Wix vs Squarespace: Which Of The 2 Should Be A Freelance Blogger’s Best Friend?

Wix vs Squarespace: The Dilemma Of A Freelance Blogger

As a writer, I can vouch for the fact that writers have independent spirits. All writers are creators, and all creators like being independent. We do not really like being bound. So, the idea of being the sailor of one’s own ship may sound tempting to most of us. This, incidentally, is the very idea that lies at the heart of freelancing. These days many people are slowly moving towards becoming freelance bloggers. Now, newbies in the field of freelance blogging are probably aware of something called the “Wix vs Squarespace” tussle.

Before you start on your blogging journey, you’ll find yourself in a dilemma. The question of choosing a website builder will be difficult to deal with. How can it not? Choosing just one website builder from so many! That’s far from being easy. There is nothing called THE best website builder, after all.

We can delve deeper into this issue involving two of the arguably most user-friendly website builders- Wix and Squarespace. So, if you’re a blogger struggling with this inner battle about whether to choose Wix or Squarespace site, read on!

The Drift Towards Freelancing As A Career

In case you didn’t know, a lot of people are slowly gravitating towards freelancing nowadays. In 2020, when the pandemic had wreaked havoc worldwide, about 12% of the freelancers in the US made their foray into the freelance or the gig economy. Despite the uncertainties associated with freelancing, many people have begun to drift towards being their own employers in their respective fields.

Freelance Blogging As A Profession

 

Blogs and blogging
Illustration by Tumisu/ From: Pixabay

Blogging is a highly creative profession. It has become a much sought-after profession these days. Since you’re here, you’re probably willing to dive into the world of freelance blogging, aren’t you? So, you probably know how blogging can turn out to be an immensely rewarding profession in the long run. Yes, there was a time when many people would be skeptical about what I said just now. But times have changed!

Wix vs Squarespace: Which Website Builder To Choose As A Freelance Blogger?

Understanding the tussle: Wix vs Squarespace
Illustration by 200degrees/ From: Pixabay

But how to go about it? Firstly, as a beginner, you need to build your own website. Website builders can help you with it!

Now, there are a lot of website builders to choose from. You may find yourself wondering- Which website builder should I choose?

Most people prefer WordPress and would recommend using it. However, as a beginner, you can choose either Wix or Squarespace.

Here begins the clash between two of the best website builders- Wix vs Squarespace. Who will be your partner in freelance blogging?

Choosing between Squarespace and Wix is nothing less than Herculean labor. I mean, both of them are currently the most popular and user-friendly website builders. So, if you are torn between the two, I cannot blame you.

If you wish to know more, you may watch this video.

Features That Both Wix And Squarespace Have In Common: What Are The Similarities Between Them?

There are some features that both Wix and Squarespace have in common. In fact, both are equally good if certain characteristics are taken into consideration. That is why the “Wix vs Squarespace” tussle arises, in the first place!

The following section discusses how these two site builders are similar to one another:

To Use Wix Or Squarespace, You Do NOT Have To Know Coding Or Possess Other Technical Knowledge.

You do not have to know anything about coding to use either of these. Yes! You do not necessarily have to be tech junkies to build your website or your freelancer portfolio if you choose either of them.

Both the Wix site and Squarespace site make use of SaaS. Also known as “software as a service,” tools like these allow beginners with little or zero knowledge about coding to build their own websites as if the task were a piece of cake!

Many users would admit that Wix is easier to use than Squarespace, especially when it comes to speedy website building.

Both Squarespace And Wix Will Give You Access To Ample Eye-Catching Templates!

Both Wix and Squarespace will offer you visually-appealing templates and exquisite designs. The templates Wix offers are no less appealing than those offered by Squarespace.

You Can Increase Your Website Traffic And Improve Your Rank On Search Engines.

You can follow SEO best practices with relative ease on Wix as well as on Squarespace. Both of them come with suggestions regarding the optimization of websites. If you are meticulous enough to follow them, your site will obtain a better rank.

Both Offer Attractive E-Commerce Features.

Neither Wix nor Squarespace is E-commerce oriented, but the E-commerce features that they provide are pretty impressive. Neither of them leaves any room for disappointment in this case. Wix’s features about E-commerce can be afforded by many compared to those that Squarespace offers.

Squarespace And Wix Have Amazing Customer Support.

Customer support and services are pretty much important for any beginner. Squarespace and Wix are excellent when it comes to their customer support system.

You can contact Wix’s Help Centre and read up their blogs if you meet with any difficulty. If you choose Squarespace, you can participate in the discussions on their forum or share your opinions, queries, and insights. Their blogs and FAQs would help you too.

So, it’s understandable if you are preoccupied with the “Wix vs Squarespace” tussle in your mind.

However, Squarespace and Wix differ along certain lines. Each of them has something to offer which the other cannot. Simply put, Wix offers certain perks which Squarespace doesn’t and vice versa.

Wix Site, Its Merits, And Demerits

With about 100 million users and more, Wix is probably one of the most widely known website builders. Apparently, it has a lot of attractive features and a lot of people are drawn to it.

Why Wix: The Benefits Of Using Wix

Let us find out why so many users all over the world find it so alluring. I have talked about its numerous merits in the following section:

  1. Wix will win you over with its user-friendliness. You won’t have to think twice before saying- Website building with Wix isn’t a big deal!
  2. You can easily use the Wix editor. It is equipped with a drag-and-drop feature which most people can use effortlessly.
  3. Worried about losing your data? Wix’s Site History system is here to help! 
  4. Create your website without too much effort with the help of Wix ADI. What makes it even more agreeable to users is a feature called Wix ADI (Artificial Design Intelligence). Wix Artificial Design Intelligence or Wix ADI is quite a marvel. Wix ADI makes website building a seamless experience. 
  5. There are myriads of Wix templates. You will find an array of beautiful designs and plenty of themes. I must also mention that Wix templates belong to diverse categories such as travel, beauty, and others. It also comes with more than 50 templates for blogging.
  6. Wix has several great SEO tools too! As far as SEO (Search Engine Optimization) features are concerned, Wix offers several of them for all kinds of pages. These features include meta-description, page title, SSL encryption, and so on. Wix will, therefore, help you achieve a better rank on Google.
  7. Wix has so many cool add-ons! There are many add-ons or extensions available on Wix. You can get all these add-ons from Wix’s app market. It’s a really cool feature. Don’t you think so too?
  8. Oh, wait! Wix users can opt for a free plan! It’s Wix’s free plan that I’m talking about! Wix’s free plan is irresistible to many! After all, who can resist something free?

Why Not Wix: The Downsides Of Using Wix

Nothing is perfect, after all. But, Wix has several downsides too.  So, let us take a look at why it may lose some ground in the “Wix vs Squarespace” battle:

  1. Be very careful before choosing a template because you won’t ever be able to change it later! If you wish to change it, you might have to create your website all over again. That would be tedious.
  2. Many of the templates on Wix aren’t responsive.
  3. If you go for Wix, you have to create different versions of your website. This might not be good as far as search engine optimization is concerned. This is one of the chief areas where Wix may lose the “Wix vs Squarespace” battle.

Squarespace, Its Merits, And Demerits

Now that you know about the advantages and disadvantages of using Wix, you must be curious to know what Squarespace offers.

Why Squarespace: The Benefits Of Using Squarespace

So, let us find out why Squarespace may turn out to be the winner in the “Wix vs Squarespace” game. I have talked very briefly about the advantages of using Squarespace in the section that follows:

  1. Squarespace is quite friendly towards its users. Squarespace is another website builder which many users prefer. 
  2. Squarespace brings a drag-and-drop page editor with it. The drag-and-drop editor for Squarespace is a section-based and structured page editor.
  3. Squarespace offers about 100+ templates for website creation. It is equipped with many color schemes, fonts, audio, podcasts, and so on. All Squarespace templates are undoubtedly exquisite. 
  4. While choosing from the finely curated array of Squarespace templates, users will have to specify the category of their sites. Then they will be directed to specify the purpose of their respective websites, and based on these responses, templates will be suggested.
  5. The SEO tools of Squarespace are quite good too. Squarespace comes with a host of excellent SEO tools. Concerning SEO, it is as good as Wix, if not better.
  6. If you use Squarespace, you will be able to edit all source files. These include all CSS and HTML files.

Why Not Squarespace: The Disadvantages Of Using Squarespace

But there are a few aspects of Squarespace which may make Wix the winner in the “Wix vs Squarespace” fight. But what are they? The following section will give you a fair idea about the many failings of Squarespace:

  1. Don’t expect to get your data back if you lose them by mistake. It does not have any backup and restore options. 
  2. If you choose Squarespace, you will get no free plan but just a 14-day free trial. Squarespace does not have any free plan to offer to its users. 
  3. Squarespace’s drag-and-drop editor is a little difficult to use.

Wix And Squarespace: So, Where Lies The Difference?

While it’s true that both Wix and Squarespace have some features in common, there are many differences between Wix and Squarespace too! I mean, you must’ve noticed that a Wix website looks different from a Squarespace website, haven’t you?

The section below ventures to explain the differences that both users of Wix and Squarespace are likely to notice:

Templates

Even though Wix has more templates than Squarespace, there is hardly one Squarespace template that you can turn a blind eye to. No wonder why Squarespace sites look so delightful!

You’ll indeed have a lot of options for your website template if you use Wix. Wix’s templates are available in abundance. But not all of these are responsive, especially on devices like mobile phones. You will have to create separate versions of your website like the desktop version, mobile version, and so on. It doesn’t sound convenient, does it?

But Squarespace templates win brownie points because they’re responsive, unlike Wix’s templates!

The Page Editor Of Wix And Squarespace

Wix editor is equipped with a drag-and-drop feature. I have already talked about that before. On the other hand, Squarespace offers a structured drag-and-drop editor.

Simply put, if you’re using Squarespace, you’ll drag elements across the page that will fit into particular rows and columns. You cannot alter the positioning of these columns and rows. This affects creative freedom to a certain extent which is not the case with Wix editor. Therefore, Wix offers more creative freedom than Squarespace.

Ecommerce Sites And Wix And Squarespace

The Ecommerce features and eCommerce tools that Wix offers differ from what Squarespace has in store. You can build a small or medium-sized online shop with the help of features that Wix offers. In comparison to Wix, Squarespace lacks a store of its own. So, if the online store feature isn’t a built-in feature, it cannot be put to use.

Squarespace Pricing And Wix Plan

Squarespace plans are four in number whereas, with Wix, there are eight. The cheapest among the four plans is the Personal plan. If you choose this Squarespace plan, you get a custom domain. Plus, you’ll get unlimited bandwidth and storage. You won’t be annoyed by ads, and you’ll have to pay $12 every month.

Unlike Squarespace, Wix offers no custom domain to users who opt for Wix Connect. Wix Connect is Wix’s most basic plan. This plan comes with 500 MB storage and 1 GB bandwidth. You have to pay a recurring charge of $4.50 and that too every month, and you’ll have to tolerate annoying Wix ads.

But, we must remember that Wix offers a free plan in addition to paid plans. Wix’s free plan is one of its striking features. The paid plans offered by Wix are of two types. If you are looking for a website builder to build a website for professional purposes, you can go for this Wix plan. For business purposes, you can go for Ecommerce plans.

Both Wix and Squarespace offer plans that are costlier than the basic ones. Apart from Squarespace’s Personal plan, the pricing plan includes options like business, basic commerce, and advanced commerce options. Also, all Squarespace plans offer unlimited bandwidth.

Extensions, Add-Ons, Third-Party Apps, And Integrations: Wix vs Squarespace

If you remember clearly, I’ve already talked a bit about Wix App Market, which is a feature that makes Wix a cool website builder.

The apps you can find in Wix App Market are not just third-party apps. There are Wix’s own apps too! These apps come with a lot of cool features as well! With the help of these features, you can enrich and enhance the quality of your website. You can find apps like Wix’s email marketing tools, Wix events app, notification tools, calendars, and so on in Wix App Market.

On the other hand, the add-on features and extensions that come with Squarespace are mostly Ecommerce oriented. Hopefully, they may diversify them. But, in contrast to Wix, Squarespace doesn’t offer apps. You can enable certain features via third-party integration. There’s no app market like Wix’s App Market. These tools and extensions include Squarespace’s marketing tools, extensions related to sales, products, inventory, and other Squarespace integrations.

At present, Wix seems to be the winner of the “Wix vs Squarespace” battle regarding the number of extensions and add-ons that both Squarespace and Wix offer. But quality-wise, Squarespace remains unbeaten.

Wix vs Squarespace: Let’s See Which Website Builder Has The Best Blogging Feature

Blogging on WordPress
Photo by StockSnap/ From: Pixabay

Many users favor Wix, mainly because it’s easy to use and offers a free plan. But when it comes to blogging, the scenario might turn out to be different. Are you curious as to why I said so? Then keep reading!

In several cases, Wix would become the winner in the “Wix vs Squarespace” scuffle. But all the tables turn when the blogging tools of both website builders are taken into account. That’s because Wix’s blogging feature is not as good as that of Squarespace.

And The Winner Is… Squarespace!

As a freelance blogger, you are likely to favor Squarespace over Wix. The blogging feature of Squarespace is very flexible if we compare it to Wix’s blogging feature. Wix comes with very basic in-built blogging tools, but Squarespace comes with some advanced features.

What Makes Squarespace One Of The Best Website Builders When It Comes To Blogging?

  • With Squarespace, you can add tags, URLs, audio, and visuals, maps, and whatnot.
  • Its WYSIWYG blog editor is something that many bloggers would prefer to use.
  • It is also geared with Google AMP functionality.
  • Furthermore, it supports multiple author management and has a great workflow feature.
  • Most importantly, you will connect with your readers or audience and get to know their opinions. That is what a blogger aims for, right?

Squarespace’s Members Area Feature Is A Plus

Let me tell you why you want to use Squarespace and not Wix at the beginning of your career as a freelance blogger. Squarespace has added a Members Area feature. This feature is a new one. What makes it interesting is that its chief goal is to monetize the content on your website. That includes your blog posts as well.

Why Wix May Lose The Game In The Case Of The Blogging Feature?

Wix will probably not become a favorite with bloggers. Its blogging features are somewhat inferior to Squarespace’s blogging features. So, let’s find out why Wix may lose the “Wix vs Squarespace” game to Squarespace.

Wix comes with a feature known as the Wix Blog app. With this free Wix Blog app, you’ll be able to schedule your blog posts and do other things. You need to integrate it on your website, though.

There will also be ads on your blogging site if you choose Wix. You cannot do away with the ads, no matter how annoying they might seem.

Besides, getting a blog on Wix with a domain of your own will cost you money.

Thus, when freelance bloggers appear on the scene, Squarespace will win the “Wix vs Squarespace” battle. About blogging, Squarespace can beat Wix.

You may check out this video to know more about Squarespace’s blogging feature. Hopefully, it will give you a fair idea.

Tired Of All The Talk On The “Wix vs Squarespace” Battle? Let’s Talk About Their Alternatives Then

Enough on the “Wix vs Squarespace” battle! Let us take a look at some other website builders other than Wix and Squarespace.

 So, here’s a list of some website building tools other than Wix and Squarespace:

  • If you are fond of simplicity, you may consider choosing Weebly. It offers a lot of good blogging features.
  • Medium will be a good option for you if you want your voice to be heard by many people. 
  • These days LinkedIn is gaining popularity among many professionals even though it’s not exactly a site builder per se.

Apart from all these, there are other lesser-known platforms or site builders. They include Jimdo, Ghost, SITE123, and so on.

Now, if you wish to choose either Wix or Squarespace to put an end to the “Wix vs Squarespace” tussle, you may. Or, you may choose any of the other alternatives. It’s totally up to you.

I hope I could offer some useful insight to you on this entire “Wix vs Squarespace” issue. When blogging is considered, before Squarespace, Wix seems not so bright, even though it offers a free plan!

 

Online Transcription Jobs: 10 Best Websites Where You Can Kick-Start Your Career

Writing is by no means an easy profession. But for lovers of words, it’s hard not to take up the pen (or the keyboard in today’s world) to make a living. Since you’re reading this, I presume you are a freelance writer or wish to become one. I have great news for you! You can take up online transcription jobs to earn well while doing what you love to do the most, that is, writing.

The Growing Popularity Of Freelancing

Research suggests that one-third of these freelancers are involved with jobs that require creativity. Plus, about 17% of these freelancers are writers or content creators. Yes! Freelancing is gradually gaining steady ground on a global scale.

Why Freelance Writers Should Consider Taking Up Online Transcription Jobs

Freelance writers can do transcription as well.
Photo by StartupStockPhotos on Pixabay

I have already told you that you might consider taking up transcription work if you are a freelance writer. Choosing to be a transcriptionist comes with a host of benefits. So, what are they?

Firstly, online transcription jobs will help you make money from the comfort of your home. Apparently, 25% of freelancers prefer working from home. With social distancing slowly becoming a norm, working from home naturally seems viable to many.

Secondly, you will have the opportunity to choose your own work hours. There are certain companies, however, that have stipulated work hours. But, otherwise, you are free to choose when you can complete your assignments and projects. What is more attractive than flexible work hours?

Thirdly, freelance transcriptionists can choose who they want to work with. Needless to say, that is the central idea behind freelancing. You are not bound to a particular company or client. You have the freedom to work with a client or multiple clients of your choice.

Finally, if you wish to take up transcription as a profession, you need not possess any special skills. Yes, you read that right! Plus, you need no prior work experience. To take up online transcription jobs, you don’t require excellent educational qualifications either.

But, to excel as a transcriptionist, you need to put in the best of your efforts.

https://youtu.be/MR4v8m9lU7A

What Is Transcription Work?

Online transcription jobs can be taken up by freelance writers
Photo by kaboompics on Pixabay

So, aren’t you eager to know what transcribing is all about? I have explained to you the various benefits of working as a transcriptionist. But what exactly do you need to do in transcription jobs?

To put it simply, you will have to translate audio and/or video into words as a part of this job. First of all, you need to listen carefully to what is said in the audio or visual document. Then, you just have to write, or rather type, what you heard.

In these kinds of jobs, you are allowed to work from home. You will get paid based on transcription done per audio hour or a minute or on similar parameters.

If you are involved in freelance transcription, you will have to edit and proofread your works very carefully before sending them to your client.

For your information, a professional transcriptionist may earn up to about $45,000 per annum.

Sounds easy? Sorry, but it isn’t as easy as it sounds. That is exactly why you need a lot of practice. Only then can you succeed in a transcription job.

Some Basic Requirements Before You Begin Working As A Transcriptionist

Equipments required for freelance transcription work
Picture by Darkmoon_Art on Pixabay

Although you need no special skill to take up online transcription jobs, you need to possess certain things or equipment. These are your basic requirements. Wondering what they are? You may want to take a look at the list below, in that case:

A Computer

First of all, you must have a computer if you wish to get started as a transcriptionist. It can be either a laptop or a desktop, as per your preference.

High-Speed Internet Connection

Having a computer isn’t enough. It’s also extremely important to have access to a high-speed internet connection for online transcription jobs. A stable internet connection is an absolute imperative.

Headphones

The most important part of being a transcriptionist is to listen carefully and attentively to the audio or video files sent to you.

Sometimes, you might be given audio files that are of dismal quality.

There might be occasions when you face difficulty in understanding what is being said. That may happen if the speakers use strong accents. It may also happen if there are unwanted sounds or noise in the background.

There might be some kind of disturbance in your immediate surroundings as well.

So, if you invest in good-quality headphones, you will be able to do away with all these troubles.

Foot Pedal

Do you know that if you use a foot pedal while transcribing, you will be able to complete your assignments really fast? Investing in a foot pedal will definitely benefit you in your transcription work.

An Ergonomic Keyboard

It is needless to say that you will have to type for several hours at a stretch if you choose to take up online transcription jobs. Your fingers might hurt in that process.

So, if you choose to get an ergonomic keyboard for yourself, it will certainly not be a bad investment.

An Ergonomic Mouse

It is also very important to invest in an ergonomic mouse to make transcribing easy for you.

Points To Remember Before You Begin Transcribing

The above appliances are very basic requirements. Apart from all these devices and gadgets, you must keep the following things in mind:

Transcription Requires Plenty Of Patience

To be successful in transcription, you must have a lot of patience. Without patience, this job might become very difficult for you.

As I have already said, sometimes you may be given audio files of bad quality. So, you need to be a very patient listener. If you’re too impatient, online transcription jobs are not for you.

Transcription Is Not An Easy Job

I have already talked about it before. If you believe that online transcription jobs are easy, then you must not make a foray into this field. You need to practice hard to improve your transcription skills.

You Need To Be An Excellent Listener

To become a transcriptionist, you must be an excellent listener. You need to notice every detail while listening to what the speaker is talking about.

Sometimes, your employer might instruct you to note down expressions like “hmm,” “ugh,” “umm,” and so on.

So, if you are a good listener, you can excel in this job.

You Must Be Very Accurate While Typing

Accuracy in typing is a skill that gets better with practice. If you take transcription seriously, you will be able to transcribe with great accuracy in a short period of time.

Be Wary Of Fraudsters

There is no dearth of fraudsters in this world. They are there everywhere. So, even before you apply for online transcription jobs, make sure that you don’t get duped in the process.

Firstly, a business venture or any other enterprise or individual will never ask you to pay them something before you begin working for them.

Yes, some companies deal with very sensitive information. Only some of these companies may ask you to pay a nominal amount. So, be careful if you haven’t applied for a job in any such company.

Secondly, it’s normal to expect clear guidelines from your recruiter or recruiting agency regarding your work. If they fail to provide you with this basic information, they are not worth your time.

Lastly, be very particular about the payment packages. It will be good to talk to your employer very clearly before you begin working on their projects.

Some recruiters will pay you only after you have successfully finished the projects assigned to you. Just talk about your payment very openly to avoid being deceived later.

Fields In Which Transcriptionists Are Much Sought After

Transcribing is of considerable importance in a lot of fields. I have mentioned some of these fields in the list that follows:

  • Some educational institutions often avail of transcription services. Transcription of certain research projects is carried out in these institutions.
  • In several business enterprises, transcriptionists are hired to transcribe recordings of virtual conferences, webinars, conference calls, etc.
  • Market researchers may often hire people offering transcription services to transcribe research lectures.
  • Journalists may work closely with those involved in transcription too.

Apart from those that I mentioned above, a transcriptionist is needed in a host of other fields.

The Various Kinds Of Transcription Jobs

Transcription can be of different types. In case you are not aware of them, you may read the list given below:

1. General Transcription

For wannabe freelance transcriptionists, general transcription seems to be the most suitable option. That’s because general transcription is the most basic variety of transcription and you need not possess any specialized knowledge for this. Most importantly, it’s easier than other varieties of transcription.

2. Technical Transcription

Technical transcription will be ideal for you if you hail from an engineering background. You will be given audio and/or video files where the speakers might be using many technical terms. So, it’s meant for those with a degree in engineering or those pursuing engineering.

3. Medical Transcription

You can make more money than others involved with transcription jobs if you take up medical transcription. But the catch is that it’s quite a difficult task. In addition, this form of transcription demands a very high level of accuracy.

4. Legal Transcription

As the name suggests, legal transcription entails transcribing recordings of court proceedings, hearings, verdicts, and so on. Long story short, it involves everything that is associated with the law and judiciary. Also, your work has to be very accurate in this case.

5. Financial Transcription

People hailing from the Commerce stream can choose to apply for financial transcription jobs. You will have to transcribe audio consisting of data like a company’s finances, sales, yearly reports, and other such documents.

6. Verbatim Transcription

To transcribe something verbatim means transcribing each word and non-verbal expression in a particular speech, podcast, or audio recording. This implies that you’ll have to include expressions like “umm,” “ahem,” and so on. This form of transcription requires a lot of patience, and it’s quite time-consuming as well.

10 Websites Offering Online Transcription Jobs For Beginners And Transcription Jobs From Home

So, you are now aware of the fundamentals of online transcription jobs. But where can you find such jobs? Is there any particular platform that offers transcription jobs for beginners?

Well, there is not just one online platform. In fact, many websites offer transcription jobs to beginners.

I have prepared a list of some of the sites that provide transcription jobs for beginners. The list is given in the following section:

1. GoTranscript

GoTranscript is probably one of the best websites offering transcription jobs to beginners.

Even if you are inexperienced, you can easily secure a job from this website. You can live in any corner of the globe and yet get a job on GoTranscript. You are free to choose your working hours as well.

Want to know what’s more interesting? The payout options they provide are quite secure. You will be paid close to $0.60 per video minute. The payments are made through PayPal or Payoneer and are processed every week.

Just sign up, answer a couple of questions, and translate the test audio files given to you into words. You will be notified regarding your selection within a week.

2. Verbal Ink

For US citizens looking for online transcription jobs, Verbal Ink is an excellent platform. It is one of the best sites for wannabe transcriptionists. Here you can choose your working hours. Plus, Verbal Ink offers a good sum as compared to other platforms.

Beginners can earn around $8 to $10. All payments are made through PayPal.

But, there is a catch. You have to sit for a test which is quite difficult. Only if you clear the test can you get a job on Verbal Ink. If you get selected, you can start working immediately.

3. CastingWords

You may be a beginner or an experienced transcriptionist. On CastingWords, it hardly matters. This website provides equal opportunities to all. That’s why it’s unique in comparison to other websites.

CastingWords is quite user-friendly and has a clean interface. You will have to provide some personal information when you open an account on this website. This information might be your email ID or something similar. If you manage to secure a job on CastingWords, you’ll be notified. After that, you can take a look at the jobs that are available on the site.

Besides, there is one feature that makes CastingWords all the more unique. The site ranks its users based on their performance in every task they finish. Those who score really high get the chance to bag well-paid jobs!

4. SpeechPad

SpeechPad, which was known as Speechlink before, is a platform that recruits people from all over the globe. This site presents a whole range of transcription jobs for beginners as well as for experienced transcriptionists.

But before you go and quickly open an account on SpeechPad, just listen to me. Unless you can type 40 words per minute (wpm), there is no point in signing up.

Now, if you can type 40 words per minute, you can sign up, after which your listening and typing skills will be put to the test.

On this site, beginners can earn as much as $0.25 per minute. On the other hand, the experienced ones can earn $1 per minute. They process the payments via PayPal.

5. Rev

Among all the websites offering transcription job opportunities, Rev enjoys a lot of popularity. Here both wannabe transcriptionists and professional ones can look for work opportunities.

Before you open an account and sign up on Rev, you’ll have to appear for a test. If you can clear it, you will be notified about the same within two days.

6. GMR Transcription

Freelance transcriptionists must flock to GMR Transcription if they wish to make a lot of money. Undoubtedly, the amount of money you earn on this site depends upon your qualifications, skills, and the difficulty level of the tasks assigned to you. Every month, you can earn as much as $1000 to $3000.

People from all countries can bag job opportunities on GMR Transcription. The company provides legal transcription, transcription for educational purposes, and similar services.

Here you will have to submit your CV at the very beginning of the process of signing up. Then, you’ll be notified about the test that you have to take. This is done via email.

If you end up being selected, you will receive an intimation regarding the same. It will, however, take nearly two weeks for you to receive the intimation.

There’s one more thing that I need to tell you about GMR Transcription. Here you will be on probation. It will last until you learn to transcribe for a minimum of two audio or video hours.

Those experienced in transcription will enjoy a lot of perks here.

7. Scribie

For beginners in the field of transcription, Scribie is an excellent choice. The audio files that they provide are not very hard to work with, and these mainly consist of interviews, speeches, and so on.

The jobs available on Scribie are known for their flexibility. Besides, you get to decide how long you’re going to work. Plus, Scribie lets you work from home.

Even on Scribie, you’ll have to pass an eligibility test. Only then can you get a job.

But, Scribie has a few downsides. First and foremost, you cannot earn much money on Scribie. In fact, the payments they make are quite low as compared to those made by other platforms. Also, Scribie has a turnaround time of two hours for every audio and/or video file.

You will be paid an amount ranging from $5 to $50 per audio hour. The payment will, however, depend on how fast you can complete and hand in your assignments. It also depends on the difficulty level of the files provided to you. Here, you get paid via PayPal only.

8. SpeakWrite

This company has been there since 1997, and it attracts clients from a variety of sectors like law, for instance. You’ll have to pass a test here as well to prove your eligibility.

Beginners in search of transcription jobs on SpeakWrite must satisfy a couple of requirements. The applicants must be able to type out 60 words per minute. They must be proficient in English and must be very accurate in terms of grammar. In addition to these requirements, they must possess some knowledge about MS Word.

SpeakWrite pays its transcriptionists via cheque only. No payment is made via PayPal or by other means.

9. TranscribeMe

Do you know what makes TranscribeMe stand out? Well, it offers a hefty sum of money as payments to professionals hailing from a medical or legal background.

There’s more! The payment you get over here is higher than what is offered by many other platforms. On TranscribeMe, for an audio hour, you’ll be paid a sum ranging from $15 to $25. They will pay you for your work via PayPal.

10. QuickTate

QuickTate is associated with behemoths like Ford, CocaCola, and the likes of them. On this website, you will be asked to work with voice memos, phone call recordings, speeches, and so on. If you manage to get a transcription job here, you’ll receive between $5 to $10 per audio hour.

Apart from the websites that I have discussed in the list above, there are many other websites where beginners can easily find remote transcription jobs. I must mention names among these sites like Happyscribe, Daily Transcription, Appen, Tigerfish, and more. On these platforms, you will find jobs that will involve transcription of YouTube videos, webinars, documentaries, and whatnot.

Now that you have a fair idea about online transcription jobs, you may want to get started in this field. Think about all the perks that online transcription jobs offer.

You can work from home with clients of your choice. You’ll be able to offer your services to global enterprises or companies while you work from home and make money.

You can work as much as you want and take a week or more to complete your work. Nobody will say anything to you.

You don’t have to worry about which field you are from. You may hail from a medical or legal background and still be a transcriptionist. You won’t require a lot to get started. You’ll just need a computer, stable internet, and a couple of other things to make money to your heart’s content. Also, you’ll get paid by most companies every week or per month.

Squarespace Templates: 15 Popular Themes To Build An Attractive Website

Make Your Website Look Alluring With Squarespace Templates!

Designing websites without knwing coding is possible.
Photo by CyberRabbit from Pixabay

First impressions do not always leave a lasting effect on our minds. But sadly, that is not the case with designing websites. If you build a website with a dull and dreary appearance, chances are you won’t attract many visitors. So, it would be best if you made it really attractive. Squarespace site will let you create your own site seamlessly. Besides, you can choose from myriads of visually appealing Squarespace templates to make people flock to your site.

Why Choose Squarespace?

Designing a website isn’t always an effortless job. It entails careful planning. But Squarespace does away with a lot of hassles. Following are some reasons why you should choose Squarespace:

  1. Squarespace is very simple to use.
  2. It has a reputation of being friendly towards its users. Squarespace is the savior of every beginner.
  3. Do you know what’s more interesting? You don’t have to know anything about coding if you use Squarespace to create and design your website.
  4. If Squarespace is your choice, you need not get all worked up over things like web hosting, coming up with domain names, and so on.
  5. Do you want to make your online presence felt within a short span of time? You may consider choosing Squarespace if that is the case.
  6. You will not have to think too much about figuring out the security needs of your site.

I hope you have understood now why Squarespace has so many admirers, haven’t you?

Well, Squarespace Isn’t All That Perfect!

Squarespace has some flaws too. In the following section, you will find what the limitations are:

  1. What Squarespace lacks is flexibility.
  2. Those who have an idea about coding may not be happy with Squarespace. They might feel somewhat restricted. After all, Squarespace is meant especially for people with zero knowledge about coding.

Squarespace 7.0 And 7.1: The Two Versions Of Squarespace

For those who are unaware, there are two different versions of Squarespace. They are Squarespace 7.0 and Squarespace 7.1. Squarespace 7.1 is the enhanced version, while the Squarespace 7.0 version is the old one. Squarespace 7.0 is still actively used by many people.

Now, the templates found in the 7.1 version function like those found in the 7.0 version. However, their features are somewhat different. The difference in features is, however, not that great.

You may watch this video to know more about the templates available on Squarespace 7.0.

Firstly, in some templates found in Squarespace 7.1, features like parallax scrolling and single-page landing pages are absent.

Secondly, you won’t be able to change your website template if you’re using Squarespace 7.1. However, users of Squarespace 7.0 will be able to change their templates.

But, Squarespace 7.1 beats Squarespace 7.0 in terms of one aspect. If you design your website using a Squarespace 7.1 template, your website will have a better loading speed than a website designed using a Squarespace 7.0 template.

To know more about Squarespace 7.1 templates, do watch this video!

Why You Should Be Careful While Choosing A Template On The Squarespace Site

Choosing the right template may be hard.
Photo by Tranmautritam from Pexels

I have mentioned before why templates are so important when it comes to designing websites. There are a few things that you must know before you quickly set out to choose a template. You have to put in some thought before you select a template of your choice. That’s because the template you choose will affect the entire look and performance of your website.

Here’s a quick bit of wisdom for you. While looking for a template on the Squarespace website, try to answer all the questions they pose before you. Skipping them would be unwise. That’s because these questions will help you choose the right template based on your goals, tastes, and preferences.

Things To Remember Before Choosing A Squarespace Template

It would help if you also were meticulous about choosing a design for your website. Make a choice based on what your website aims to do or achieve. Be very careful about the responsiveness of your chosen design. Also, always take a look at the preview before making a choice.

Free Squarespace Templates vs. Premium Squarespace Templates

Now, you can choose either a free template or a paid template for your website. Both varieties have merits and demerits of their own. Let me give you some idea about free templates and paid templates in the following sections.

Free Templates

As the name suggests, the free templates are free of cost. Squarespace completely supports these templates. The best thing about these templates is that they load seamlessly and swiftly. This is the reason why these templates have the edge over premium Squarespace templates.

Premium Templates

Premium Squarespace templates, on the other hand, lend a touch of uniqueness to your website. I’m trying to imply that, since many people tend to use free templates, their websites may end up looking somewhat similar to one another. That’s because the templates that come for free aren’t significantly different from each other in terms of looks.

But, the Help and Support Team of Squarespace will not assist you if you choose to use them. These premium templates, especially if they are coded badly, may tamper with the security of your website. Besides, the premium Squarespace templates may affect the loading speed of your website. That is, your website would take a lot of time to load. This would affect your website’s performance. Few people would be drawn to your website because who likes a slow website?

So, be clever with your choice!

Buy Blogging Templates, Social Media Templates, And More From These Popular Premium Squarespace Template Shops

You can buy templates from an external template shop. Most premium Squarespace templates are accompanied by tutorials, step-by-step guides, design kits, video tutorials, and so on. These allow users to build their own websites effortlessly.

If you go for premium Squarespace templates to build your website, you may purchase them from the premium Squarespace template shops that I have listed below:

Squaremuse

If you choose to buy templates from Squaremuse, you will gain access to step-by-step instructions that will help you set up and customize your site. You will get a design kit as well, and it will help you build your site.

Kate Scott

Kate Scott is another premium Squarespace template shop. The templates found in this shop come with layouts consisting of 12 pages.

23 & 9 Creative

Templates sold by 23 & 9 Creative come with video tutorials, a host of images, a launch plan, and so on. The templates found here can be used by creative entrepreneurs.

GoLive

GoLive is another shop where templates come with a step-by-step guide meant to help you build your own website smoothly. It is not a new shop selling Squarespace templates. Bloggers, E-Commerce service providers, influencers, and a host of other professionals can flock to this shop searching for well-designed templates.

Big Cat Creative

If you want no-code template kits and easily understandable tutorials, consider buying Big Cat Creative templates. Social media templates can be found in this shop. Plus, the support that they offer is phenomenal. To avail of this support, you will have to submit one support ticket.

PixelHaze

PixelHaze should be your choice if you want to buy templates that are cost-effective and budget-friendly. Business owners may buy templates from here and build their websites with them.

Choose A Template Based On The Purpose Of Your Website

There are a lot of Squarespace templates to choose from.
Illustration by 200degrees from Pixabay

The number of Squarespace templates is only a little above 100. But you may be baffled by each one of them. Well, how can you not when each of them is designed so exquisitely?

Let me remind you of something that I’ve already talked about in this article. It would be best to have a very clear and crisp idea of what you wish to achieve with your website. Are you a blogger willing to start your own blog? Or, do you wish to build a fine portfolio? Or, do you aim to start a quaint, little online store? That is, you need to figure out the purpose of your website.

Now, templates like Skye and Haute Culture are ideal for would-be bloggers. In contrast, those who wish to build their portfolios should go for Wexley or Carson. Apart from these, there are many other templates that you can use to design your site.

So, it’s totally normal to feel overwhelmed while choosing one template from 100+ Squarespace templates. But fear not! I will help you choose a template that’s suitable for your beautiful website.

15 Squarespace Templates To Make Your Website Look Stunning

Here’s a list of some of the most popular Squarespace templates that you can use to create your website.

Templates For E-Commerce Sites

A lot of us know how E-Commerce has received a boost in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. A study claims that the rates of E-Commerce penetration are likely to increase. They might rise as high as 25% in 2025! So, you may consider building your own E-Commerce website to earn your living. It looks like it would be a viable career option, right?

Galapagos

You may opt for the Galapagos template if you wish to have your own E-Commerce platform. It’s a simple template. It comes with a clean interface. If you choose this Squarespace template, you won’t have to devote much time to design your website.

It supports several other features, including picture galleries in slideshows, calendars, list-style blog formats, and so on. It comes with a single sidebar. With a template like this, you can effortlessly attract potential customers to your site.

Hester

Hester is another Squarespace template that is ideal for E-Commerce sites. It will let you showcase all your products in a very minimalistic way. Using it to build your site, your visitors will be greeted with a Shop Now button.

Templates To Build A Portfolio

Searching for the perfect template to build your portfolio? Squarespace offers a lot of them. Let us take a look at these templates and their features.

Wexley

Wexley is perhaps the most popular among those looking for a Squarespace template to flaunt their portfolios. This simple template has a beauty of its own. For those who don’t know, it’s one of the older Squarespace templates. If Wexley is your choice, your visitors will get a glimpse of the best of your artworks or photos on the landing page itself. It comes with a grid layout.

Carson

Carson is another template that you can use to create a good-looking portfolio page. It comes with so many cool features like overlay effects, full-bleed imagery, and so on. Your visitors will find your website quite adventurous if Carson is your choice.

York

If you want to showcase more than one portfolio in just one place, you should choose York. It is equipped with a grid index page. However, you cannot add sidebars if you choose this one.

Templates For Blogging

Squarespace has quite a few templates in store for bloggers as well. Some of these templates are:

Five

Five is a template that bloggers will love. Did you know it’s the only Squarespace template that will let you add two sidebars on your website? This versatile template is one among the old templates. It’s quite flexible. If you design your website with the help of Five, you’ll be able to incorporate elements like videos, full-width banner images, and so on. What it lacks is an index page.

Skye

If you want to provide your readers with a seamless and smooth experience while reading your blog posts, then you should consider using Skye. Its full-screen design that users can customize lets you arrange all your posts in grid-based blocks. Choose it if you want your site to look neat and organized.

Farro

For those who love simplicity as well as elegance, Farro is the ideal Squarespace template. It offers a remarkable blog layout. Your site will look great on mobile browsers if you choose this one. It offers plenty of layout options that you can customize. However, it doesn’t let you add sidebars. Nor does it come with an index page.

Haute Culture

Haute Culture is another Squarespace template meant for bloggers. This template lets you organize your posts in a mosaic-style layout. This template doesn’t use thumbnails. Rather, it uses full-size pictures.

Tudor

Another template that bloggers may use is Tudor. It offers a three-column layout like those found in magazines. The social media icons that come with it are somewhat minimal.

Templates For Business Purposes

Business owners can choose from the many templates that Squarespace has to offer. They can successfully build their new websites to promote their products and/or services with those templates.

Brine

If you are a business owner looking for a Squarespace template to build your dream website, Brine should be your choice. This versatile template offers many customization packages. This one is probably the most popular template available on the Squarespace website.

It’s extremely flexible and is one of those templates that offer customization packages. With this template comes a host of features. These are- attractive blog layouts, full-width banner images, numerous navigation areas, and so on. It has one major drawback. You can’t add sidebars if you use this template.

Templates For Miscellaneous Purposes

Squarespace users can also use the other templates available on the Squarespace platform for miscellaneous purposes. There are so many freely available and premium Squarespace templates that people can put to use for various purposes. I will give you a brief idea about some of these templates in the following section.

Charlotte: To Showcase Memories Of Your Wedding

There’s a template known as Charlotte. You can use it to organize all your wedding photos and memories by yourself. Wedding planners will look dull in front of your website with its beautiful design! So why not build your own wedding site?

Wav: For Music And Podcasts

Looking forward to publishing your own music or starting a podcast? Do consider using this fresh and new Squarespace template known as Wav. It comes with a grid layout, and it also allows Soundcloud integration.

Horizon: To Publish Your Videos

If you want to build a website where you can publish your videos, Horizon is the Squarespace template that you can use. Equipped with a carefully designed index page, this template lets you build stacks of full-bleed banner photos and videos.

Pursuit: To Create Your Customized CV

Did you know that you can use templates offered by Squarespace to create your resume? Pursuit is one such template that lets you make an eye-catching CV. This template has a professional look, and its colorful call-to-action buttons add to its charm.

So, I guess I have given you a fair idea about the variety of Squarespace templates that you can use to build an exquisite website of your own. Squarespace gives you a lot of options to choose from. Moreover, you can use templates that are free of cost or those for which you have to pay. Now, try and figure out your purpose and embark on your website designing journey!