How to Use Squarespace: A No-Nonsense Guide for Beginners

Squarespace is one of the easiest website builders to learn, but that doesn't mean it's intuitive from day one. The interface has changed significantly over the years, and if you're coming from WordPress or another platform, there's definitely a learning curve.

This guide walks you through everything you need to know to get a Squarespace site up and running-from picking a template to publishing your site. No fluff, just the steps that actually matter.

Getting Started: Sign Up and Pick a Template

Head to Squarespace.com and click "Get Started." You'll be prompted to create an account and select a template.

Squarespace offers a 14-day free trial where you can explore the platform, upload content, and experiment with your design without entering payment info. Your trial site stays private until you upgrade to a paid plan.

Here's an important thing most tutorials don't mention: in Squarespace 7.1, templates are basically just starting points. All version 7.1 sites are part of the same template family, so every site has the same features and style options regardless of which template you choose. This means you can customize any 7.1 template to look like any other-the template just determines your starting layout and demo content.

Pick a template that matches your general vibe (portfolio, business, blog, etc.) and don't stress about it too much. You can change everything later.

Understanding Squarespace Versions

Squarespace currently has two main versions: 7.0 and 7.1. New sites are automatically created on version 7.1, which is the platform's current standard. Version 7.1 offers more flexibility and modern features, including the Fluid Engine editor that we'll discuss in detail below.

If you have an older 7.0 site, you can migrate to 7.1 using Squarespace's update tool, though this requires rebuilding your site structure. For most new users, you'll automatically start with 7.1, so you don't need to worry about this distinction.

Understanding the Squarespace Dashboard

Once you've picked a template and named your site, you'll land in the Squarespace editor. The left sidebar is your command center:

To edit any page, click on it in the Pages panel, then click "Edit" to enter the visual editor.

The Website Panel

The Website panel is your homepage when you're logged into Squarespace. From here, you can access all your sites if you have multiple projects, view notifications, and manage your account settings. Think of it as your central hub before diving into a specific site's dashboard.

How the Fluid Engine Editor Works

Squarespace's current editor is called Fluid Engine. It's the primary content editor for all version 7.1 sites and operates as a true drag-and-drop system built on a 24-column grid.

Unlike the old "Classic Editor" which used a rigid 12-column system where blocks depended on each other for sizing, Fluid Engine lets you place blocks anywhere on the grid. You can overlap elements, resize freely, and create custom layouts without touching code.

Key features of Fluid Engine:

This last point is huge. With Fluid Engine, you can click the phone icon in the editor to view and edit the mobile version of your page separately. Moving blocks in desktop view doesn't affect mobile, which means you have real control over how your site looks on phones.

Fluid Engine vs. Classic Editor

The Classic Editor still exists in certain areas of Squarespace, including blog posts, event descriptions, and product additional information sections. However, most page sections now use Fluid Engine by default.

The main difference is flexibility. Fluid Engine uses a grid system that allows precise placement and overlapping of elements, similar to design tools like Canva. The Classic Editor was more restrictive-blocks stacked vertically and you couldn't overlap elements without custom code.

If you have existing sections built in the Classic Editor, you can upgrade them to Fluid Engine by hovering over the section and clicking the "Upgrade" button that appears. However, be aware that once you convert a section, you can't revert it back without undoing or discarding your changes.

Working with the Grid System

The 24-column grid is the foundation of Fluid Engine. Each block you add snaps to this grid, making alignment consistent and professional-looking. When you drag a block, the grid becomes visible, showing you exactly where your element will land.

You can resize blocks by dragging their corners or edges. The grid ensures everything aligns properly, even when you're overlapping multiple elements. This system gives you pixel-level control without needing to write CSS or use developer tools.

Adding and Editing Pages

To add a new page, go to Pages in the left sidebar, click the "+" icon, and choose your page type. You can add:

When you add a layout page, you'll be prompted to choose a pre-built page layout or start blank. Pre-built layouts give you a head start with sections already arranged-you just swap in your own content.

Page Settings and Configuration

Each page has its own settings panel where you can configure important details. Hover over any page in the Pages panel and click the gear icon to access:

The URL slug is particularly important for SEO. Keep it short, descriptive, and keyword-rich. For example, "about-our-team" is better than "about-us-page-1" or overly long descriptive text.

Organizing Your Pages

You can organize pages into folders by dragging them in the Pages panel. This is especially useful for sites with many pages. Folders create dropdown menus in your navigation, helping visitors find what they need without cluttering your header.

Pages can also be placed in the "Not Linked" section, which keeps them live and accessible via direct URL but removes them from your navigation menus. This is perfect for landing pages, thank-you pages, or special promotional pages you only want certain visitors to see.

Working with Page Sections

In Squarespace 7.1, pages are built from multiple page sections. Each section is a horizontal band that spans the width of your page.

To add a section, click "Edit" on your page, then click "Add Section" where you want it. You can choose from:

Each section can have its own background color, image, or video. Click the pencil icon on any section to access section settings.

Section Settings and Customization

Section settings give you control over the appearance and behavior of each horizontal band on your page. Key settings include:

Background images can be configured with different display options: fill, fit, or repeat. You can also adjust the focal point to ensure important parts of the image remain visible across different screen sizes.

Duplicating and Reusing Sections

One of the biggest time-savers in Squarespace is the ability to duplicate sections. Hover over any section and click the duplicate icon to create an exact copy. This is perfect when you've created a design you like and want to use it multiple times with different content.

You can also copy and paste sections between different pages on your site. This maintains consistency across your website and dramatically speeds up the design process.

Adding Content Blocks

Blocks are the individual pieces of content within a section. To add one, click "Add Block" in the top-left corner while editing a section. Common block types include:

Once added, blocks appear in the top-left of your section. Drag them to position, resize by pulling the corners, and click to edit content.

Squarespace recommends adding no more than 60 blocks per page to keep load times fast. If you're building content-heavy pages, split them into multiple pages or use summary blocks that link to individual posts.

Text Block Formatting

Text blocks are your most versatile content type. Click any text block to open the formatting toolbar, which includes:

Using heading styles properly is crucial for both SEO and accessibility. Search engines use headings to understand your content structure, and screen readers use them to help visually impaired users navigate your site.

Image Block Options

Image blocks offer several display options that affect how your images appear:

Always add alt text to your images through the image settings. Alt text improves accessibility and helps search engines understand your content. Describe what's in the image concisely-"Woman working on laptop in coffee shop" not "image123.jpg."

Button Blocks and CTAs

Button blocks are essential for calls-to-action (CTAs). You can link them to:

Button styles are controlled globally in your site styles, ensuring consistency across your site. However, you can also customize individual buttons to be primary, secondary, or tertiary styles if your template offers multiple button designs.

Styling Your Site

Global styles are controlled in the Design panel under "Site Styles." Here you can set:

Changes made in Site Styles apply across your entire site. For section-specific styling, use the section settings instead.

Color Palettes and Themes

Squarespace uses a theme-based color system. You can choose from pre-designed color combinations or create your own custom palette. The color theme typically includes:

Each section on your site can use a different color theme, allowing you to create visual variety while maintaining brand consistency. This is particularly useful for distinguishing different areas of a page or creating hero sections that stand out.

Typography and Font Pairing

Squarespace offers an extensive font library with hundreds of options. You can typically set different fonts for:

For best results, limit yourself to 2-3 font families maximum. A common approach is one font for headings and another for body text. Squarespace templates often include pre-selected font pairings designed by professional designers, which is a great starting point if you're not confident in typography.

Custom CSS for Advanced Users

If you know CSS, you can add custom styling to fine-tune your design beyond what the visual editor offers. Go to Design → Custom CSS to add your code.

Common CSS customizations include adjusting spacing, changing hover effects, modifying header behavior, and creating unique animations. However, be cautious-poorly written CSS can break your site design, and custom code may not work as expected when Squarespace updates their platform.

Setting Up Navigation

Your site's navigation is managed in the Pages panel. Pages in the "Main Navigation" section appear in your header menu. Pages under "Not Linked" are live but don't appear in menus-useful for landing pages or thank-you pages.

To reorganize your navigation, just drag pages up and down in the list. You can also create dropdown menus by dragging pages underneath and slightly to the right of other pages.

Header and Footer Configuration

Your header typically includes your logo, site title, and main navigation. You can customize it by going to Design → Header. Options vary by template but usually include:

The footer is edited separately. Click "Edit" on any page, scroll to the bottom, and click "Edit Footer." You can add multiple columns with content blocks, just like regular page sections. Common footer content includes contact info, social links, additional navigation, and copyright notices.

Mobile Navigation

On mobile devices, your navigation typically collapses into a hamburger menu (three horizontal lines). This saves screen space and provides a clean mobile experience. You can customize the hamburger menu icon style in your header settings.

Remember that mobile users make up more than half of web traffic for most sites, so always check how your navigation looks and functions on smaller screens.

Understanding Squarespace E-Commerce

Squarespace includes built-in e-commerce functionality on all paid plans, though features vary by tier. You can sell physical products, digital downloads, services, gift cards, and even memberships.

Setting Up Your Store

To add e-commerce to your site:

  1. Go to Pages → Add Page → Store
  2. Choose a store layout (grid, list, or featured)
  3. Connect a payment processor (Squarespace Payments, Stripe, or PayPal)
  4. Configure tax settings for your location
  5. Set up shipping options

Squarespace supports unlimited products on all plans, meaning you can list as many items as you want without hitting artificial limits.

Adding Products

To add products, go to your store page in the Pages panel, click it, and then click "Add Product." You'll need to provide:

Product descriptions can include rich formatting, embedded videos, and image galleries. Use this space to answer common questions, highlight features, and provide sizing or usage information.

Payment Processing

Squarespace offers multiple payment options. Squarespace Payments (powered by Stripe) is the native option with competitive rates starting at 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction. You can also connect PayPal for customers who prefer that payment method.

Accepted payment methods include credit cards, debit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Afterpay, Klarna (buy now, pay later), and ACH bank transfers. The more payment options you offer, the more likely customers are to complete their purchases.

Shipping Configuration

Squarespace offers flexible shipping options:

You can also create shipping profiles for different product groups. For example, heavy items might have different rates than lightweight accessories, or certain products might only be available for local pickup.

E-Commerce Features by Plan

The Basic plan ($16/month annually) allows product sales but charges a 2% transaction fee and 7% fee on digital products. The Core plan ($23/month annually) removes transaction fees entirely, making it the sweet spot for most small stores.

The Plus plan ($39/month annually) adds customer accounts, enhanced analytics, and abandoned cart recovery. The Advanced plan ($99/month annually) includes everything plus subscriptions, advanced shipping options, and lower payment processing rates.

SEO: Making Your Site Discoverable

Squarespace includes powerful built-in SEO tools that help your site rank in search engines. Unlike WordPress where you need plugins, Squarespace handles most SEO fundamentals automatically.

Automatic SEO Features

Squarespace automatically provides:

These features work in the background without any configuration needed. Your job is to optimize the content-specific elements.

Page-Level SEO Settings

For each page, you should optimize:

SEO Title: The title that appears in search results and browser tabs. Keep it under 60 characters and include your main keyword. This is different from your page title (what visitors see on your site).

SEO Description: The snippet that appears below your title in search results. Aim for 150-155 characters, include keywords naturally, and write compelling copy that encourages clicks.

URL Slug: The end part of your page address. Keep it short, lowercase, and use hyphens between words. For example, "/professional-services" is better than "/Services-We-Offer-2023."

Access these settings by hovering over any page in the Pages panel and clicking the gear icon, then selecting the SEO tab.

Image Optimization for SEO

Images are often overlooked in SEO but they're important. For every image you upload:

  1. Compress it before uploading (use tools like TinyPNG to reduce file size without losing quality)
  2. Add descriptive alt text (helps visually impaired users and search engines)
  3. Use descriptive file names before uploading ("blue-cotton-shirt.jpg" not "IMG_0123.jpg")

Squarespace offers an AI-powered SEO tool that can generate alt text suggestions for your images. Access this through Settings → Marketing → SEO Appearance.

Content Structure and Headings

Search engines use heading tags to understand your content hierarchy. Follow these best practices:

Proper heading structure also improves accessibility, helping screen reader users navigate your content efficiently.

Google Search Console Integration

Squarespace integrates directly with Google Search Console, allowing you to verify your site and access valuable data about how Google sees your content. To connect:

  1. Go to Settings → Marketing → SEO
  2. Click "Connect to Google Search Console"
  3. Follow the verification prompts

Once connected, you can see which keywords drive traffic to your site, identify indexing issues, and monitor your search performance over time.

Blogging for SEO

A blog is one of the best SEO tools available. Regular blog posts targeting specific keywords can drive consistent organic traffic. To add a blog:

  1. Go to Pages → Add Page → Blog
  2. Write posts that answer specific questions your target audience searches for
  3. Use proper heading structure and include images
  4. Add categories and tags to organize content
  5. Interlink posts to related content on your site

Consistency matters more than frequency. Publishing one high-quality, well-researched post per month is better than four rushed, thin posts.

Connecting a Domain and Publishing

During your trial, your site lives on a Squarespace subdomain (like yoursite.squarespace.com). To make it live with a custom domain, you'll need to:

  1. Upgrade to a paid plan
  2. Connect or transfer your domain in Settings → Domains

Annual plans include a free custom domain for the first year. After that, domains typically renew at $20-$70/year depending on the domain extension (.com, .org, etc.) and whether you renew through Squarespace or another registrar.

To publish your site, go to Settings → Site Availability and click "Upgrade to Publish." Choose your plan and enter payment info.

Connecting an Existing Domain

If you already own a domain through another registrar like GoDaddy or Namecheap, you have two options:

Connect it: Keep your domain registered with your current provider and point it to Squarespace using DNS settings. Squarespace provides detailed instructions for all major registrars.

Transfer it: Move your domain registration to Squarespace for simplified management. Transfers typically take 5-7 days and extend your registration by one year.

Most users choose to connect rather than transfer, at least initially, since it's faster and you maintain control at your existing registrar.

Email Setup

Squarespace doesn't provide email hosting directly, but they partner with Google Workspace. You can set up professional email addresses (like [email protected]) through Settings → Domains → Google Workspace.

Google Workspace costs $6-$18 per user per month depending on the plan. If you need business email on a budget, consider alternative providers like Zoho Mail or ProtonMail, which can work with your Squarespace domain.

Squarespace Pricing Overview

Squarespace pricing ranges from $16 to $99 per month when billed annually. Here's the quick breakdown:

Monthly billing costs significantly more-about 30-40% higher. If you're serious about your site, annual is the way to go.

For a deeper dive into what each plan includes, check out our Squarespace pricing breakdown.

Hidden Costs to Consider

Beyond the base subscription, budget for:

Most small businesses end up spending $30-$60/month total when you factor in all these extras.

Using Squarespace Analytics

Understanding your site's performance is crucial for growth. Squarespace includes built-in analytics that track:

Access analytics from Settings → Analytics or the Analytics icon in your sidebar. Data updates in real-time, though some metrics like search keywords may have a 48-hour delay.

Key Metrics to Watch

Focus on these actionable metrics:

Unique visitors: The number of individual people visiting your site. Growing this number means your marketing efforts are working.

Bounce rate: Percentage of visitors who leave after viewing only one page. High bounce rates (>70%) might indicate confusing navigation or irrelevant content.

Traffic sources: Understanding where visitors come from helps you double down on what's working. If Instagram drives 40% of your traffic, invest more time there.

Popular pages: Which content resonates? Create more content similar to your top performers.

Conversion rate: For e-commerce sites, track what percentage of visitors make a purchase. Industry average is 2-3%, so anything above that is solid.

Google Analytics Integration

For more advanced tracking, connect Google Analytics 4. While Squarespace analytics cover the basics well, Google Analytics offers deeper insights into user behavior, demographics, and custom event tracking.

Connect it through Settings → Marketing → External Services → Google Analytics. You'll need to create a GA4 property and paste your measurement ID.

Marketing Tools and Features

Squarespace includes several marketing tools to help you grow your audience and drive sales.

Email Campaigns

Squarespace Email Campaigns lets you send newsletters, promotional emails, and automated campaigns. The interface matches your website's design, making it easy to create on-brand emails.

Pricing starts at $5/month for up to 500 subscribers. Plans scale up to $68/month for larger lists. The tool includes templates, automation workflows, and detailed analytics.

Build your list by adding newsletter blocks to your site, offering lead magnets, or collecting emails at checkout.

Social Media Integration

Connect your social media accounts to:

Social selling is particularly powerful for product-based businesses. Customers can browse and purchase your products without leaving Instagram or Facebook.

Promotional Pop-Ups and Banners

Announcement bars appear at the top of your site and are perfect for highlighting sales, new products, or important information. They're non-intrusive but highly visible.

Promotional pop-ups (available on Core plan and above) can capture email addresses, promote special offers, or reduce cart abandonment. Configure them to appear after a time delay, scroll depth, or exit intent.

Customer Reviews

Product reviews are available on all e-commerce plans. Enable them in your store settings, and Squarespace automatically sends review request emails two weeks after purchase.

Reviews build trust and can significantly increase conversion rates. Display them on product pages and use them in marketing materials.

Mobile Optimization

More than 60% of web traffic comes from mobile devices. Squarespace templates are mobile-responsive by default, but you should still optimize the mobile experience.

Mobile Editing in Fluid Engine

Click the phone icon in the editor to switch to mobile view. Here you can:

Changes made in mobile view don't affect desktop, giving you complete control over both experiences.

Mobile Best Practices

Always preview your site on your actual phone before publishing. The mobile editor is helpful, but nothing beats testing on real hardware.

Advanced Features

Member Areas and Paywalls

Squarespace supports membership sites where you can gate content behind a paywall. Use cases include:

Set up member areas through Commerce → Member Areas. You can create multiple membership tiers with different pricing and access levels.

Scheduling and Booking

Squarespace includes basic appointment scheduling features, but for advanced booking needs, they acquired Acuity Scheduling. Acuity offers:

Acuity costs $14-$61/month depending on features needed, but it integrates seamlessly with your Squarespace site.

Podcasting

You can host and distribute a podcast directly from Squarespace. Add an audio block to any page, upload episodes, and Squarespace automatically generates an RSS feed compatible with Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other directories.

This is convenient but has limitations. Most serious podcasters use dedicated podcast hosting (like Buzzsprout or Transistor) for better analytics and features, then embed episodes on their Squarespace site.

Multilingual Sites

While Squarespace doesn't have built-in multilingual support, you can create separate pages for different languages or use third-party extensions like Weglot that automatically translate your site and handle language switching.

Tips for Squarespace Beginners

After building dozens of sites on Squarespace, here's what I wish someone told me earlier:

  1. Prepare your content first - Have your images, copy, and branding ready before you start building. It makes the whole process 10x faster.
  2. Check mobile view constantly - Click that phone icon after every major change. What looks great on desktop can be a mess on mobile.
  3. Use pre-built sections - Don't reinvent the wheel. The pre-built layouts are well-designed and save hours of work.
  4. Keep it simple - Squarespace templates look best when they're not over-stuffed. White space is your friend.
  5. Don't ignore SEO basics - Add page titles and meta descriptions from day one. It's much harder to go back and optimize 50 pages later.
  6. Start with fewer pages - Launch with 5-7 essential pages. You can always add more later.
  7. Use high-quality images - Squarespace templates are designed to showcase beautiful imagery. Low-quality photos will make your site look unprofessional.
  8. Test your forms - Before launching, submit a test form to make sure you receive notifications properly.
  9. Set up analytics early - Connect Google Search Console and Google Analytics during your trial so you start collecting data immediately.
  10. Save time with keyboard shortcuts - Press "G" to show/hide grid, Command/Ctrl + D to duplicate sections, Command/Ctrl + Z to undo.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

New Squarespace users often make these mistakes:

Using too many fonts: Stick to 2-3 font families maximum. More than that looks unprofessional and hurts readability.

Neglecting alt text: Adding alt text to every image is tedious but essential for accessibility and SEO.

Ignoring site speed: Compress images before uploading. A 5MB image slows down your entire page.

Not testing the checkout process: If you're running an online store, complete a test purchase to ensure everything works smoothly.

Forgetting about legal pages: Add Privacy Policy, Terms of Service, and Return Policy pages if you're collecting data or selling products.

Overcomplicated navigation: If visitors can't find what they need in 2-3 clicks, your navigation is too complex.

Not backing up content: Squarespace doesn't offer automated backups. Export your blog content periodically and save important text externally.

When Squarespace Isn't the Right Choice

Squarespace is great for portfolios, small business sites, and simple e-commerce. But it's not for everyone:

For most small businesses and creatives, though, Squarespace hits the sweet spot of design quality and ease of use.

Getting Help and Support

When you need assistance, Squarespace offers several support options:

Help Center: Comprehensive documentation with step-by-step guides, videos, and troubleshooting articles. Search for any feature or issue and you'll likely find detailed instructions.

Live Chat: Available 24/7 in most regions. Response times are usually under 5 minutes. Support team members are knowledgeable and can walk you through complex issues.

Email Support: Submit a ticket and receive a response within 12-24 hours. Best for non-urgent issues or when you need to share screenshots and detailed information.

Webinars: Free weekly webinars cover topics like getting started, SEO basics, and e-commerce setup. Register through the Squarespace website.

Forum: Community forum where users help each other. Great for design inspiration and seeing how others solved similar problems.

Circle Community: For professionals who build sites for clients, Squarespace Circle offers additional resources, early access to features, and networking opportunities.

Hiring a Squarespace Expert

If you'd rather have someone else build your site, Squarespace maintains a vetted marketplace of professional designers and developers. Typical costs range from $2,500-$10,000 depending on complexity.

For smaller customization needs, many experts offer hourly consulting at $100-$200/hour to help with specific challenges or teach you how to use advanced features.

Staying Updated with New Features

Squarespace regularly releases new features and improvements. To stay informed:

Major features like Fluid Engine and AI tools are typically announced with tutorial content to help you adopt them quickly.

Ready to Start Building?

The best way to learn Squarespace is to just start building. Sign up for the 14-day free trial, pick a template, and start dragging blocks around. You'll have a decent-looking site within a few hours.

Remember that every professional designer started as a beginner. Don't aim for perfection on your first try-launch something functional and improve it over time based on real user feedback.

If you're comparing options, check out our guides on Squarespace vs Wix and Squarespace vs WordPress to make sure it's the right platform for you.