Squarespace 7.0 vs 7.1
If you’ve been working on a Squarespace website for any length of time, chances are you will have come across the terms Squarespace 7.0 and 7.1; but what’s the difference between them? Does it matter which version you are using?
Squarespace 7.1 was released in BETA in mid 2019, and was fully launched in early 2020. But don’t let the .1 mislead you – this was no small update! We believe 7.1 is lightyears ahead of 7.0. Even so, many clients come to us with questions about their current 7.0 site and whether or not they should upgrade. So, we wanted to give you our thoughts on the platform, and why we recommend upgrading.
Design Flexibility.
No Fixed Template Themes.
One of the biggest changes to the way that Squarespace operates was the exit of fixed themes for a site. In Squarespace 7.0, users select a theme from the outset, and this then determines the design features and layouts available. We have encountered so many businesses who haven’t yet decided how they want their final site to look – so putting a fence around what can be achieved in a given template can be detrimental to the creativity needed for that perfect solution.
7.1 websites do not use fixed themes, so whilst you can select a template as a helpful starting point, any 7.1 site can be easily made to look like any other – with no limits placed on creativity.
Brand-New Page Sections.
Squarespace 7.1 introduced page sections. The old, ‘index page’ ‘pages of pages’ system has been overhauled, making any additions or adjustments to pages super-simple. Each section of any page is independently editable. Widths, colors, backgrounds and more can all be made to your exact specifications.
Long scrolling pages are definitely in right now and it can be helpful to reduce the number of chances to click off a webpage (except for that all-important call to action!). With the new page sections feature, it requires far fewer clicks (and much less effort) to get that extra bit of content, be it a contact form or a gallery grid, onto the page. Meaning that web projects no longer need to drag on for months with only small changes seeming to have been made.
Easy Custom CSS.
One solution we offer clients is the option of adding custom code to a web project. The native options for customisation are vast indeed, but sometimes clients have a very specific look or feature in mind. With Squarespace 7.1’s custom CSS (a type of website coding that affects how things look), we can easily make tweaks and changes beyond the realms of the native platform. And with the new page sections feature, it is painless to make sure the tweaks you want only take effect where you want them.
Ease of use.
Squarespace 7.1 has been designed with non-developers in mind, and while we hope that doesn’t put us out of work 😅, it does mean that small changes and content edits are now easier than ever to achieve.
With every website we build, we offer different levels of support based on your needs. We have every confidence that you could make changes yourself, but we want to free you up to do the much more important job of actually running your business!
Future Proofing.
The other main reason we love (and recommend) clients upgrade and use 7.1 is that it is Squarespace’s future. Why would we leave clients on a platform that could well become obsolete in the near future? Squarespace is continuously improving the 7.1 platform for its users, and has improved response times, SEO and security. All this makes sure that all its users can go about running their business knowing that their site is working exactly as it should.
While there is currently no magic button to migrate a 7.0 website to 7.1, we are often rebuilding websites for clients on the upgraded platform. Whether it’s a full redesign – like we did for Integrity – or more simply a content migration as in the case of Future Perfect, we find that companies are always happy that they took the step of upgrading. Gaining the confidence of having a beautiful website that attracts the right customers for them.
There’s so much more we love about the new platform, so if you want to know any more about upgrading or starting a site in Squarespace 7.1 schedule a call today!
Check out our recent post on what to consider before making the jump to 7.1!
