How To Use Squarespace Shipping Integration

Squarespace is a leading eCommerce platform that makes it easier for business owners to customize websites with intuitive, drag-and-drop features. The Squarespace shipping integration takes the intuitive features one step further by creating an automated order fulfillment solution. 

For those who already have a Squarespace site, shipping integration can improve the post-purchase customer experience and streamline operations. Here’s how to start using the Squarespace integration.

What Is Shipping Integration? 

Shipping integration takes all orders from your website and consolidates them with a shipping solution and labels, often at a discount. Owners benefit from discounted shipping rates and increased efficiency. Some shipping integrations also offer inventory distribution, third-party fulfillment, inventory auditing, or pick-and-pack. 

How Does Shipping Integration Work? 

Shipping integration works to increase company efficiency. With a few simple steps, small business owners can start saving time and ensure that every order is delivered professionally with shorter processing times. 

Benefits of Using Squarespace Shipping Integration

The benefits of using Squarespace shipping integration for business owners include:

• Savings on shipping costs
• Faster order processing
• Increased efficiency
• Options for inventory management and order fulfillment

4 Steps for Setting Up Squarespace Shipping Integration

If you’re ready to start using the Squarespace integration on your website, it only takes a few minutes to set up. Here’s a step-by-step guide:

Step 1: Understand Squarespace Shipment Rules

There are some rules regarding shipment with Squarespace. It is very important to understand how these rules will affect your business prior to setting up shipping integration.

• International Shipments: Shipping rules abroad differ. To set up international shipments, users should go to the Creating Shipping Zones section of Squarespace. This enables users to create shipping zones relative to the business location. For example, a shop based in the USA would charge more to ship to Australia or Asia than for shipments going to Canada. 
• Product-specific Shipments: Right now there aren’t product-specific shipping rules on Squarespace. However, you can set parameters for products with flat rates. For example, high-value items in a relatively small package could have a flat-rate, insured shipment price. 
• Digital or Service Products: Digital or service products do not require shipping rates. Squarespace shipping integration can still help with item delivery by sending a downloadable link that expires after 24 hours. Customers can request a new download link from the original email address used for purchase. 
• No Custom Shipping Rates: Squarespace shipping integration does not allow custom amounts for shipping after checkout. However, there is a carrier calculated shipping option that gives real-time shipping rates. 

Step 2: Choose a Shipping Option

Now it’s time to choose the shipping option within Squarespace that will work best for your company. Here are some of the best options:

Option #1: Flat Rate Shipping

Flat rate shipping is a single price for shipping any time. Businesses can create shipping zones for international shipments. For example, a business may choose $5 shipping for all packages in the US and $10 for all international shipments. 

• Pros: Flat rate shipping simplifies calculations. It also gives customers a sense of clarity and transparency of shipping costs. 
• Cons: The main con of flat rate shipping is that shipping costs vary and businesses may need to pay part of the shipping costs out of pocket. Businesses often have to choose between covering their shipping expenses and driving customers away with shipping rates that seem too high. 

Option #2: Carrier Calculated Shipping

Carrier calculated shipping gives real-time rates based on FedEx, USPS, or UPS. Squarespace typically uses USPS.

• Pros: The advantage of carrier calculated shipping is that shipping costs are completely covered. The rates are clear and transparent. 
• Cons: The disadvantage of carrier calculated rates is that they may seem high to customers, potentially leading to customer loss at checkout. 

Option #3: Weight Calculated Shipping

Weight calculated shipping allows sellers to set shipping prices based on the total weight of an order. This option may make sense for shops selling items that are all about the same size but vary greatly in weight. 

• Pros: The weight calculated shipping option makes sense for certain businesses that sell very heavy items and don’t want to lose money on shipping costs. 
• Cons: This option can be seen as the most complicated option to customers. They also may not understand why adding an extra item to their order increases shipping costs significantly. 

Option #4: Free Shipping

Free shipping is the simplest, most customer-friendly option available with Squarespace shipping integration. As the name implies, the customer is not charged anything for shipping regardless of weight, location, or order total. Sellers can build in additional costs to product prices to offset shipping costs. 

• Pros: This is a customer-friendly option that is immediately clear to customers. They know that nothing will be added for shipping. Some research indicates that free shipping leads customers to make more purchases. 
• Cons: The disadvantage of free shipping is that sellers can lose money on shipping costs, especially on heavy, large, bulky, or valuable items. 

Step 3: Choose How to Ship Your Packages

Once you’ve set shipping costs, it’s time to set shipping methods. The options are self-fulfillment as you choose, a third-party logistics solution, or local pickup. Each of these options has pros and cons. 

Option #1: Self-fulfillment

Self-fulfillment shipping is the process of sending a package in whichever manner you choose. You can print USPS, UPS, or FedEx labels to ship from home, or you could take the packages to a shipping location. You can use self-fulfillment shipping with any of the shipping price options. 

• Pros: The advantage of self-fulfillment is that you control the process. You can ensure on-time delivery and efficient processing. 
• Cons: The disadvantage of self-fulfillment is the processing time required to confirm orders, prepare, pack, and send packages. This option can be inefficient. In case of growing businesses, there can also be inventory storage issues. 

Option #2: 3PL

Third-party logistics integrations take care of everything from inventory management to order shipments. ShipBob is a tech-enabled shipping integration software for Squarespace with an international fulfillment network. 

It is the best shipping integration for Squarespace for sellers who need a 3PL shipping solution.

• Pros: The advantage of using 3PL is in efficiency and ease. It takes the time-consuming processes of managing inventory, packing orders, and shipping out of the business. This leaves small and growing businesses with more time to focus on core business issues like product development, customer service, and marketing. Another pro is shipping cost savings. 
• Cons: The only advantage of ShipBob is the cost of using ShipBob. For small businesses just starting out, it might not make sense to start with 3PL. For businesses that are growing, the pros outweigh the cons. 

Option #3: Local Pickup 

Local pickup allows businesses to connect with local customers. This saves on shipping costs and delivery times. If you have a storefront or physical store, this also gets customers into the space for future purchases. 

• Pros: Local pickup does not require the same packing. Especially when it comes to large, delicate, or heavy items, this option can be more convenient for both the seller and the customers. 
• Cons: The local pickup option greatly reduces a seller’s potential customer base. If used with another shipping option, this is no longer a disadvantage. 

Step 4: Overview & Save

After you’ve customized the settings for your business, you’ll have a chance to see an overview of all the options on the Squarespace website. You can then save these preferences. Of course, you can come back and follow steps one through four again whenever you need to update your shipping model. 

Squarespace Shipping Integration for All Businesses

Whether you’re a small business owner or have hundreds of employees, the Squarespace shipping integration is a simple solution to provide better customer service. It helps business owners to save time, reduce shipping costs, and improve efficiency. 

With options that include international shipping, setting shipping regions, and customizing shipping costs, there is a shipping solution for every business. With the ShipBob integration, the whole shipping process can be completely automated with 3PL. However you choose to ship, Squarespace can make it easier.  

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