Haiden Hibbert
If you’re thinking about launching a paid Squarespace newsletter, you’re in good company. More online business owners are choosing newsletters as a sustainable way to share their work, build a direct relationship with their audience, and earn recurring income—without relying on ads or social algorithms.
In this guide, we’ll walk through how to create a paid newsletter on Squarespace using MemberSpace, step by step. This setup works whether you’re just getting started or migrating from an email-only newsletter and want more control over your content and revenue.
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Why Use MemberSpace for a Squarespace Newsletter?
Many paid newsletters live entirely in email inboxes. That can work—but it also comes with limitations. Issues get buried, new subscribers can’t easily access older editions, and you’re always at the mercy of deliverability.
With MemberSpace, your newsletter lives on your own Squarespace site as members-only content. Subscribers can log in anytime to read past issues, explore bonus content, and stay notified when new editions are published.
This approach gives you:
- A private content library for your newsletter
- Flexible payment options
- Full ownership of your audience and content
- Room to grow beyond “just” a newsletter
Step 1: Install MemberSpace on Your Squarespace Site
The first step is connecting MemberSpace to your Squarespace website.
After creating a MemberSpace account, you’ll get a small snippet of code. You’ll paste this into your Squarespace site (typically under Website → Pages → Custom Code → Code Injection).
Once installed, MemberSpace runs quietly in the background. You don’t need to change your design, rebuild pages, or switch templates. Your site will look the same—MemberSpace simply adds membership functionality to your site with the ability to add exclusive content, like newsletters.
Step 2: Add Your Newsletter Content to MemberSpace
Next, you’ll create a place for your newsletter inside MemberSpace.
Create a Space
In MemberSpace, a Space is where your exclusive content lives. For a paid Squarespace newsletter, you’ll usually create one Space where you’ll upload all your new newsletters.
Add Newsletter Issues
Inside your Space, you can add content however you like. Most people use the Article option to publish each newsletter issue.
You can:
- Paste in written newsletter content
- Organize issues into folders or nested folders
- Drag and drop to reorder editions
- Group content by month, topic, or season
If you want to go beyond text, you can also upload other formats—like an audio version of your newsletter or bonus files to go with each issue.
When members log in, they’ll see all past editions in one place and can browse freely. Whenever you publish a new newsletter, they’re automatically notified, so nothing gets missed.
Step 3: Set Up Your Pricing Plan
Once your content is in place, it’s time to decide how people pay for access.
Most paid newsletters use a recurring subscription, but MemberSpace gives you a lot of flexibility.
You can charge:
- Monthly, quarterly, or yearly subscriptions
- A one-time payment
- Multiple payments
- Or even offer free access for certain members
You can also customize details like:
- Billing frequency
- Start date
- Free trials
- Payment methods
This makes it easy to start simple and adjust later as you learn what your audience responds to. You can also set up multiple pricing tiers if you want to add more exlusive content to a higher tier.
Step 4: Add Subscribe Buttons to Your Squarespace Site
Now you’ll want to grab the Signup link from your new plan and add it to buttons or text anywhere on your Squarespace site. When someone clicks, a signup and payment form opens where they can subscribe to your newsletter.
Common places to add these calls to action include:
- A dedicated newsletter landing page
- Your homepage
- Blog posts
- Your site’s navigation or footer
Once someone signs up, they get instant access to your newsletter archive and any future issues you publish. Here’s a look at those forms:
✨ Newsletter Tip: With MemberSpace, you can set the price and billing frequency (e.g., $10/month) for your newsletter subscription plan, as well as customize additional features like trial periods and expiration dates.
Step 5 (Optional): Notify Members When You Publish
If you want, you can use MemberSpace’s built-in email feature to notify members whenever a new newsletter goes live.
This works well if you like the idea of:
- Keeping content on your site instead of in inboxes
- Reducing reliance on traditional email tools
- Giving members a single place to access everything
Subscribers receive a notification and can click straight through to the new edition on your site.
Why This Setup Works So Well for Paid Newsletters
Using MemberSpace with Squarespace gives you something many email-only newsletters don’t: structure.
New subscribers don’t just get future issues—they get access to everything you’ve already published. That makes your newsletter more valuable over time and gives people a reason to stay subscribed.
It also gives you flexibility. You’re not locked into a single format or platform, and you can evolve your offering without starting over.
Tips for Running a Successful Paid Newsletter
A few practical tips we’ve seen work well:
Be clear about what’s included.
Let people know exactly what they’re paying for and how often they’ll hear from you.
Start small and stay consistent.
You don’t need a complicated content plan. Consistency matters more than volume.
Use your archive as a selling point.
Access to past editions is a big value add—especially for new subscribers.
Don’t overthink pricing at the start.
You can always refine it later as your audience grows.
Turn Your Newsletter Into a Bigger Membership (When You’re Ready)
One of the biggest advantages of using MemberSpace is that your paid newsletter doesn’t have to stay just a newsletter.
Over time, you might add:
- Bonus content
- Private podcasts
- Courses or workshops
- Member-only perks or resources
Your newsletter can become the foundation of a broader membership, all managed in the same place.
The best Squarespace newsletter templates
While Squarespace doesn’t offer templates specifically for newsletters, creating your newsletter like a blog lets us explore some of the best free Squarespace blog templates instead! Here are our top picks:
- Paloma: This template allows you to prominently showcase a few of your newsletters directly on the hub page. Doing this can be a powerful way to convert users to subscribers by enticing them with a sample of your content.
- Almar: The initial section on this template allows you to quickly convey what your newsletter offers with the subsequent sections providing text areas to give an overview of what’s included in your newsletter subscription.
- Clarkson: For those who need a little more space to talk about their products, this template has a clean and elegant layout that’s perfect for showcasing what makes your newsletter stand out.
Whichever template you choose, ensure it aligns with the overall aesthetic and goals of your newsletter. Remember, this site is going to be the first impression for potential subscribers, so make sure it’s visually appealing and easy to navigate.new
Squarespace newsletter pricing: What to charge for your subscription
When figuring out how much to charge for your Squarespace newsletter, think about the value you’re offering. Typically, people charge between $5 and $15 per month, which is fair for newsletters that provide consistent, high-quality content.
If you want to charge more, consider how you can add value to what you’re offering. For example, you could send your newsletter more often, moving it from monthly to weekly. Or, you could also offer access to a private community, exclusive perks like special content, early product access, or live Q&A sessions.
No matter how deep you want your offerings to go, you’ll want to make sure your price reflects what you’re providing so subscribers feel it’s worth it.
Setting up a Squarespace newsletter signup page
Once you’ve set up your newsletter on your site, creating a captivating sign-up page for your Squarespace newsletter is essential to attract subscribers. Here are some tips to get you started:
- Showcase your value: Highlight what your newsletter is all about and why people should subscribe. Offer a sneak peek into the kind of content they can expect, whether it’s in-depth articles, curated recommendations, or special insights.
- List out pricing and tiers: If you have multiple subscription tiers, clearly display the differences in each one and what subscribers can expect to receive for each price point.
- Entice potential subscribers by listing the perks of subscribing: This could be access to a private community, weekly or daily newsletters packed with valuable content, exclusive discounts, special offers, or access to a private podcast series.
- Use social proof: People are more likely to trust and follow the crowd. If you have a large number of subscribers, display that number prominently on your sign-up page to show social proof and increase credibility.
- Add a clear Call to Action (CTA) button: You can use engaging language like “Join Now” or “Subscribe Today”. Be sure that your button is linked to the direct sign-up link you got from MemberSpace.
Don’t forget to regularly update and refresh your sign-up page to keep attracting new subscribers. It’s also beneficial to review and optimize your page at least every quarter to improve conversion rates (the percentage of site visitors who subscribe to your newsletter).
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Does Squarespace have a newsletter option?
Yes, Squarespace offers built-in tools for creating and managing newsletters through its Email Campaigns feature. However, a third-party tool like MemberSpace offers greater flexibility, enabling you to generate revenue from multiple digital products within a single platform.
How to create a newsletter in Squarespace?
To create a newsletter in Squarespace, you can use its built-in features or opt for MemberSpace, which is known as one of the best software options for creating newsletters. This allows you to design visually appealing emails, manage subscriber lists, and track engagement all within the platform.
How to add a newsletter sign-up to Squarespace?
To add a newsletter sign-up to Squarespace, you can use Squarespace’s built-in form blocks or integrate with third-party services like Mailchimp or MemberSpace. These options allow you to customize your sign-up forms and manage subscriber lists effectively.
How do I sell my newsletter?
To sell your newsletter, you can use platforms like MemberSpace to create subscription plans with payment options. Promote your newsletter through your website, social media, and email lists, directing interested users to sign up and pay for access to your content.
How do I price my newsletter?
When pricing your newsletter, think about what your content offers, what your audience might pay, and what others charge. Look at similar newsletters for ideas, and try different prices to see what works best for getting subscribers and making money.
What is the best Squarespace newsletter template?
The best Squarespace newsletter template depends on your specific needs and style preferences. Squarespace offers a variety of blog templates with different layouts and design elements tailored for newsletters. Explore options like Brine or Bedford, which are popular for their flexibility and customization features suited for newsletters.
Final Thoughts
Launch your Squarespace newsletter!
The easiest way to accept membership payments or one-time charges for digital products like newsletters online courses, content libraries, and more — all from your own website!
Get started for free! 5 minutes to set up.
