a brand new tab), and a few banners(Opens in a brand new tab) and product pages(Opens in a brand new tab) (relying on the template household) in model 7.0, and with movies pages(Opens in a brand new tab), video blocks, embed blocks, part backgrounds(Opens in a brand new tab), lock display backgrounds, and a few gallery blocks (relying on the positioning space) in model 7.1. You possibly can even embody livestreams from YouTube and Vimeo, however observe that they might not work after the stream is over relying in your settings.

2. Add .mp4, .m4v, or .mov recordsdata. Model 7.1 additionally enables you to add clips on to any video web page or part background (as much as 5GB or 500MB, respectively). These play on the platform’s customized video participant and have editable titles, descriptions, URLs, thumbnails, and metadata. Notice that every one Squarespace plans come commonplace with simply half-hour of high-resolution video storage, however you’ll be able to improve by activating its Member Areas function for an additional price. (Extra on that in a sec.)

3. Swap static photos for animated .gif recordsdata. Sound-free GIFs that play and loop robotically can go wherever in your web site the place photos are supported, together with picture blocks(Opens in a brand new tab), banners, and gallery blocks. Each variations of Squarespace provide you with this feature.

This one comes with an vital caveat as nicely, which is that Squarespace does not embody any video metrics in its analytics(Opens in a brand new tab) tab. Performs of embedded movies might add to your whole view depend, however you will need to contact your host (e.g., YouTube) for extra intel.

What different video instruments does Squarespace provide?

Squarespace has launched a number of cool new video-related instruments throughout the previous couple of years, one being the aforementioned Member Areas(Opens in a brand new tab) function. Add it to your plan for as little as $9 a month to unlock extra video storage and the power to gate sure content material in your web site, together with digital workshops, tutorials, packages, and newsletters. It makes a superb in-house various (or complement) to Patreon or YouTube channel memberships, as you’ll be able to cost customers a one-time price or a recurring subscription for entry.

Squarespace fleshed out(Opens in a brand new tab) its free Unfold(Opens in a brand new tab) app for social content material with extra video options in 2022, including a Slideshows software that may sew a sequence of photos and clips for TikTok or Instagram Reels (full with customized templates, filters, and results). It is out there for each iOS(Opens in a brand new tab) and Android(Opens in a brand new tab).

Customers can even benefit from Squarespace Video Studio(Opens in a brand new tab), an app for creating premium movies you’ll be able to share on to your web site and/or on social media. (This one’s out there solely for iOS.) That includes professionally designed video templates you’ll be able to autofill together with your web site’s model kinds and product photos, its AI voiceover software and built-in teleprompter (with script size options!) make it simple to whip up clips on the fly. It is free to obtain with any Squarespace plan or trial, with full entry unlocked for Enterprise and Commerce subscribers.

How do you decide the precise Squarespace template?

Squarespace’s templates tab(Opens in a brand new tab) enables you to filter its library by kind and subject, which ought to aid you condense your pool of candidates fairly a bit. Hit the “View Demo Website” button after clicking on any template to see what a stay model might seem like — only a few embody video, sadly, however needless to say they’re pretty simple so as to add virtually wherever on a web site. Squarespace notes(Opens in a brand new tab) that “you might discover it simpler to start out with a design that is already near the way you need your web site to look,” so focus primarily on colours and layouts that catch your eye.

Want some higher course? Preserve scrolling to take a look at seven Squarespace templates that work particularly nicely for video proper off the bat.

Notice: Most of our suggestions are from Squarespace model 7.1, however we have sprinkled in a number of choices from model 7.0 that proceed to face out. Templates have been labeled accordingly.