Building Professional Squarespace Hero Sections and Layouts: A Complete Tutorial
Welcome back to the third part of this deep dive into designing professional layouts in Squarespace using Square Forge.
We've covered a lot of ground so far, exploring different hero sections, card layouts, and various design tweaks you can make to elevate your site. In this tutorial, we'll wrap up with more intricate designs and even show you how to integrate layered elements like multiple buttons, text blocks, and photo frames to create visually compelling layouts.
The goal here is to build a layout that looks clean and polished and helps visitors quickly understand the purpose of your site. If they can answer the two key questions—"Am I in the right place?" and "Do I trust this organization to meet my needs?"—then your hero section is doing its job.
Let’s jump in!
The Purpose of Hero Sections
At the top of any web page, the hero section is often the first thing a visitor sees. Its role is simple yet crucial: communicate your core message within seconds. A great hero section should be:
Visually striking, but not overwhelming
Simple and clean, featuring a strong headline and, often, a call-to-action button
Designed to work on both desktop and mobile views
You want to engage your visitors quickly and build trust immediately. An impactful title, an inviting background image, and a button to guide the next step should all contribute to that experience.
Step 1: Building a Basic Hero Section
We'll begin by creating a basic hero section that answers the visitor's most important questions. Start by adding a blank section in your Squarespace editor, and then add a background image.
Adding the Background
Head to the Edit Section panel, then to the Background tab, where you can upload or select an image from your library. For this demo, I'll choose an image that sets the tone, but you can pick one that best represents your brand.
Remove the overlay if you want a more vibrant, clear background. Alternatively, you can apply a subtle overlay to help the text stand out.
Adding Headline and Text Blocks
Next, add your text:
Heading: A short, snappy message like “Freshly Baked Bread.”
Text Block: Add a line of text under the headline with more details or a tagline.
This clean setup works well, especially if you want to leave room for your background to shine. Align the text to the center of the section for a balanced look.
Call-to-Action Button
Adding a call-to-action button is essential to help guide your visitors. Place the button under the text and customize it by choosing the button style that fits your brand. Whether it’s solid, outlined, or simple text, ensure it contrasts well with the background so it stands out.
Step 2: Customizing the Layout With Cards
Once you’ve nailed the basics, we can move on to a more complex layout using cards. This layout features text blocks placed over a background image, with cards and buttons that stand out.
Duplicate the Section: If you’ve built one hero section, you can easily duplicate it for the next design.
Add a Card: Click on your text block and add a background color to create a card effect. This not only separates the text visually but also gives your section a more polished, professional feel.
For this card, I used a dark gray background with a gold divider line at the top for contrast. You can customize the color scheme to suit your brand.
Step 3: Card Layout With Vertical Dividers
Now, let’s take things up a notch. We’re going to build a card layout with a vertical divider between the text and buttons. This is a popular layout for websites with multiple services or products to feature.
Add Text Blocks and Buttons: Create two text blocks, one for the headline and another for the subtext, and align them side by side. Underneath, add your buttons.
Insert a Vertical Divider: Use the line block to add a thin vertical line between the text blocks for visual separation. Adjust the width and height to keep everything balanced.
This layout is perfect for when you want to highlight multiple CTAs or provide different options for the user to explore.
Step 4: Polaroid-Style Image Overlap
One of the more creative hero sections we’ll explore is a Polaroid-style image overlay, where one image overlaps another, creating a dynamic layered effect.
Add Two Image Blocks: Start by adding two image blocks on top of each other. One will serve as the background, and the other will overlap it like a Polaroid photo.
Adjust Padding and Spacing: Ensure there’s enough space between the text and images to avoid crowding. The gutter width setting can help you fine-tune the spacing between elements.
This type of hero section gives a sense of depth and adds a more personal, scrapbook-like feel to your site.
Step 5: Underlined Text for Extra Flair
Now, we’ll create a simple hero section that uses underlined text for a modern, stylish touch.
Add Text: Begin with your main headline. This is where you want to make a bold statement.
Underline: Squarespace has a built-in option to add different underline styles, whether it's a solid line, a wavy line, or something else.
This subtle detail can make your design feel more polished and professional without overwhelming the rest of the page.
Step 6: Optimizing for Mobile
While these designs look great on desktop, you always need to check the mobile view. Squarespace gives you the flexibility to adjust the layout independently for mobile devices.
Text Alignment: Depending on how much text you have, you may want to reduce padding on mobile or adjust the alignment of your buttons and text blocks to ensure everything is easily readable on smaller screens.
Images and Buttons: Ensure that images don't crowd your text or buttons on mobile. You might need to resize or reposition elements so they stack properly on narrower screens.
Step 7: Professional, Layered Hero Sections
The last layout we’ll build is a layered hero section featuring an image block on one side and text on the other.
Add Image and Text Blocks: Place an image block on the right side and a text block on the left. This classic split layout works well for services, portfolios, or product pages.
Layer Elements: You can add a second text block or button underneath the first for more detailed information.
This is a versatile layout that can adapt to many different types of content, giving your site a clean, professional look.
Wrap-Up: Unlocking Infinite Possibilities with Square Forge
Congratulations! You've just walked through the process of creating various hero sections and layouts, from simple designs to more complex, layered structures. Whether you're using Square Forge or building from scratch in Squarespace, these tutorials should give you a solid foundation for creating professional, polished websites.
Remember, the key to a great website is visual clarity, simplicity, and ensuring everything flows naturally. Each design you create can be a starting point, which you can then mold to fit your brand.
If you're looking for even more ideas, head over to Square Forge. With over 300 pre-made layouts, you can jump-start your design process and customize them to fit your needs. Whether you're purchasing the toolkit or just drawing inspiration, you'll find endless possibilities to explore.
Thanks for following along, and catch you in the next tutorial!
Cheers,
Elwyn
