The Introduction of Squarespace Video Studio
I am so excited about Squarespace’s introduction of Video Studio! Most importantly, it is FREE with your Squarespace website. You do not have to purchase this service individually. It’s amazing how fast it takes and how easy it is to produce a professional video.
Video Studio allows you to create videos highlighting your website. It pulls in your brand image, so your colors and font are automatically displayed. You can choose to speak and be shown on the video or chose a voiceover to automatically play and display your own pictures. There is even a large library of music to play through your video if you choose.
I downloaded the app and immediately created a video for myself and two of my clients that had different businesses. I wanted to get to know the app and “play” with this new feature that Squarespace has installed. I could not believe how easy it was to use and create professional videos to post to your website or social media platforms. My first video took a while as I looked through every feature. After that - it was fast.
What is Video Studio?
Video Studio is an app where you can create templated videos to:
Promote products or services
Introduce your business
Update your information
Teach topics
AND more
What kind of Video can you create? When you open the App and choose Create these are the options you can chose from:
Promote – Highlight a product or service
Introduce – Tell your story or introduce your business
Update – Share news with your audience
Teach – Explore a topic and display your talents
What do you need?
For now, you will need an IOS phone. It only works on a phone and no other device currently.
Download the free app titled Squarespace Video Studio from the app store.
Squarespace Business and Commerce websites can access the full Video Studio app while it is gated for Trial and Personal websites. (Only one template will be available from each category for Trial and Personal websites.)
Once you create a video you can share to your phone videos, email, and Google drive.
Which social media platforms can you post the video?
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Instagram
YouTube
TikTok
How do you get started with Video Studio? Try it and have some fun creating a professional video.
Open the Squarespace Video Studio app
Click CREATE at the bottom
Choose an option from, “What’s the goal of your video?”
In the upper right-hand corner, you can choose the Orientation of the video. It will give you a choice of options and tell you what is best for each social media platform.
Landscape – YouTube Videos, Facebook, Twitter, your website
Portrait – TikTok, Instagram stories and reels
Square – Instagram Posts
With each template you can choose an option:
The Autofill Template – content and branding from your website
Voice Only Templates – voice only, no option to appear on camera
On-Camera Templates – you can appear on camera
5. Select your video option and now comes the FUN part. Below each choice it lists the duration of the video and how long it will take for you to shoot & edit. My first try I spent so much time look at every feature but by the third time I created a video the duration time was correct.
Currently there is some customization but not much. As the product rolls out and is used it is presumed to have more customization options.
6. Follow the steps at the bottom of the screen. Each template is a little different. They will tell you to add photos and text. For some templates, you may need to add video of yourself speaking. You can add your own photos or stock photos from Unsplash. Choose to use your own voice or one of the many voiceovers that you can listen to before you select. The last slide will feature background music that you can also listen to before you select. The music listed in the app is all royalty free, there is a license for all in the app. You may even import your own music if you own the rights and license.
Tip for voiceovers – Use periods and commas to have voiceovers work naturally. Listen to the voiceover to make sure it sounds correct with natural endings and pauses. You may even have to write names as they sound so the voice over can correctly capture the pronunciation.
7. Once complete you can PREVIEW in the upper right-hand corner. Watch the video and either edit or send out.
8. If you are satisfied, you can send it to yourself using the icon in the upper right-hand corner. Save to your camera role, files, AirDrop, etc. The video format will be .mov. At this time, you cannot post directly to social media.
9. All projects stay in the app until you go into the app and delete. You can continue to edit at any time.
As always, Squarespace creates great articles and has step by step directions. Check out their introduction articles: Getting started with Video Studio and Creating projects in Video Studio.
Squarespace has wonderful customer service. Look at my blog, Squarespace Help Center, to find out all the options you have as a Squarespace website owner to reach out and ask questions of the Help Center.
May Web Design, LLC refreshes and creates affordable websites that enable clients to take ownership and update themselves on a Squarespace platform. I enjoy helping clients increase customer engagement with a website and improve their overall web presence. The most important part of my business is that when I have completed and reviewed the website with a client, I teach the client how to update their website so that they can keep it fresh and new. A website offers a 24/7 welcome to prospective members, showing them what your business or organization has accomplished and what you plan to do. If built correctly it should welcome people to the site and show them around in a comfortable way.
If you are interested in discussing the needs of a website for your business or nonprofit organization contact May Web Design, LLC. Starting out with a basic brochure website may be all that your business or organization needs. Your website should grow with you and change as needed.
