How To Launch a Squarespace Website in 2025

Regardless of the website builder, your website goal will inform every design and content decision you make. You can solve every website question by asking: “will this help accomplish the goal?”

Here are some broad example goals:

• Generate leads
• Sell products
• Get newsletter subscribers
• Take donations
• Showcase work
• Publish blog posts

Create a site map (optional)

It can be helpful to plan out the structure for your website. See what pages help you achieve your goals.

Most websites include a Home, About, Services/Products, Blog, and Contact page. Outlining this in advance will make the building process smoother.

Do not overcomplicate it ⁠— you can use a tool like Gloomaps or XMind to plan it visually.

Here’s how our site structure would look, for example:

Yours can be much more simple.

Squarespace has 180 free templates across website types like blogs, ecommerce, portfolios, etc., and topics like photography, art, wedding, fitness, food, etc. You also have the option to choose from hundreds more paid templates from third-party designers. Plus, obviously, you can start with a blank page.

Here are a couple of examples (of Squarespace templates for interior designers):

Example of a free Squarespace template for interior designers.

Example of a paid Squarespace template for interior designers.

For the free templates, you can follow Squarespace’s onboarding process, and you’ll be presented with suitable options. But if you want a more comprehensive look at all the available template options, including the paid ones…

We have analyzed 1000+ templates to create curated collections of Squarespace templates for blogs, portfolios, ecommerce, personal sites, and many more. Check out the collection that fits your website type & category to pick the best template.

It’s time to turn the pre-defined template into your website!

Tip: Look at successfully-designed websites in your industry for inspiration if you don’t have a style or structure in mind.

1. Style Your Website with Fonts and Colors

After selecting a template, customize its fonts and colors, and even the buttons and animations, to match your brand’s style. You can wait to do this until all pages and content are fixed, but since Squarespace is a WYSIWYG builder, I recommend customizing early to see how everything looks as you edit.

You can select pre-existing site style themes by clicking the brush icon at the top-right—professional, playful, friendly, bold, sophisticated, innovative, and quirky.

Alternatively, you can select a custom color palette, typefaces, and buttons.

• Choose Custom Fonts: Open the Site Styles by clicking the paintbrush icon and select “Fonts.” Squarespace allows you to pick from a variety of font styles to match your brand tone. For instance, choose a modern sans-serif for a contemporary look or a serif font for a more classic appearance.
• Set Custom Colors: Select or edit your color palette under the “Colors” tab in Site Styles.

Note: Changing “Site Styles” will apply the style sitewide, but you can also style individual elements with Squarespace.

2. Set Up Your Website’s Pages

Style done? Okay. Now, set all the necessary pages.

• Delete Unwanted Demo Pages: You’ll have demo pages if you start with a template. Hover over the page in the left navigation bar and click delete to remove the demo pages you don’t want.
• Add New Pages: Click the plus (+) icon to add pages such as “Home,” “About,” “Services,” and “Contact.” You can choose from blank pages, portfolio pages, blog pages, or other pages, depending on your needs.

Use Fluid Engine To Edit The Pages

Squarespace calls its latest drag-and-drop editor Fluid Engine. It’s divided into sections and blocks:

• A section is a pre-designed collection of blocks. For example, here are some Services sections:

• A block is an element like text, image, button, video, shape, quote, or even something like a product or integration of Instagram feed—you have many options. You drag and drop these blocks anywhere in a section—the blocks snap to an adjustable underlying grid. See this video to get a better idea:

Squarespace Overview (1:30)

With the right combination of blocks and sections, you’ll have your pages ready!

Note: Make sure to replace placeholder text and images with your own content. Also, move or resize sections to better structure your site layout.

3. Customize the Header

Customizing the header starts right from when you add the pages. The ones you add to the ‘Main Navigation’ appear in the header, and the ones under ‘Not Linked’ don’t.

Besides that:

• Add Your Logo: Navigate to the header editor by clicking “Edit Site Header” and upload your logo under “Site Title & Logo”. If you don’t have a logo, use the default text or create one using a design tool like Canva.
• Adjust Header Elements: Toggle on or off elements like social icons, search bars, and buttons for a cleaner look that matches your vision. You can do it by clicking ‘Add Elements’ on the left side of the navigation bar when in edit mode.

Header Elements

Design Your Navigation Menu

Make navigating your site intuitive and user-friendly:

• Arrange Pages in the Main Navigation: Drag and drop pages into your primary navigation bar to order them as you like.
• Customize Drop-down Menus: For sites with multiple subcategories, create drop-down menus for better organization.
• Choose a Menu Layout: Squarespace gives standard options to showcase your logo, menu items, and CTAs in different orders. All are easy to navigate; just choose one that you like best.

4. Final Customizations

Make sure to review and fine-tune these last details for a professional touch:

• Footer Customization: Edit your footer to include essential information like copyright details, contact links, or social media icons.
• Button and Form Customization: Ensure that buttons, forms, and call-to-action elements reflect your brand’s color scheme, fonts, and especially the message.

5. Edit Your Mobile Site

If you followed the steps until now, you’ll have the perfect desktop website. But what about mobile? You’ll likely need to edit it to get things lined up how you want.

Here’s me removing unnecessary spacing and structuring our demo website a bit on mobile view—it’s pretty easy with the Fluid Engine:

With these steps, your Squarespace site will reflect your brand identity and offer a user-friendly experience to both desktop and mobile visitors.

Everything looks good? Time to make your website public!

Choose a Squarespace Plan

Squarespace has four plans:

• Personal ($16/mo): Perfect for non-business/non-ecommerce sites like blogs and portfolios
• Business ($23/mo): Ideal for small businesses
• Commerce Basic ($27/mo): To start selling online
• Commerce Advanced ($49/mo): For full ecommerce features

Each plan comes with a 14-day free trial and a free custom domain if you choose an annual plan.

Learn more about each of these plans here.

Buy/Setup a Domain Name

A domain name will give your site a professional, brandable address.

You can claim a free domain name if you choose an annual Squarespace plan.

Otherwise, you can also purchase a domain name directly through Squarespace Domains. It’s one of the largest domain name registrars, and you’ll be able to connect your Squarespace-purchased domain to your Squarespace website seamlessly:

1. Click the “Domains” tab in your Squarespace site settings under “Domain & Emails”.
2. Click ‘Get A Domain’ and search for available domain names relevant to your business.
3. Select your preferred domain and complete the purchase. Squarespace domain names start at $20/year, but you’ll likely get one for $14/year for the first year.
4. Once purchased, your domain will automatically be connected to your site

You can also use an existing domain you already own. Squarespace provides simple steps to connect an external domain:

1. Go to the Domains panel and click “Use A Domain I Own.”
2. Enter your existing domain name.
3. Update your domain’s DNS settings on your current registar per Squarespace’s instructions.
4. Once the connection is verified, your site will be live on the custom domain.

Publish & Promote Your Launch

With your domain set up, it’s time to go live. In the Squarespace homepage editor, click the “Publish” button.

Now promote your new site through various channels:

• Share on your social media profiles.
• Send an announcement email to your contacts.
• Submit your site to relevant online directories.
• Consider paid advertising or influencer partnerships.
• Create social media graphics and videos to drum up interest.

Your work doesn’t end at launch. An effective website requires ongoing maintenance and optimization:

1. Regularly review your site analytics to identify opportunities.
2. Update content, offers, and features based on user feedback.
3. Test new design elements and layout modifications.
4. Stay on top of Squarespace platform updates and ensure your site remains secure and compliant. Though, Squarespace will take care of it for you.