QUICK START GUIDE
🚀 Your Squarespace Template Quick Start Guide
Welcome! We are so excited to help you launch your brand-new website. This guide will walk you step-by-step through setting up, customizing, and launching your Squarespace template. No coding or technical expertise required!
🛠️ Phase 1: Getting Started & Template Access
How to Accept Your Template Transfer
Check your email for an invitation from Squarespace to access your new site.
Click Accept Invitation and log into your existing Squarespace account (or create a free one).
Once accepted, the template will appear on your Squarespace dashboard as a separate website trial.
Note: Your template comes with a 3-month extended trial, so take your time customizing before choosing a paid Squarespace subscription!
🎨 Phase 2: Customizing Your Brand & Design
How to Change Site Fonts Across Your Entire Website
Squarespace makes it simple to update all your typography in just a few clicks using global Site Styles.
In the main menu, click Design (or the Paint Brush icon in the top-right corner).
Select Fonts.
Choose a pre-made Font Pack or click Switch to select specific fonts for Headings, Paragraphs, and Buttons.
Click Save in the top-left corner to apply your changes instantly across the entire site.
How to Change Your Website Color Palette
You can easily swap out the template’s default colors with your own brand palette.
Click the Paint Brush icon (Site Styles) in the top-right corner.
Select Colors > Edit Palette.
Input your brand’s HEX codes (e.g., #FFFFFF) into the five palette slots:
Lightest Neutral
Light Neutral
Accent Color
Dark Neutral
Darkest Neutral
To fine-tune colors on specific sections, click Section Themes to adjust text, button, and background colors individually.
How to Upload Your Logo and Favicon
Header Logo: Hover over your website header, click Edit Site Header, then click Site Title & Logo. Upload your primary logo file (PNG format with a transparent background is recommended).
Browser Icon (Favicon): Go to Settings > Website > Favicon. Upload a square image (32x32px or 100x100px PNG) so your brand icon displays in browser tabs.
📝 Phase 3: Adding Content & Editing Pages
How to Edit Text and Images
Editing Text: Click Edit in the top-left corner of any page. Click directly on any text block to type, format, or adjust line spacing.
Replacing Images: Double-click any image block, click the Trash icon to delete the placeholder, and drag and drop your own photo. You can also search Squarespace’s built-in stock photo library (Unsplash and Getty Images).
How to Add, Rename, or Reorder Pages
Go to the Pages panel in your main menu.
Main Navigation: Pages listed here will appear in your top navigation bar.
Not Linked: Pages listed here exist on your site but won't show up in the main header menu (great for landing pages, privacy policies, and thank-you pages).
Add a Page: Click the + Icon under either section to create a blank page or select a pre-made layout.
Reorder Pages: Simply click and drag any page up or down to change its position in your menu.
🔍 Phase 4: Basic Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
To make sure your website gets found on search engines like Google, follow these quick setup steps:
Add Site Title & Description: Go to Marketing > SEO Appearance. Add a clear Site Title and a 1-2 sentence Site Description containing your core keywords and location (if applicable).
Add Page-Specific SEO Titles: Go to Pages, click the Gear Icon next to a page, select the SEO tab, and enter a title and description tailored specifically to that page.
Add Image Alt Text: Click on any image, click the Edit (Pencil Icon), and write a brief description of what the photo shows under Image Alt Text.
🚀 Phase 5: Testing & Launching Your Website
Checklist Before You Publish
[ ] Test all contact forms to ensure submissions arrive in your inbox.
[ ] Click every button and link to verify they point to the correct URL.
[ ] Preview your website on mobile view (click the Mobile Preview icon in the top-right corner).
[ ] Add your social media links in your header and footer.
How to Upgrade to a Paid Plan & Connect Your Domain
Click Upgrade at the bottom of your screen and select either a Personal or Business Squarespace plan.
Go to Settings > Domains.
Choose Use a Domain I Own to connect an existing domain (from GoDaddy, Namecheap, Google, etc.), or click Get a Domain to register a new one directly through Squarespace.
Once your domain is connected, go to Settings > Site Availability and change your site status from Private to Public.
🎉 Congratulations! Your new website is official and live to the world!