Why would anyone make a website in 2023? Squarespace CEO Anthony Casalena has some ideas

15 snips

Jul 18, 2023

In this engaging discussion, Anthony Casalena, the founder and CEO of Squarespace, delves into the ever-evolving web landscape of 2023. He shares insights on how the significance of websites has shifted amidst social media's dominance and the rise of AI. Anthony emphasizes the importance of owning digital real estate and adapting strategies for content creators. He also explores Squarespace's evolution into a multifaceted brand and the implications of their recent acquisition of Google's domains business. Plus, the unexpected topic of pressure washers adds a quirky twist!

Ask episode

AI Snips

Chapters

Transcript

Episode notes

ANECDOTE

Squarespace's Evolution

Squarespace began as a blogging platform because starting a blog was easy.
It evolved into website building as technology advanced, focusing on empowering entrepreneurs.

INSIGHT

Website vs. Social Media Marketing

Many new businesses prioritize social media marketing over websites initially.
Websites mainly facilitate transactions due to more payment options.

INSIGHT

Social Media and Website Synergy

Social media is essential for distribution; websites offer ownership and control.
Different social media platforms resonate with different content types.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

Get the app

Today I’m talking to Anthony Casalena, the founder and CEO of Squarespace, the ubiquitous web hosting and design company. If you’re a podcast listener, you’ve heard a Squarespace ad.

I was excited to talk to Anthony because it really feels like we’re going through a reset moment on the internet, and I wanted to hear how he’s thinking about the web and what websites are even for in 2023.

If you’re a Vergecast listener, you know I’ve been saying it feels a lot like 2011 out there. The big platforms like Facebook and TikTok are very focused on entertainment content. Twitter is going through… let’s call them changes. People are trying out new platforms like Instagram Threads and rethinking their relationships with old standbys like Reddit. And the introduction of AI means that search engines like Google, which was really the last great source of traffic for web pages, just doesn’t seem that reliable anymore as it begins to answer more questions directly. It’s uncertain, and exciting: a lot of things we took for granted just a couple years ago are up for grabs, and I think that might be a good thing.

I love talking to people who’ve been building on the web for this long, and Anthony was no exception – we had fun with this one. Also I think this is the most we have ever talked about pressure washers on Decoder.

Links:

Google sunsets Domains business and shovels it off to Squarespace - The Verge

How Did Squarespace Know Podcasts Would Get This Big? - The New York Times

Watch Squarespace CEO on Leveraging AI Into Website Building - Bloomberg

Transcript:

https://www.theverge.com/e/23559195

Credits:

Decoder is a production of The Verge, and part of the Vox Media Podcast Network.

Today’s episode was produced by Jackie McDermott and Raghu Manavalan, and it was edited by Callie Wright.

The Decoder music is by Breakmaster Cylinder. Our Editorial Director is Brooke Minters, and our Executive Producer is Eleanor Donovan.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices