CESBC Website User Manual
This page provides information on how to make common updates and manage workflows for this website on the Squarespace platform.
Pages & Forms
Home Page
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This section uses a “summary block” to automatically populate from the Latest News blog. To update content, create a new blog post and the home page will automatically populate. The blog consists of two parts: 1) summary + photo, and 2) full content. Both need to be updated.
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This section of the page is set up as a “summary block”, which dynamically pulls content from the “events calendar”. It is filtered to show only upcoming events based on the current date.
Events Page
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Events are added or updated through the Events Calendar. Both the event summary and full description need to be created.
There are three types of events:
1) Free online event with registration through zoom. When creating the event, add a button for registration and link it to the zoom registration link.
2) Free in-person event with registration through a website on the form. When creating the event, add a form and create questions as needed. Form data will be stored in Squarespace or can be directed to a Google Sheet in a cesbc gmail account. Notifications can be sent to the relevant cesbc gmail account.
3) Paid events either online or in-person. First, create a product for the event in the Products section (further instructions below). Then create the event and add a product summary block to the event, specifying the product. Purchases/registrations will be stored in Squarespace.
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Instructions here
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Instructions here
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Automation to sort upcoming vs previous events can only be done in Squarespace using a calendar function. It cannot be automated through the events function.
Job Board
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On the BC Jobs Board page, the “Post a Job” form is set up to automatically populate to a Google spreadsheet in the cesbc.treasurer gmail account. This can be changed if it is easier for someone else to manage this function.
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A CSS custom code directs the content of the form to automatically populate from google sheets back to the website. Squarespace does not currently support this function to be automatic due to privacy concerns. This is why a CSS custom code is required. Otherwise, the website would need to be updated manually based on what was submitted through the form.
We explored external add-on features (e.g.,
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Service providers (i.e., evaluation consulting companies) can be added to this list as long as at least one principal or partner is a CES BC member.
Instructions for being added to the list are currently to send an email to bc@evaluationcanada.ca. However, this could also be managed using a contact form that has set fields (description, email, phone, website, contact name).
New service providers need to be manually added to the accordion list, which is in alphabetical order.
There is no automated system for knowing when to remove a service provider.
Manage Forms
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Instructions here
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Instructions here
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Item description
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Item description
Functions
Email Campaigns
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A template with common sections is saved for the newsletter. Currently, content has to be added manually for each section. For each send out, update the content and save that newsletter version so there is a history of each one. Sections can be deleted if there is no content for that week.
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Links to subscribe to the newsletter are included in the header and footer of each page of the website. Once a new subscriber fills out the form, they are automatically added to the newsletter contact list and will be included in future emails. A link to unsubscribe is automatically included at the end of each email, so they can self-manage if they’d like to be removed from the list.
Manage Contacts/Members
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New subscribers to the newsletter are automatically added through the subscribe form. They are automatically removed if someone chooses to unsubscribe from the link emailed to them in the newsletter template.
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As new people subscribe, they will appear in Contacts > Lists & Segments > Subscribers > New Subscribers. We will need to manually tag them to relevant sub lists.
Manage Purchases (Cart) and Finances
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Item description
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Products/prices are set up to automatically add 5% GST. Currently this is set to be added to the price in the Cart. Settings can be changed to add the GST in the displayed price, if that is preferred.
GST must be charged for any services or products we sell. This applies to in-person and online events, including purchasing recorded webinars. If we collect money, we need to charge GST. We do not charge GST if it is free.
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Item description
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The system is set up to direct any funds received (called “payouts” in Squarespace) to the CESBC bank account at Vancity. Squarespace automatically deducts their transaction fees:
Credit card rate: 2.9% + $0.30
Online store transaction fee: 0%
Digital content and memberships transaction fee: 5%
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Financial summaries for each event (product) are generated using….
UPDATE ME
Squarespace Plans
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Squarespace separates their functions so there is flexibility to customize plans to CESBC’s needs and budget.
The Core Plan was selected as it is the lowest cost plan that includes key functions we need, including commerce options to sell registrations. It includes up to 5 hours of video storage, which is sufficient to sell a limited number of webinars.
The decision point to upgrade to the “Plus” plan would be if we need more space to sell webinars, as this plan includes up to 50 hours. If videos are free, we can instead store them on a free platform (Youtube, Vimeo, Google Drive, Zoom).
The plan payment is due in February of each year.
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We chose the tier that includes 10,000 emails per month. This is based on the current (2026) newsletter mailing list of about 1,300 contacts being sent the weekly newsletter 4x/month (total = 5,200 emails/month).
The next tier down is 5,000/month, which was too small.
The plan includes unlimited contacts.
The payment is due in February each year.
Custom CSS Code
The Custom CCS page includes code for settings that could not be changed with the menu options in Squarespace. Current codes include:
Squarespace automatically includes “(required)” text at the end of each form question. This code removes that text to avoid the form looking too cluttered. Instead, a sentence is included at the top that says every field on the form is required unless stated otherwise.
There was no setting to change the appearance of the shopping cart, and it had a dark blue background which made it difficult to see the black letters. This custom code changed the background colour as well as other settings to make the checkout cart simpler and more user-friendly.
The form for the jobs board auto-populates to a google spreadsheet, which is not formatted well. Custom code adds a little more of a professional look, such as hiding the navigation pane at the top.