Why I Moved from WordPress to Squarespace
As the founder and designer behind Lisa Cole Designs, initially WordPress.org was my primary choice. It’s powerful, open‑source, and endlessly customizable—qualities I deeply value as a designer who never uses templates and prefers to build every website intentionally, from the ground up.
But as my business evolved, so did my priorities. I needed a platform that gave me creative freedom without the heavy technical overhead. I wanted to spend less time wrestling with updates, plugins, and hosting conflicts—and more time crafting elevated brand experiences for my clients.
That shift is what led me to move from WordPress.org to Squarespace.
And no, I don’t use pre‑made Squarespace templates either.
I code. I customize. I build original designs that reflect each client’s brand with precision.
So here’s why Squarespace became the ideal platform for the type of work I do.
People often think Squarespace means settling for a template. But that’s not how I work.
People often think Squarespace means settling for a template. But that’s not how I work.
I design every website layout from scratch, then use custom CSS, code injections, and advanced styling to bring the vision to life. The platform becomes a canvas—not a limitation.
On WordPress, custom design is powerful but also unpredictable.
One plugin update can break custom code. Theme builders can conflict. Hosting environments vary wildly.
Squarespace gives me:
a stable, consistent framework
a reliable front-end structure
clean CSS hooks I can extend
predictable design behavior across browsers
I can create original, elevated designs—without fighting the platform.
Creativity Without Technical Bloat
As WordPress grew more plugin-dependent, the experience became heavier:
page builders layering on code
plugins piling on scripts
constant compatibility checks
security patches and backups
hosting performance issues
All of these things add technical weight that doesn’t contribute to design.
Squarespace allows me to create:
immersive visual layouts
branded user experiences
elegant animations
custom code enhancements
…without dragging down performance or stability.
The back-end is lightweight. The design experience is clean. And the end product feels polished.
Reliability That Protects My Clients’
Investment
I don’t just build websites—I build long-term brand assets.
WordPress requires ongoing maintenance:
plugin updates
theme updates
hosting control panel management
malware scanning
backups and restore points
Most clients don’t want to manage all of that. And I don’t want their sites at risk because a plugin wasn’t updated on time.
Squarespace handles:
hosting
updates
security
CDN
mobile responsiveness
…so my clients get a site that stays stable, fast, and secure—without extra maintenance contracts or surprise tech issues.
I Get to Focus on Strategy and Aesthetics—Not Troubleshooting
My true passion is designing thoughtful, brand-centered experiences.
Not debugging PHP.
Not fixing broken plugins.
Not troubleshooting a rogue theme update at midnight.
Squarespace frees me to focus on:
user experience
storytelling
visual hierarchy
brand expression
layout structure
emotional impact
This platform lets me do my best work: design.
A Better Experience for the Business Owners I Serve
One of the biggest reasons I moved to Squarespace is simple:
My clients love using it.
After I hand off a completely custom site, they can easily:
edit their content
swap photos
update blog posts
manage products or services
make small layout tweaks
…without fear of breaking the design.
Empowering clients is part of my brand philosophy, and Squarespace supports that completely.
Final Thoughts
Moving from WordPress to Squarespace wasn’t about choosing the easier platform—it was about choosing the smarter one for the way I design and the way I serve my clients.
I still craft 100% custom sites.
I still write my own code.
I still build everything intentionally and beautifully.
Squarespace simply gives me a more stable, flexible, and design-forward foundation to build on.
If you’re ready for a custom-designed website that feels aligned, elevated, and completely original, I’d love to bring your vision to life.