Top website builder Squarespace has announced a host of features, functionality, and improvements collectively called Squarespace Refresh 2023.
The update aims to cater to the company’s growing customer base, including SMBs and entrepreneurs, many of whom already use its services for e-commerce.
It wouldn’t be 2023 without some mention of artificial intelligence, so it’s not surprising that Squarespace has been working on the generative AI technology it has already started integrating into the platform.
Squarespace just got a major update
The company’s biggest announcement shifts its customers’ dependence on third-party payment processing companies. The soon-to-launch Squarespace Payments feature will allow businesses to process payments directly through Squarespace, instead of having to use third parties like Stripe.
Squarespace says US customers will be the first to benefit from this upgrade “in the coming months,” but it will roll out to other markets in 2024.
Service sellers can now also use the platform to track customers and manage invoices, or to upload and sell online courses in an effort to increase sales and generate more passive income. The site’s email marketing tools have also been overhauled to give advertisers more control over their messages.
News of this major overhaul comes just weeks after the The company Squarespace Domains took action, following the closure of the Google Domains business. Squarespace promises domains from $12 / £9 / AU$16 per year, but some plans include one domain for free.
In the announcement, the company also shed some light on its commitment to AI. Like many AI tools, Squarespace AI is designed to make generating custom content or rewriting existing work faster and more efficient.
Details and illustrations of what’s new in Squarespace Refresh 2023 can be found on the company’s website website.