You’ve probably at least heard the name Squarespace, the easy-to-use website builder. Maybe you’ve even started a trial site, or maybe you have a site ready to go, but haven’t gotten around to actually launching it yet. Using Squarespace seems simple enough, so why does it feel like such a challenge?

Welcome to Squarespace from Signup to Launch, your guide to building and customizing beautiful and useful websites. I’m excited to help you move through that challenge, getting to the joy and excitement of seeing your work live and online.

In this introduction, you will:

• Meet your author and guide, Kelsey Gilbert Kreiling
• Learn who should read this book
• Understand the flow and structure of the book

I embarked on my Squarespace journey as a novice, just like you. Fast forward over a decade, and I am now the co-founder of Week of the Website, a Squarespace web design agency that has successfully built and launched over 800 websites. Along the way, I have taught clients how to use the sites we’ve created, nurtured the skills of numerous Squarespace developers, and dragged and dropped so many blocks that it occasionally infiltrates my dreams. Similar to many trial users, I started my Squarespace experience with a fresh template. I entered my email address, set a password, and dove into the process of figuring it all out. My initial website was a simple personal portfolio site that still featured the “Built on Squarespace” link in the footer (but don’t worry, I’ll show you how to remove that).

After my first site, I became captivated by the possibilities that Squarespace offered. Eager to explore further...

I have designed this guide as a practical tool for those building a website. Each chapter is structured in a way that allows you to open it up to the specific area you are working on and find the resources you need to answer your questions. Recognizing that everyone learns differently, I have included various sections in each chapter to cater to different learning preferences. These sections include Theory, Practical Application, Build-Along Milestones, Professional Insights, and Resources.

Theory

The Theory sections provide an overview of the concept discussed in the chapter, explaining what it is, why it matters, insights from professionals, common challenges, and how to prepare to tackle the topic.

Practical Application

This section focuses on how the topic appears and functions within the Squarespace platform. It takes into account that content management systems evolve and highlights the core ideas of the feature or topic that will remain consistent...

I would love to claim that I possess all-encompassing knowledge about every aspect of building on Squarespace. However, the truth is that while I have extensive knowledge and experience, the Squarespace community is vast, highly intelligent, constantly evolving, and always eager to share their expertise. That’s why I have assembled a special group of individuals to contribute their insights. You will find their contributions in each chapter, which you can revisit as you delve deeper into your Squarespace learning journey. These experts include:

• Christy Price – Web designer and educator
• David Iskander-— SEO expert and Owner of Launch Happy
• Will Myers — Custom code and plugin developer
• Kristine Neil — Ecommerce guru
• Katherine Joachim — Creative Director of Crème Brands
• Beatriz Caraballo — Squarespace Customization Geek

Each of these individuals has dedicated years...

The resources compiled in this book will serve as the foundation of your resource library. Similar to numerous tech products built over the past decade, there is a wealth of courses, tools, add-ons, and experts sharing their knowledge about the Squarespace website-building process. Every designer has a folder somewhere—a spreadsheet, Notion document, or a list of bookmarked resources—that helps them work smarter and faster. The resources in this book can be the beginning of your own collection.

To assist you on your journey, I have a few additional tools for further support. First, the companion site! Located at Signuptolaunch.com, this site offers additional tutorials and inspiration. It also includes a downloadable workbook containing all the build-along milestones and resources for each chapter.

Writing a book about an online tool without utilizing links to other online resources is nearly impossible. However, ensuring the functionality of those links over time can be challenging. That’s why I have used a tool called Permanent Link to monitor these links and ensure they remain active, no matter how long after publication you access them.

Lastly, as a Squarespace professional, I have an affiliate relationship with some of the tools I recommend. If you use the links I provide and make a purchase, I may receive a commission. Please be assured that I will only recommend products that I genuinely believe in and use myself.

So, let’s begin this exciting journey. We will delve into understanding why Squarespace is such a powerful platform and how to harness its potential. By the end of this book, you will have learned how to build websites with the technical knowledge, project organization, and design intuition of a professional Squarespace developer. Your site won’t just be launched; it will be something you can proudly share with the world.