How to Publish a Website on Squarespace (for Authors)
Getting your author website live on the internet might sound scary—but it’s actually super easy with Squarespace. Publishing your website on Squarespace means you’re finally ready to share your words, your books, and your story with the world.
Whether you’re just starting out or launching your fifth novel, your website helps readers find you, trust you, and stay connected. This guide will walk you through every step so you can hit “publish” with confidence—and know your site is ready to shine.
How to Publish Your Squarespace Website
You’ve built the pages, picked your fonts, uploaded your book cover—now it’s time to launch. Below are the exact steps to publish your Squarespace site and get it live for the world to see!
Step 1 – Choose a Paid Squarespace Plan
To make your site live, you’ll need to upgrade from a free trial to a paid plan. Head to Settings → Billing & Account and choose the plan that fits your needs. Most authors are good to go with the Personal or Business plan, unless you’re adding advanced ecommerce features.
Step 2 – Connect or Register Your Domain
Squarespace makes this easy. You can either buy a new domain through them (free for the first year) or connect one you already own from another provider like GoDaddy or Namecheap. Just go to Settings → Domains to get started.
Step 3 – Set Your Site Title, Favicon, and SEO Basics
These little details go a long way. Head to Settings → Site Title & Logo to update your site title and upload a favicon (that tiny icon that shows in browser tabs). Then jump to Marketing → SEO to fill in your site description and homepage SEO title.
Step 4 – Review Your Site Visibility Settings
Before your site goes live, make sure it’s visible to the public. Go to Settings → Site Availability and change it from “Private” to “Public.” This officially unlocks your site for search engines and visitors.
Step 5 – Click “Publish” and Make It Live!
Once you’ve confirmed everything looks good and your visibility is set to public, your site is technically live the moment you upgrade to a paid plan. There's no big red button—but toggling your visibility is what does the trick.
Step 6 – Test Your Site and Share It with Your Audience
Visit your live site from your phone, desktop, and tablet to make sure everything looks the way it should. Test your email forms, links, and navigation. Then, celebrate—and start sharing your new site on social, in your email list, and anywhere your readers are!
Prep Before You Hit Publish – What Authors Should Double Check First
Before you click that magical “Publish” button, let’s make sure your site is truly ready to meet the world. Think of this as your final Squarespace website checklist—a quick way to spot anything that might confuse visitors, break your layout, or miss a chance to connect with your readers.
Is your homepage clear and compelling?
Your homepage is your first impression. Does it tell visitors who you are and what you write? Can someone land here and know within seconds what to do next—read a sample, buy your book, or join your newsletter? If not, tweak it before going live. Use my homepage checklist to help!
Do you have an About page and Book page?
Readers want to know more about you—and your work. Make sure your About page shares your story in a way that feels real and relatable. Your Book page should highlight your titles, link to buy, and include blurbs, covers, or reviews.
Is your email opt-in working?
Whether you’re giving away a bonus scene or just inviting people to stay in the loop, your email form should be tested and connected to your list provider. One of the best ways to grow your audience? Collect emails from day one.
Have you previewed mobile and desktop?
Lots of your readers will find you on their phone—so don’t skip this step! Use Squarespace’s built-in preview tool to make sure everything looks good and works smoothly on mobile, tablet, and desktop.
Does your navigation make sense?
Your site should be easy to explore. Check that your menu is clean, links go where they should, and your most important pages are easy to find. Think like a first-time visitor and click through everything.
Worried About Design? Start with a Squarespace Template!
If the thought of “designing a website” makes you want to run and hide behind your manuscript, don’t worry–I’ve got good news? You don’t have to be a designer to have a site that looks clean, professional, and totally on-brand.
I’ve designed beautiful, customizable templates—and yes, there are ones made specifically for authors. Whether you want something minimalist and sleek or playful and storybook-perfect, there’s a starting point that makes everything feel easier.
Pick a template, swap in your content, and go! Fonts, colors, and layout are all handled for you. No coding. No pixel-level decisions. Just a site that looks like you—and feels like it belongs on a book cover.
Final Touches Before You Announce Your Site Is Live
You're this close to showing the world your shiny new author website—but before you blast the link to your readers, take a few final steps to make sure everything’s polished and ready.
1. Double-check your links, newsletter form, and book pages
Click through every link on your site—yes, every single one. Make sure your navigation works, your buttons lead to the right places, and your email opt-in actually connects to your list provider. Check your book pages for typos, broken buy links, or missing blurbs.
2. Add a blog or news section (optional but powerful)
This isn’t required, but adding a blog or “news” page can boost your visibility and give visitors a reason to come back. Even one post like “Welcome to my new site!” or “Behind the Scenes of [Book Title]” adds life and personality.
3. Submit your site to Google Search Console
Want to show up in search faster? Head to Google Search Console and submit your site. This helps Google index your pages and makes your site easier to find when people search your name or books.
4. Share your site on social and in your newsletter
Once your site is live and tested, don’t be shy—share it! Post it on Instagram, Facebook, Threads, wherever your people hang out. And if you have a newsletter list, even a small one, send them a quick “My website is live!” email with a link to explore.
Common Author Questions About Publishing a Squarespace Site
Launching your site can bring up a lot of “what ifs”—especially if it’s your first time. Here are answers to the most common questions authors ask before they go live on Squarespace:
1. Can I connect a custom domain later?
Yes! You can absolutely start building your site on a free Squarespace domain (like yourname.squarespace.com) and connect a custom domain when you’re ready. Whether you purchase a domain through Squarespace or bring one in from a platform like GoDaddy, the setup is simple and takes just a few minutes.
2. Will people be able to find me on Google right away?
Not instantly—but soon! Once your site is live and public, Google will start indexing it. To speed things up, go to Marketing → SEO → Google Search Keywords, and also consider submitting your site to Google Search Console. It can take a few days to a couple of weeks for it to show up in search results, especially if your site is brand new.
3. What happens if I need to update the site after it’s live?
No stress—you can edit your live site anytime. Updating text, images, or pages is as easy as dragging, dropping, and clicking “save.” And yes, you can preview changes before they go public by using the “duplicate page” trick or adjusting visibility settings.
4. Can I publish my site before my book is done?
Absolutely—and you should! Publishing your site early helps you build your author platform, collect emails, and start growing your audience before launch day. Whether your book is in edits or still in draft mode, your website can work behind the scenes to build buzz and credibility.
Ready to Publish Your Author Website on Squarespace?
So if you’ve been waiting for a sign to hit publish, this is it! Forget perfect. Done is powerful. With Squarespace, launching your site doesn’t have to be overwhelming—especially when you start with a template built specifically for writers.
You bring the words, and I’ll give you the structure to share them confidently. Ready to get your site out into the world?
Start with a professionally designed author template and publish your website today.
