How to use your website

A simple guide to updating your Squarespace site

This guide walks you through the tasks you’ll use most often to keep your website fresh, accurate, and working well.

1.    Logging in and editing safely

Log in and open your site

  • Go to Squarespace and log in with your account details.

  • Select your website from the dashboard. 

Edit pages

  • Click “Pages” to see your site structure.

  • Hover over a page and click “Edit” to start making changes.

Save and publish

  • Use “Done” → “Save” or “Publish” when you’re happy with your changes.

  • If you’re not ready, choose “Discard” to exit without saving.

Create a backup before big changes

  • In “Pages,” click the settings icon on a page and choose “Duplicate.”

  • Rename the copy so you know it’s your backup version.

2. Page structure and navigation

Main vs footer navigation

  • Main navigation is your top menu (the links across the top of your site).

  • Footer navigation sits at the bottom of your pages.

Add a new page

  • In “Pages,” click the plus (+) icon in the correct section (main nav, footer, or “Not linked”).

  • Choose a layout (Blank Page, Services, Contact, etc.).

  • Give the page a clear name that makes sense to visitors.

Hide a page from the menu

  • Move the page into the “Not linked” section if you want it live but not in the top menu.

  • You can still link to it from other pages and buttons.

Rename a page

  • Click the settings icon next to the page name.

  • Update:

    • Page title (what appears in navigation)

    • Page description (optional)

    • URL/slug (see SEO section for how to set this)

3. Creating and editing sections and blocks

Add a new section

  • On a page in edit mode, hover between sections and click “Add section.”

  • Choose a layout or start with a blank section.

Add a block

  • Inside a section, click the “+” icon.

  • Choose the block type: Text, Image, Button, Form, etc.

Edit a block

  • Click the block to open its settings.

  • Update the content (text, images, links) and click “Apply” or “Save.”

Add and edit text

  • Click into a text block and type or paste your content.

  • Use the toolbar to set headings, bold, lists, and links.

Change colours and text highlights

  • For section background: open section settings and choose a background colour or image.

  • For text highlights: use the text toolbar to set background colour or emphasis, and keep it consistent across the site.

4. Images and accessibility

Add images

  • Use an Image block or a section layout that includes images.

  • Click “Add Image” and upload your file. 

Compress images before upload

  • Aim for web-appropriate file sizes so pages load quickly (e.g. under 500 KB for standard content images). Use imagecompressor.com to reduce your picture size.

  • Export as JPG or PNG with a reasonable quality setting.

File names with target keywords

  • Rename your image files before upload, using words that relate to the page topic and your target keywords.

    • Example: keyword-acme.jpg instead of IMG_1234.jpg.

Alt text for accessibility and SEO

  • In the Image block settings, add meaningful alt text.

  • Describe what’s in the image and, where natural, include your target keyword.

    • Example: “Person participating in ACME service in Perth.”

5. SEO basics for each page

Open the page settings (gear icon) to adjust these.

Meta title

  • Aim for around 50–60 characters.

  • Put your main target keyword near the start.

  • Add your business name if space allows.

    • Example: “Road Runner Programs in Perth | ACME”

Meta description

  • Aim for around 120–155 characters.

  • Summarise what the page offers and include your main keyword in a natural sentence.

    • Example: “Discover ACME’s Road Runner Catching programs in Perth, Western Australia, that ensures you catch Road Runner today, and eat him tonight.”

Slug (URL) – follow Clear Copper SEO rules

  • Use a readable phrase of more than three words.

  • Include at least one target keyword if possible.

  • Use hyphens between words, lowercase letters, and avoid random numbers or filler words.

    • Example: /Acme-Road-Runner-Catching-Program

    • Example: /Road-Runner-Catching-Programs-for-Coytes

Avoid changing slugs on existing pages without setting up redirects, so you don’t break links.

6. Headings and content structure

Use a clear heading hierarchy

  • Each page should have:

    • One H1 (main page heading)

    • Several H2 headings for main sections

    • Optional H3 headings for subsections

Only one H1 per page

  • H1 is usually set by the main page title.

  • Don’t manually set other headings to H1 in the text editor.

Make headings meaningful

  • Headings should describe what each section is about.

  • Include keywords naturally where they fit, without forcing them into every heading.

7. Links and internal linking

Why internal links matter

  • They help visitors move through your site in a logical way.

  • They help search engines understand how your pages relate to each other.

How to create a link in text

  • Highlight the text you want to link.

  • Click the link icon in the text toolbar.

  • Paste the URL or choose an internal page.

  • Confirm and save.

Open in a new tab (for external links)

  • For links to other websites or documents, toggle “Open in new window/tab.”

  • For internal links within your site, it’s usually fine to open in the same tab.

Backlinks

  • Backlinks are links from other websites to yours.

  • Ask partners, directories, and collaborators to link to relevant pages with descriptive link text (e.g. “Road Runner Catching Programs in Perth”).

8. Buttons and calls to action

Add a button

  • Use a Button block or a layout that includes buttons.

  • Place buttons near key sections where you want visitors to take action.

Set clear button text

  • Use short, action-focused text such as:

    • “Enquire now”

    • “Book a session”

    • “View programs”

    • “Download program guide”

Link buttons correctly

  • Link to your main contact form, booking page, or important service pages.

  • For external systems (e.g. booking platforms), use “Open in new tab.”

Keep button styles consistent

  • Use one main button style for primary actions across your site.

  • Use a secondary button style only when you need a lower-priority action.

9. Forms, enquiries, and files

Add or edit a contact form

  • Add a Form block or edit an existing one.

  • Set the fields you need (name, email, phone, message, etc.).

  • In storage settings, choose where submissions go (email address, Squarespace, or a connected tool).

Test your form

  • Fill out the form as a visitor would.

  • Check that you receive the email or see the submission in Squarespace.

Upload and link files (PDFs, brochures)

  • Use a File block or upload a file via the link settings.

  • Give the file a clear name (e.g. services-brochure-2026.pdf).

  • Link to it from buttons or text like “Download our brochure.”

10. Blog or news posts (if used on your site)

Create a new post

  • Go to your Blog/News page.

  • Click “+ New Post.”

Set the basics

  • Add a clear title that explains the topic.

  • Write an excerpt if your template uses one.

  • Add a thumbnail image with alt text.

  • Add SEO page title and meta data.

Organise posts

  • Use categories and tags to group related content.

  • Keep your naming simple and consistent.

Schedule posts

  • Use the post settings to publish now or schedule for a future date and time.

11. Design changes you can make

Section backgrounds

  • Open section settings.

  • Choose a background colour, image, or pattern that fits your brand.

Site-wide fonts and colours

  • In the Design panel, update fonts and colour themes for headings, body text, buttons, and backgrounds.

  • Keep changes minimal so your site remains consistent.

Text styles

  • Use the built-in text styles instead of manually changing font size and colour each time.

  • This keeps your design neat and easy to update.

12. Checking your site on different screen sizes

Use Squarespace’s device previews

  • In edit mode, switch between desktop, tablet, and mobile views.

  • Scroll each page to see how everything looks.

What to look for

  • Menu works and is easy to use.

  • Buttons and links are easy to tap.

  • Text is readable without zooming.

  • Images aren’t cropped in a strange way on mobile.

  • No content runs off the edge of the screen.

13. Performance and accessibility checks

Keep pages fast

  • Avoid very large images or too many videos on a single page.

  • Reuse images where possible instead of uploading many similar versions.

Alt text for every image

  • Ensure each image has alt text that describes it clearly.

  • This helps screen readers and search engines.

Readable text

  • Use strong colour contrast between text and background.

  • Break content into short paragraphs and lists.

Helpful link text

  • Make link text descriptive, e.g. “Read about our community programs” instead of “Click here.”

14. Monthly maintenance checklist

 Once a month, take 15–20 minutes to:

Send a test enquiry through your contact form.

Update any out-of-date information (opening hours, staff, pricing, programs).

Review which pages matter most in your analytics and make sure they are accurate and useful.

Add one new piece of content if you can (a news update, story, case study, testimonial, or project). 


15. When to ask for help

Use this guide for everyday updates. Reach out to your web team or Clear Copper when:

You want to change layouts or templates across the site.

You’re planning a new section, campaign, or service and need fresh content and design.

Something isn’t working as expected and you can’t find the setting in Squarespace.