How Do I Put My Squarespace Website Under Construction?

To put your Squarespace website under construction, you can utilize the built-in features and customization options provided by Squarespace to create a "Coming Soon" or "Under Construction" page. Here's a step-by-step guide on how you can achieve this:

Step 1: Create a New Page

1. Log In to Your Squarespace Account: Navigate to Squarespace and log in to your account dashboard.
2. Access the Pages Menu: From the main Squarespace interface, click on the “Pages” menu in the left-hand sidebar.
3. Add a New Page: Click the + icon to add a new page. Choose a layout that fits your "Under Construction" or "Coming Soon" theme. A blank page or a simple layout is usually best.

Step 2: Design Your Under Construction Page

1. Name Your Page: Name your new page something like "Under Construction" or "Coming Soon."
2. Add Content: Use the Squarespace editor to add text, images, or any other elements you want on your Under Construction page. Key elements often include:
3. A simple message like "Our website is under construction. We'll be back soon!"
4. Contact information, social media links, or a sign-up form for updates.
5. A logo or branded images to maintain consistency.

Step 3: Customize Settings

1. Set the Page as Unlisted: Ensure this page is not listed in the main navigation. This can typically be done by dragging the page to the 'Not Linked' section in the Pages menu.
2. Disable Header and Footer (Optional): If you prefer a more standalone look for your Under Construction page, you can disable the header and footer. To do this:
3. Open the page settings by clicking the gear icon next to your page name.
4. Under Advanced settings, add custom CSS to hide the header and footer, if necessary.

Step 4: Set the Under Construction Page as the Home Page

1. Make It Your Home Page: Go back to the Pages menu, and drag your "Under Construction" page to the top of the list or set it as the homepage.
2. Confirm Selection: A prompt might appear asking if you want to set this as your homepage. Confirm your selection.

Step 5: Configure Site-Wide Settings

1. Site Visibility: Ensure the rest of your site is not visible to the public. This can be done in the 'Settings' menu:
2. Navigate to "Settings" > "Site Availability."
3. Set your site to be private or password-protected to ensure only the Under Construction page is accessible.

Step 6: Notify Visitors (Optional)

1. Add a Notification Bar: If you want to provide a quick update or a timeframe for the completion, you can enable a notification bar.
2. Go to "Marketing" > "Announcement Bar" in the side menu.
3. Customize your message and enable the bar.

Considerations and Limitations

• SEO Implications: Be aware that an Under Construction page can affect your SEO standings because it may reduce your site’s indexed content. Use meta tags appropriately.
• User Experience: Ensure the page includes useful information for your users, such as contact details or a sign-up form for updates.
• Backup Content: Before making substantial changes, back up content and layout to restore it easily when your site is ready to go live again.

Conclusion

Putting your Squarespace site under construction is a straightforward process. By following these steps, you can effectively manage visitor expectations while you work on updating or building your site. Always ensure you provide enough information to keep visitors engaged and informed during the downtime.