Mastering Squarespace Page Settings
If you've ever sat in front of your computer, your Squarespace dashboard glaring back at you, wondering why your ‘finished’ website doesn’t look quite right or work quite as you’d hoped, you’re not alone. Building a website today might be easier than it was ten years ago, but understanding all the switches, fonts, toggles, and SEO whispers tucked inside your Squarespace site can turn anyone’s caffeine buzz into a full-blown headache.
Building a successful website goes beyond chasing pixel-perfect screens or the latest trend in font pairings. If your site isn’t easy to read, is hard to find, and is difficult to use, you’re losing visitors and likely wasting cash (or precious time you can’t spare). Let’s fix that together.
Why This Matters
Nobody sets up their own website because they love fighting with settings. Most of us want our corner of the internet to look professional and do its job, whether attracting business, sharing expertise, or simply avoiding embarrassment in front of family.
Even though Squarespace is one of the most user-friendly options available, a single misstep in your page settings can scare off Google’s search robots, frustrate your audience, or result in a site that looks outdated.
For small business owners, freelancers, and those launching side hustles, getting your site basics right often determines if you appear credible or remain invisible. For bloggers or creatives, using good settings keeps readers on your work longer and prevents frustration with hard-to-read fonts or confusing menus. In short, good settings save hassle, time, and your reputation.
Common Pitfalls
Let’s address the gremlins head-on. Here are the blunders that trip most people up on Squarespace (and, yes, I’ve made a few myself):
- Assuming the template does everything. Choose a nice design, upload some lovely photos, and that’s it, right? If only.
- Skipping SEO. Out of sight, out of search result.
- Forgetful font choices. Comic Sans might be having a moment in memes, but it won’t do your professional profile any favours.
- Clunky navigation. If your mum can't find your ‘About’ page in three taps, nobody will.
- Not checking mobile. The number of brilliant sites that break horribly the second they hit a phone screen is…well, let’s say optimistic.
These issues often come from hesitating to explore settings menus or worrying that pressing the wrong button will break everything. Time to put that fear to rest.
Step-by-Step Fix
Let’s cut through confusion and fix your Squarespace site with practical, real-world steps. By the end, your site should both look the part and feel right for every visitor, on every device.
Step 1: Nail Your Typography and Fonts
Let’s be honest, nobody’s ever complimented a website’s default font. Typography quietly does a lot of heavy lifting: brand personality, readability, and that tiny sense of “this feels like home”.
How to do it:
Head to the main menu on your Squarespace dashboard. Click ‘Design’, then select ‘Site Styles’. Find the ‘Typography’ section. This controls everything from headers to small print at the bottom of the page.
- Set Heading Fonts: Choose something clear for headings. If you’re feeling fancy, pick a modern sans-serif for a clean look or go with a classic serif for a touch of authority.
- Tune Body Text: Make sure it’s easy on the eyes. Around 16–18px is easy to read.
- Don’t get carried away: One or two font families are plenty. Your site shouldn’t look like a ransom note.
Preview your choices on both desktop and your phone. Fonts that look stunning on a big screen can go wonky on mobiles. Grab your phone, load your site, and see if every heading fits. If your company name falls off the edge, try again.
Step 2: Tidy Up Navigation With Dropdown Menus
A muddled menu loses visitors quickly. If you’ve got a growing site, dropdown menus (sometimes called nested navigation) are your best mate.
How to do it:
Open the ‘Pages’ panel on Squarespace. Here, you’ll see all your site’s pages displayed in a list. Drag one page beneath another to indent it. That’s how you make a submenu, which forms a dropdown on your navigation bar.
- Keep it practical: Place your main pages (e.g., Home, About, Services) as top-level. Tuck away secondary items (e.g., each staff bio, niche blog topics) under those.
- Test as you go: Use ‘Preview’ often to make sure things open in the right order and nothing's got lost in the menu maze.
If you spot lonely, “hidden” pages, double-check—they might not appear anywhere on your site unless you link to them. Create a ‘Not Linked’ section in the Pages panel so you can stash old draft pages or seasonal campaigns without deleting them.
Step 3: Boost Your SEO Basics
Cracking SEO can sound like wizardry, but the basics only take a few minutes and pay you back in traffic for months. Ignore it, and you’re invisible.
How to do it:
Squarespace gives you tools for SEO, but you need to fill in the blanks.
- Page Titles & Descriptions: In the Pages panel, click the cog icon next to each page, then fill in the title and a short, friendly description. Picture what you’d want to appear under your site name in Google.
- Image Alt Text: Click on images, open the little settings bar, and add “alt text” that describes what’s in the pic. Helpful for visitors with screen readers and search robots alike.
- Consistent URLs: Keep page names simple, short and descriptive in the settings. Avoid strings of numbers or weird characters.
Don’t stuff in a bunch of keywords. Write these fields with real people in mind and give them a reason to click. “Quality garden design in Cardiff” beats “Expert Unique Garden Plants Trees Outdoor Landscaping”.
Step 4: Make Your Site Shine on Mobiles
Most of your visitors will check out your site on their phone. A lovely desktop design that turns unreadable on a mobile is a quick reputation killer.
How to do it:
Squarespace’s Preview function lets you swap between desktop, tablet, and mobile views.
- Responsive Check: After any big change, hit ‘Preview’ then toggle to mobile. Move through every page as if you were a visitor: Does the menu work? Does text read easily? Are images not crushing your logo?
- Fix On the Spot: If you spot issues (giant text, images overlapping), jump back to ‘Design’ > ‘Site Styles’. Here you can set paddings, adjust font sizes for mobiles, and tweak spacing until everything fits.
- Buttons and Links: Be sure buttons are big enough for thumbs. Tap each one—if you miss, adjust the padding.
Squarespace’s blocks stack vertically by default on mobiles, but custom code or extra-wide images can break this neatness. Set a calendar reminder to preview your site on a real phone every couple of months. Little problems creep in over time.
Step 5: Make Good Use of Hidden Features
Many new users overlook extra settings that make life easier.
How to do it:
- Announcement Bar: In ‘Marketing’ > ‘Announcement Bar’, add quick updates, promotions or seasonal offers across every page.
- Social Links: Under ‘Design’ > ‘Site Styles’ > ‘Social Links’, connect your profiles so visitors can find you everywhere.
- Custom Error Pages: Add a personal touch to 404 pages under ‘Pages’—an “Oops! Lost in the weeds?” message beats the default every time.
Write your 404 pages yourself, maybe with a dash of dry humour. It turns a lost click into a memorable moment and sometimes even a customer.
What Most People Miss
Setting up a website isn’t a one-time job if you care about good results. The biggest difference between “looks fine on my screen” and “wow, this works everywhere!” comes from building a simple habit:
Preview. Test. Ask non-techy friends for feedback. Dig into every setting, one at a time. If you’re ever unsure what a button does, click it and see (you can always undo). The best Squarespace sites come from steady curiosity and a willingness to sort out small problems as you discover them.
Another useful practice is keeping a notepad handy for annoyingly small things—the logo that disappears on one page, a menu item that won’t budge, a font that turns random letters into blobs on Android. Tackle them one at a time instead of waiting for them to solve themselves.
The Bigger Picture
When you work through these steps, you’ll see a striking difference. Your web presence starts working seamlessly on every device. The site becomes something you’re proud to share, not just another ‘it’ll do for now’ project left on your to-do list.
Making small systems like this saves mental energy. Each hour you’re not struggling with your menus means time for writing, designing, earning, or even sometimes stepping away from your laptop.
Also, your visitors—including clients, customers, and old friends—get a smoother experience. A great site builds credibility, trust, and helps people feel confident you know your stuff.
Wrap-Up
Squarespace includes powerful tools within its pleasant interface. If you get the basics right with page settings, your site starts working for you.
- Strong typography for easy reading.
- Navigation that makes sense and never loses the plot.
- SEO that gives you half a chance in Google.
- A mobile presence that won’t make visitors curse your name.
- Little touches that make your site feel like your own, not just another template.
Building these habits and understanding both the “what” and the “why” is central at Pixelhaze Academy. Our courses, workshops, and YouTube teasers make sure you never feel stranded. You can also start learning for free.
From digital marketing for total beginners to web design and clear guides for tools like ChatGPT, you get hands-on resources, exclusive discounts, and a friendly place to ask questions without judgement.
Want more helpful systems like this?
Join Pixelhaze Academy for free at https://www.pixelhaze.academy/membership.
QUICK FAQ
How do I change the fonts on my site?
Go to Design > Site Styles > Typography. Tweak away and always check mobile.
Where do I make dropdown menus?
Under Pages, drag subpages beneath main pages to create tidy dropdowns.
How should I handle SEO?
Edit page titles, descriptions, and image alt text. Use clear, relevant info for humans first, search engines second.
Why is mobile preview so important?
Over half your visitors use their phone. Always check your pages there before publishing.
JARGON BUSTER
- Squarespace: A fuss-free website builder to get you online fast, no coding degree required.
- SEO: Tweaks that help search engines understand (and show) your site.
- Dropdown Menu: A navigation link that opens up to reveal more choices.
- Mobile Responsiveness: The art of making your website work, whatever device visitors are on.
- Alt Text: A simple description for images, improving accessibility and search visibility.
PIXELHAZE QUICK WINS
- Schedule a quarterly “site MOT”—run through all settings, mobile previews, and fix anything wonky.
- Ask a computer-shy mate to use your site. The bits they find awkward are top priorities for fixes.
- Never leave a default page title or ‘untitled’ menu link. First impressions last.
- Grab your free Pixelhaze Academy membership to explore step-by-step video guides, downloadable resources, and get notified on monthly Udemy course giveaways.
All things digital don’t need to be daunting. With a few good habits, Pixelhaze’s down-to-earth support, and a bit of curiosity, your site can stand out for all the right reasons.
See you inside the Academy.