Build Your Website with Squarespace

This hands-on workshop series is designed for those who want to establish an online presence through a professional website. Throughout five engaging sessions, participants will learn how to plan, design, build, and launch a fully functional website using Squarespace.

By the end of the workshop, participants will have created a customized, user-friendly website that showcases their unique offerings and helps attract visitors and customers online. With dedicated open workshop hours for personalized support, this series ensures that every learner walks away with the skills and confidence to manage their own website.

Live workshops online, Wednesdays and Thursdays January 20th - February 25th, 2025

Welcome Session

• • January 20 – Get to Know Cohort & Facilitators (10:30 AM - 11:00 AM PST)* Tuesday!

Lessons

• • January 28 – Lesson #1: Introduction to Website Building & Squarespace Basics (10:30 AM - 12:30 PM PST)
  • February 4 – Lesson #2: Designing Your Website’s Layout and Pages (10:30 AM - 12:30 PM PST)
  • February 11 – Lesson #3: Adding Content and Visuals to Showcase Your Business (10:30 AM - 12:30 PM PST)
  • February 18 – Lesson #4: Launching and Managing Your Website (10:30 AM - 12:30 PM PST)
  • February 25 – Lesson #5: Open Workshop Hours (10:30 AM - 12:30 PM PST)

Working Sessions

• • January 29 – Working Session #1 (10:30 AM - 11:30 PM PST)
  • February 5 – Working Session #2 (10:30 AM - 11:30 PM PST)
  • February 12 – Working Session #3 (10:30 AM - 11:30 PM PST)

What You'll Take Away

Lesson 1: Introduction to Website Building & Squarespace Basics (2 hours)

This lesson provides an overview of the importance of having a website for tourism businesses. Participants will be introduced to Squarespace, its user-friendly interface, and its features. By the end of this session, learners will have set up a Squarespace account and selected a basic template suitable for tourism businesses.

Key Learning Objectives:

• • • Understand the role of a website in promoting a tourism business.
    • Navigate Squarespace’s interface and features.
    • Set up a Squarespace account and choose a template.

Lesson 2: Designing Your Website’s Layout and Pages (2 hours)

In this session, learners will explore the basics of customizing their website layout. They will add and structure pages such as Home, About, Contact, and Services. Emphasis will be placed on creating a visually appealing and easy-to-navigate design tailored to the tourism industry.
 
Key Learning Objectives:

• • • Customize a Squarespace template to fit branding needs.
    • Add and organize pages for essential website functions.
    • Apply design best practices for tourism businesses.

Lesson 3: Adding Content and Visuals to Showcase Your Business (2 hours)

This lesson focuses on creating and uploading content that highlights the unique aspects of a tourism business. Learners will add text, images, and videos while ensuring mobile and desktop compatibility. Tips on selecting high-quality visuals and crafting compelling descriptions will be included.

Key Learning Objectives:

• • • Upload and optimize text, images, and videos for a website.
    • Create engaging content to promote tourism services.
    • Ensure the website looks professional on both mobile and desktop.

Lesson 4: Launching and Managing Your Website (2 hours)

In the final lesson, learners will prepare their website for launch. Topics include setting up a custom domain, optimizing for search engines (SEO), and using analytics to track performance. They will also learn how to update their website and maintain its content over time.

Key Learning Objectives:

• • • Connect a custom domain and publish a Squarespace website
    • Understand basic SEO to increase visibility online, including how to submit your website domain to Google Search Console
    • How to connect Google Analytics to your website

Lesson 5: Open Workshop Hours (2 hours)

A final 2 hour workshop session will be hosted for any participants to ask the instructor specific questions related to their website. The instructor will walk through each question with participants, helping take the final steps to bring their website to life.

Who Should Attend?
This workshop series is ideal for tourism entrepreneurs, business owners, operators and First Nations who are creating their very first website or starting fresh with a brand-new one. Whether you’re new to web design or simply ready for a complete online makeover, you’ll gain the skills and confidence to build a professional, community-focused site that attracts and inspires visitors.

Session Details
This live, online interactive workshop series can be joined from anywhere. Each 2-hour lesson combines presentation, group discussion, and hands-on exercises to keep you engaged and learning by doing. The following day, you’ll join a 1-hour working session – an essential part of the program – where you’ll apply what you’ve learned, get real-time feedback, and make tangible progress. By the end of the series, you’ll leave with a fully functional, successful website and the skills to keep it thriving.

Eligibility
Indigenous Tourism BC may cover the full costs of this training for eligible participants:

• Indigenous peoples (First Nations, Inuit, Metis) residing in BC
• Indigenous-owned tourism businesses (51%+ Indigenous ownership), and employees of
• First Nations-owned tourism businesses (51%+ First Nations ownership), and employees of

Questions? [email protected]