Getting a new website, or jumping into anything new, for that matter, (i.e. launching a new product, starting a new business, or getting a new haircut) can be scary. Even if it comes from a place of excitement, even if you know it will turn out for the best in the end - starting CAN be scary. “What if people don’t like it?”, “What if it’s (read as I’m) not good enough?”, “What if it won’t work?” - do any of these sound familiar to you? Yes. And you are not alone.
Getting a new website - scary or not? 8 creatives answered.
Photo Credits: jasperkphoto.com
We will be honest - this was supposed to be a Halloween themed article, explaining why website building can seem scary and challenging. Much to our own surprise, it turned out to be an inspiring and encouraging piece!
We talked to some of our clients who recently revamped their websites. We asked them why they decided to get a new website and how hard of a decision it was. If the process was scary - how did they overcome their fears? We asked about how they felt right before (and after) the launch. At the end, each of these creatives shared a golden piece of advice for those who plan to revamp soon.
Keep reading, you might find yourself in their shoes - more than you’d imagine.
CATALINA AYUBI | Wedding Photographer
ayubiphotography.com - Site built with Ónyx Design Kit and Full Setup Service
“The reason why I felt the need to revamp was because my work was evolving and my website was no longer representative of the imagery I was producing. I felt like my website was stuck in the early 2010s and it was starting to look juvenile.
I made the decision that my website needed a deep facelift in late 2017 and yes, it took me that long to actually get it done. I purchased the design kit in 2018 and found it, although pretty user friendly, hard for me to actually find the time to apply myself to the building process. Finally a few months ago, I hired Squaremuse to do a full set up. And I am sooooo glad I did!!!
The team at SM made the process so easy! What I found challenging was deciding on the content to populate the design.
What helped me overcome my fears? Knowing that someone was doing the work for me, and knowing that they are amazing at what they do, have me the peace of mind and the motivation to do it!
Before the launch I was anxious, but after hearing such great feedback from my past and current clients, I was completely content and excited for the new website. The revamp was beyond worth it! I wish I would have done it sooner! It has given me and my brand the confidence to approach a more sophisticated clientele. I feel ready to introduce my work to the clients and vendors that I have always dreamed of.
One piece of advice I could give you: Don’t wait as long as I did! Trust the people you have hired; they really know what they are doing, and they do it in a hassle free, beautiful, and understanding way!”
MATTIA PALLOZZI | Ballet Dancer, Illustrator, Photographer and Visual Creative
mattiapallozzi.com - Site built with Osaka Design Kit
“As a creative, my style and taste are always changing and evolving. Revamping to me is necessary to keep my audience up to date and interested at all times. I have always wanted to have a personal page that acted as a portfolio. I recently switched careers so it was an immediate decision since I needed a space to showcase my body of work and my personality to future employees or people that are following my journey.
The process was a bit challenging, mainly because it was my first time using Squarespace and Squaremuse. The tutorials provided are very specific and were very helpful, also you can find more CSS tips and codes online. I needed a bit more help with that myself.
I was very excited before the launch! I’m very detailed oriented and I wanted the website to look very original, not your usual template, that’s why I chose Squaremuse. It helped me learn so much about website building and made me able to create exactly what I wanted. Right after the launch I was very relieved, and happy! After 3 weeks I was very proud of the website style and vibe, and I was also very happy to have learned tons during the process of building it. The revamping was totally worth it, it helped me having a huge portfolio at the click of a finger, without the need of printing multiple copies on paper.
A piece of advice? In 2019 everything has pretty much been done, and we are lucky to have the freedom to express ourself to the fullest: for that reason I’d say - be yourself and if you have a website, find the tools (Squaremuse 😉) to make it reflect who you are and your vision.”
MICHAEL AND ANNA COSTA | Destination Wedding Photographers
michaelandannacosta.com - Site built with Porto Design Kit and Full Setup Service
“This year we did a complete branding overhaul from our logo, our packaging materials, and everything else in-between all with a greater focus, developing business with the more high-end clientele we serve. A new website was essential. Our previous site was based off another website builder, which was a bit more difficult to update from a design perspective and generally less flexible. Our site stopped being responsive. It was time for a change and Squarespace, combined with a Squaremuse design, is kind of the ultimate platform right now if you need something user-friendly, but customizable.
When I purchase something, whether it’s a camera, a computer or even face wash I do a ridiculous amount of research on Google, Instagram and Communication Arts to get the best thing. It probably took about two months of semi-actively searching, but when we discovered the Squaremuse/Squarespace combo, it impressed us so much we were excited to jump in.
The process was challenging because like I said, I’m paralyzed to pull the trigger on anything unless I’m confident that it’s the best thing for our brand. Squaremuse ticked all the checkboxes we were looking for which were:
#1 Drop dead gorgeous design.
#2 The ability to customize the design/template to make it our own.
#3 Ease-of-use, hassle free installation/ installation full-service.
#4 Coders that were friendly, had talent and were easy to work with (Squaremuse has this in spades).
#5 Price for what you get.
Before launching, Anna and I were super excited, but a little nervous. Sometimes my perfectionist nature can get in the way of completing tasks as soon as I would like, but we were so excited about our new website and branding that we had to just launch it as soon as we were able. Over the next week and a half we filled in the rest of our galleries and text. I had recently learned that sometimes you just have to pull the trigger, and this going smoothly was a huge confidence builder in that life-lesson for me.
Was the revamp worth it? We’ve found Squaremuse to be of incredible value! From an ROI perspective it’s an absolute no brainer. After yourself, your website is your main marketing tool. All social media and everything else should have the goal of funneling potential clients back to your website. The response we’ve gotten from clients and wedding planners has been extremely positive. Everyone has been impressed, which is what we were going for!
One piece of advice: Do your research to make sure you are confident choosing the best design to represent your brand. It’s important to have something that is user-friendly and customizable. It’s a huge help to have a team like Squaremuse on your side that is knowledgeable about Squarespace and posses talent from a design perspective to make whatever style you decide on, unique to your brand.”
KENZIE GOLEY | Editorial, Lifestyle and Wedding Photographer & Stylist
kenziegoley.com - Site built with Miró Design Kit
“Deciding to revamp my website took me a few months probably! I would definitely say it was a decision that took consideration.
The whole process was challenging. It took over 3 weeks & I spent hours each day working on it. Some nights I even stayed up til 3 or 4am because I was so determined to get my new site up. I would say what helped me overcome my stress is the progress I was making & the vision I had for my website. But I was really excited before and after the launch! The revamp was completely worth it! I’ve gotten so many more views and compliments on my new site.
A piece of advice: If you feel like you should revamp your website, do it! It’s so so worth it & I would highly recommend Squaremuse. “
MICHAEL COZZENS | Destination Photographer and Videographer
michaelcozzens.com - Site built with D'Avella Design Kit
“I wanted my website to reach a new demographic and a much more niche audience who looks for a luxurious and high end photographer. The first thing most people see is your website, so I wanted to be sure that it made a lasting impression. I personally have the mindset of “my website will always evolve” so even though I have launched it I still constantly make tweaks and changes so it is streamlined! I was working on an older platform constantly and felt that I was working way harder than I needed to for not the best results, so I made the choice to invest in Squaremuse, and it was worth it 10 x’s over! I LOVE creating beautiful things and having an artistic website so I find so much joy in creating my website! I see it as an opportunity for me to share a piece of myself with my couples, so I love that D’Avella matches my style and personality so much!
When I launched, I felt AMAZING, but like I said - I constantly change bits and pieces of my website. The best part about Squaremuse is changing my site, and making it look amazing is 10 X’s easier than before!
The response I got on my new website has been UNREAL! My couples and fellow photographers/videographers are obsessed with my site and all the little details put into it. The cool PSD files that make my site different from everyone else are perfect and I love how unusual my website looks and “feels”.
Best advice I could give: understand that your website is a constantly evolving process so don’t expect “perfection”because it’s never going to happen and then you won’t launch your website for 3 years. Get a simple structure up, launch your site, and then constantly evolve it to be better and better. Also, think of who your ideal client is and design your website SPECIFICALLY AND EXACTLY for that client!”
MADISON WRIGHT | Wedding and Lifestyle Photographer
madisonwright.co - Site built with Osaka Design Kit and Full Setup Service
“The main reasons I wanted a website revamp was 1. my last name will be changing soon, so a rebrand happened! & 2. I wanted to feel super proud & excited to redirect potential clients to my website!!
The decision for updating my website was almost immediate after attending Rooted Photography Workshop! The need for a professional website is an absolute must. It truly draws clients in & gives them a better understanding of the passion behind your brand.
The process was far more simple than expected!! Working with the Squaremuse team was a dream. They made sure I was completely taken care of, updated & happy throughout the entire process!! Trusting someone with such an important aspect of your business is a little scary, but they really put my stress & fears at ease.
Right before the launch, I expected myself to stress a little because I’m such a perfectionist, but Squaremuse team took care of every single detail & reworked a few things that I requested!
The process before, during & after far exceeded my expectations!! The revamp was beyond worth it. I have not regretted it once! Having a professional, put together website makes me feel so great about where my business is & is headed. My updated website has allowed me to confidentially send potential clients to the contact form for initial inquiries (this is huge for me)! I believe my website has attracted new clients based on there being a clear message of my brand now & the professionalism incorporated throughout.
My biggest piece of advice for anyone considering a website revamp would be this: GO FOR IT! Set aside any underlying excuses that are holding you back. I promise, you will not regret the investment one bit!!”
VANESSA MAYBERRY | Destination Wedding Photographer
vanessamayberry.com - Site built with Osaka Design Kit
“I decided to re-do my website when I felt it was time to put a fresh face on my brand and wanted to have some sort of guidance to keep it clean. It took me a few months to consider changing my website as I know it’s a timely investment. The process itself wasn’t challenging, there were a variety of templates to choose from but only certain ones I found interest in.
I have had my website running for a few years and had a prior Squaremuse template before this new one, so I wasn’t nervous about the process at all. I was already familiar with how the files and guides work. I really like my new website as it was cleaned up nicely!
Once piece of advice: Figure out what style you want to represent your brand and just dive right in!”
MARISSA NICOLE | Lifestyle and Wedding Photographer
marissanicolee.com - Site built with Osaka Design Kit
“I really wanted my website to look as professional as possible, while also doing it myself and saving a bit of money. My friend used Squaremuse for her website and it was exactly what I was looking for! So, I decided to invest in a template and I've been obsessed ever since. It was easy to put together & I finally saw my vision come to life.
The idea was in the back of my mind for a while, but I thought it'd take up too much of my time and be out of my skill set. However, when I saw examples of how my website could turn out and realized how simple it was, I stopped stalling and immediately bought it and started working on it. It was probably a month from hearing about it and purchasing it. It came to a point where I knew I wanted to reach a goal, and knew the best way to achieve it.
The process was the easiest out of any websites I've built before. Again, I'm no web designer, so the fact that Squaremuse came with tutorials, examples and clear steps, made it a breeze. The guidelines it came with helped me go step by step, which really eased my stress.
Before the launch of my website I felt confident. I knew I might've needed to tweak it here and there, but it was so minuscule that I just had to launch it already. Right after, I got a ton of compliments on it and felt so accomplished!
The site update was 100% worth it. Especially since I did it all on my own. The revamp left me feeling refreshed and able to push my business further. My website finally portrayed my brand the exact way I wanted it to.
Best advice I could give: If you're wanting to revamp you're website, invest your time & go for it!! It does require work, but it feels so good to have the tools to make your website feel like you.”
We would like to thank these amazing folks for agreeing to open up and share their experience, and most importantly for their priceless pieces of advice! These guys are creatives from different industries, they all went through different experiences, but they all mentioned the same thing - getting a new website was all worth it!
Being scared is only natural, just know that you are not alone - you can always reach out to fellow creatives and to Squaremuse team. Know that your website doesn’t have to be constant and it can always be improved. Better launched than perfect, right?
Creatively yours,
Squaremuse Team.
PS. Looking for that secret code? It’s HAPPYMUSE20 and you get a 20% discount on Design Kits when using it.