A Step-by-Step Guide

Whenever I create a Squarespace website for a client, I follow a comprehensive launch checklist to ensure a smooth build process and top-notch quality control. In this blog, I’m excited to share that checklist with you—no gatekeeping here!

Even if you’re building your own Squarespace site, this checklist will help ensure you’re setting your website up for success.

Pre-Build Steps for a Successful Squarespace Website

1. Get a Clear Client Brief

The first step in any Squarespace project is collecting a detailed client brief. This covers key questions such as:

• What type of website they need (e-commerce, portfolio, blog, etc.)

• The number of pages required

• Branding guidelines

After gathering this information, I conduct a follow-up session to clarify details and finalize pricing. It's important to collect a complete set of brand guidelines before proceeding. If your client doesn’t have them, recommend they create one—it’ll save a lot of time later.

2. Sign a Contract to Prevent Scope Creep

Once I fully understand the client’s needs, I have them sign a contract outlining the scope of work and associated fees. This step keeps everyone aligned and prevents any unexpected project expansions.

Ensure your contract includes:

• The scope of the project

• Specific deliverables

• The number of feedback rounds to avoid an open-ended review process

Using a professional contract is ideal, but there are also free templates available online.

3. Collect Final Assets

Before starting the build, gather all necessary assets, including:

• Text content

• Images and videos

• Fonts and logo files

• Privacy policies and terms of service

Golden Rule: Never start building until ALL final content is supplied. This prevents delays and speeds up the overall process.

4. Gain Access to All Relevant Accounts

Request access to all accounts needed for the build and launch, including:

• Domain registrar accounts

• Email marketing tools

• Social media accounts

• The client’s Squarespace account

To maintain security, ask the client to add you as a user rather than sharing login credentials directly.

5. Perform Keyword Research

Basic keyword research helps identify the terms and phrases your target audience is searching for. This can significantly improve your site's visibility on search engines.

Even a quick, budget-friendly keyword analysis can deliver solid results. Make sure to identify primary and secondary keywords to integrate throughout the website.

With the brief, contract, and assets in hand, it’s time to get building!

1. Review the Content and Sitemap

Before you start designing, review the provided content. I often find that text needs tweaking or images require updates to align with best practices. Always aim for clarity and quality in the final product.

2. Choose the Perfect Template

Select a Squarespace template that fits the client’s needs. Sometimes I build from scratch using Squarespace’s ‘Blueprint’ feature, but usually, I opt for a clean, simple template that complements the client’s brand guidelines.

3. Remove Sample Pages

Delete any default pages that come with the template to avoid publishing dummy content by mistake.

4. Configure Site Settings for Consistency

Set up the site-wide color palette, fonts, and other brand-specific elements to ensure consistency across the website.

5. Ensure Images Are Properly Sized

All images should meet Squarespace’s recommended specifications (1500-2500 pixels wide, max file size of 500 KB). Resizing them ensures faster loading times and better SEO.

Pro Tip: Need help resizing images? Check out this quick guide on how to do it.

6. Link Social Media Accounts

Using Squarespace’s social links panel, connect your client’s social media accounts for seamless sharing.

7. Create Easy-to-Navigate Menus

User-friendly navigation is crucial. Set up clear menus that include keywords where appropriate, making the site more SEO-friendly and easier for users to explore.

8. Upload Optimized Content

Add the text and media content, ensuring it’s optimized for SEO with keyword-rich headings and image alt text.

9. Add a Favicon

Don’t forget to upload a favicon—this small but important image will appear in browser tabs and search results, enhancing brand recognition.

10. Add Email Sign-Up Forms to Every Page

Building an email list is key for any business, so include a sign-up form on every page. I recommend offering a lead magnet to encourage sign-ups.

11. Include Strong Calls-to-Action (CTAs)

Make sure each page has a clear CTA, like "Contact Us," "Book a Consultation," or "Shop Now," to drive conversions.

12. Set Up Customer Notification Emails

For e-commerce sites, configure customer notifications to align with the client’s fulfillment and refund policies.

13. Create Legal Pages

Ensure the site includes all legally required pages, such as:

• Terms and conditions

• Privacy policy

• Cookie notice

• Refund policy (if applicable)

If your client needs help, I recommend Termagedon. You can read more about why in this blog post.

Before launching the site, I perform several important SEO checks to ensure it’s optimized for search engines:

1. Optimize Page Titles

Make sure each page title is under 60 characters and includes target keywords.

2. Craft Meta Descriptions

Each page should have a meta description under 160 characters, containing the primary keyword to improve visibility in search results.

3. Verify Alt Text

Ensure all images have keyword-rich alt text to improve accessibility and SEO.

4. Set Up 301 Redirects

If you’re migrating from another platform, set up 301 redirects to preserve SEO rankings from the previous site.

1. Unprotect Passworded Pages

Before publishing, remove any unnecessary password protection.

2. Map the Custom Domain

Link the Squarespace site to the client’s custom domain, ensuring the SSL certificate is properly set up for security.

3. Test the Site on Different Devices

After the site goes live, test it across multiple browsers and devices to ensure it looks and functions consistently.

4. Test All Forms and E-commerce Features

Test all forms to ensure they are working properly, and for e-commerce sites, perform a test transaction to verify payment processing and notifications.

5. Install Google Analytics

While Squarespace has built-in analytics, adding Google Analytics provides more detailed insights into site performance.

6. Transfer Ownership and Train the Client

Once the site is live, transfer ownership of the Squarespace account to the client. I also provide training so they can manage their website with confidence.

7. Add the Site to Google Business

If your client operates locally, encourage them to add their website to Google Business to increase visibility on Google Maps.

Ready to Launch Your Own Site?

I hope you find this Squarespace website launch checklist helpful! If you have any additional steps or feedback, feel free to share them—I’m always looking to improve my process.

Need help launching your own site? Contact me for a consultation, and let’s get started!

Cheers,
JM