Site Status & Visibility Guide: Understanding Your Website's Active State

Site Status & Visibility Guide: Understanding Your Website's Active State

By Michael Turner

December 16, 2024 at 10:48 PM

A Squarespace site's visibility depends on its subscription status and settings. Here's what you need to know about site visibility and activation.

Default Site Status

All Squarespace sites start as private and are only visible to site owners and collaborators. Trial sites aren't indexed by search engines and are only accessible through direct links or connected domains.

Making Your Site Public

To make your site public:

  • Upgrade to a paid subscription
  • Go to Home Menu > Settings > Site Availability
  • Select "Public" option

Password Protection

You can restrict site access by:

  • Adding a site-wide password
  • Creating member-only areas
  • Setting specific page passwords

Online Store Activation

To enable e-commerce functionality:

  • Connect a payment processor
  • Verify site visibility settings
  • Ensure products are marked as available

Publishing Changes

Immediate visibility changes:

  • Images in gallery sections
  • Gallery Page updates
  • Album Page modifications
  • Navigation menu changes

Changes requiring save/publish:

  • Layout Page edits
  • Posts, events, and products
  • Page descriptions
  • Style and design settings
  • Content block areas

Search Engine Visibility

To manage search engine appearance:

  • Use Google Search Console for existing listings
  • Adjust page SEO settings
  • Configure site-wide search visibility

For maximum control over your site's visibility, always verify your site availability settings before sharing content publicly.

Remember that once public, your site can be indexed by search engines. Use privacy settings proactively to maintain desired visibility levels.

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