Better Homepage Layouts Than a Slider on Squarespace
Once a slider comes off a homepage, the next question is usually:
“What should go here instead?”
This is where many Squarespace sites get stuck. Sliders feel like they’re doing a lot of work, so removing one can feel risky — even when it isn’t working well.
The good news is that Squarespace templates offer several homepage layouts that tend to work better, especially for service-based businesses in Seattle and West Seattle.
One clear message works harder than five rotating ones
The most effective homepages usually focus on one thing at a time.
Instead of trying to introduce every service or idea at once, they answer a simpler question for visitors:
“Am I in the right place?”
A strong homepage opening usually includes:
A clear headline that describes what you do
A short supporting sentence that adds context
One obvious next step
This approach feels quieter than a slider, but it gives visitors something solid to react to right away.
A single image can do more than a rotating gallery
Sliders often exist because people want to show multiple images.
On Squarespace, a single well-chosen image paired with text often works better. It sets the tone without competing for attention.
That image doesn’t need to explain everything. Its job is to support the message, not replace it.
When image and text work together, visitors don’t have to guess what matters most.
Clear actions beat multiple options
Another common issue with sliders is that each slide tries to send visitors to a different destination.
On a homepage, that usually creates hesitation instead of engagement.
A better approach is to:
Choose one primary action
Make it easy to spot
Let secondary options live further down the page
This doesn’t limit visitors. It guides them.
On Squarespace sites, especially smaller ones, this often leads to cleaner layouts and better flow.
What to do if you have a lot to say
Many businesses worry that simplifying the homepage means leaving important information out.
That’s where page structure comes in.
The homepage doesn’t have to carry everything. It can introduce ideas and then hand them off to:
Service pages
About pages
Dedicated detail pages
Squarespace makes it easy to create clean, focused pages — but only if the homepage isn’t overloaded.
Letting pages do their individual jobs usually makes the whole site easier to navigate.
Why this matters for local businesses
For Seattle-area businesses, visitors often arrive with a specific goal in mind. They’re quickly checking fit, location, and credibility.
A homepage that’s focused and easy to understand helps them decide faster. A rotating set of messages slows that process down.
When people don’t have to work to understand your site, they’re more likely to keep going.
A quieter homepage is often a stronger one
Removing a slider doesn’t make a homepage empty. It gives the rest of the content room to breathe.
Clear messaging, simple layout choices, and a single direction tend to outperform complexity — especially on mobile.
If your homepage feels busy or hard to settle on, it may not need more content. It may just need fewer competing messages.
