The 3 Steps to Publishing a Squarespace Site

If you've created a website on Squarespace, congratulations! You've completed arguably the most important step! But now to make your site visible for the world, you’ll need to publish it. 

There are 3 core steps to publishing your Squarespace site, which can be done in 2 different orders - which will depend on if you already have a site connected to your domain, or if you’re launching a brand new website. If you’re launching a brand new website you can almost do this in any order.

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Table of Contents in Detail Hide

Step 1: Clear Your Account Billing 

You have to select a suitable billing plan before you can publish your site. You do end up not being able to go live with your website if it to hasn't been paid for.

• To check on your account billing, log in to your Squarespace account and click the Home Menu. Then, select Billing. 

• Click on the "Update" button, and then pick a plan that matches your needs. Continue through the checkout process and pay for the service. 

Before you can publish your site, you need to make sure your account is in good standing. That means:

Paying Outstanding Invoices & Ensuring Your Billing Info is Up-to-Date. 

• On the Billing page, you'll see your current balance at the top. If you have a balance due, you'll need to pay it before you can publish your site. 

• Below your balance, you'll find your payment method and billing contact information. Update this information if any of it has changed since you created your account. 

• When you're finished, click Save. 

Step 2: Turn On Site Availability 

Now that your billing plan is set up, you need to turn on Site Availability.

• Click the Home Menu and select Settings. 

• Select Site Availability. 

• Turn on Site Availability by clicking the switch next to Site Offline. 

• Set it to public after you've paid for it. 

• When you're finished, click Save. 

Step 3: Choose Your Domain Connectivity 

The next step is to choose the domain name you want people to use to find your site. If you don't have a domain name yet, you can buy a domain through Squarespace directly through “Get a Domain” under Settings > Domain.

Once you have your domain established:

• From Settings > Domain, click on "Use a Domain I own

• Type in your owned domain name, and go through the process - this will depend on whether your domain is linked to any other platform.

• It’ll ask if you want to connect or transfer the domain, or if you'd like to move it to Squarespace. If you’re choosing to transfer, just bear in mind that it may take a few days for the transfer to complete. 

Establishing Site Security

After the domain is connected, it'll begin to establish site security. This does take some time, but you can check the status of the process by navigating to the Advanced option in Settings.

• From Settings > Advanced, go to SSL. The status normally will say active, but may also say processing which will indicate to you that it will take some time to complete. Your website also may not load immediately, which is due in part to the registrar completing the new setup. It can take up to 72 hours, although it typically is only a few minutes to hours long.

If you have any confusion or significant issues on this part, don’t be hesitant to contact Squarespace support. They're regularly available to help you troubleshoot and walk you through anything that feels over your head. This part can be the most complex for most people, but Squarespace generally keeps it pretty straightforward.

For More Information 

We have figured out the tips and tricks that make Squarespace web design a cinch. Whether you’re a website developer designing sites for clients or a business owner trying to optimize your Squarespace site for SEO, we can help. Our premium SEO packages are designed to help you create a beautiful, optimized site quickly and efficiently.  

We also offer free resources that Squarespace developers of all levels find useful:

• SEO guides covering everything from designer tips to Squarespace SEO best practices 

• A handy SEO audit tool you can use right now to see how your Squarespace site is performing and where it needs improvement