Setting Up Blog Comments and Simple Likes on Squarespace
TL;DR:
- Turn comments and Simple Likes on or off for your whole blog or individual posts
- Control comment settings including approval requirements and anonymous posting
- Simple Likes let visitors like comments but not blog posts themselves
- Set time limits for when comments can be made on posts
- Use comment moderation to keep discussions on track
Blog comments help build a community around your content. Squarespace gives you solid control over how people interact with your posts through comments and Simple Likes.
Managing Comment Settings
Start by heading to your blog's preferences panel. Click on 'Comments Settings' to see your options.
You can enable or disable comments across your entire blog from here. If you turn on comments after publishing posts, you'll need to enable them individually on older posts too.
The main settings let you decide whether visitors can post anonymously, if comments need your approval before going live, and whether you want to enable comment likes.
Comment Moderation
Good moderation keeps your blog's community healthy. Here's how to stay on top of it:
Go to your blog page and select 'Manage Comments'. You'll see three categories: Unmoderated, Approved, and Flagged.
From here you can approve, reply to, delete, or flag comments. If you've set up approval requirements, check this section regularly so genuine comments don't get stuck in the queue.
Simple Likes Explained
Simple Likes let visitors like individual comments. It's a quick way for people to show appreciation without writing a full response.
Turn on Simple Likes in your blog preferences under 'Use Simple Liking'. This only works for comments though – visitors can't like the blog posts themselves in Squarespace 7.1.
If you want something more advanced than Squarespace's built-in system, Disqus offers more features and flexibility.
Time Limits for Comments
You can set comments to automatically close after a certain time. This is handy for timely posts where the conversation window naturally closes.
When editing a blog post, go to the settings and choose 'Disable Comments'. From there you can schedule when comments should stop being accepted.
FAQs
Can visitors like blog posts themselves using Simple Likes?
No, Simple Likes only work on comments in Squarespace 7.1. The feature doesn't extend to liking the actual blog posts.
How do I set comments to close automatically?
Edit your blog post settings and select 'Disable Comments'. Choose a date when you want comments to stop being accepted.
Can I review comments before they appear?
Yes, enable comment moderation in your Comments Settings. All comments will need your approval before going live.
What happens to comments on older posts when I enable commenting?
You'll need to enable comments individually on posts published before you turned on the global setting.
Jargon Buster
Simple Likes – Squarespace's feature that lets visitors like individual comments but not blog posts themselves
Comment Moderation – Reviewing and approving comments before they appear on your site
Threaded Comments – Comments that allow replies to specific comments, creating conversation threads
Wrap-up
Getting your comment settings right helps create the kind of community you want around your blog. Whether you prefer open discussion or careful moderation, Squarespace's tools give you the control you need.
The key is finding the balance between engagement and quality. Start with stricter settings if you're unsure – you can always loosen them as you get comfortable with managing discussions.
Ready to take your Squarespace skills further? Join Pixelhaze Academy for in-depth tutorials and expert guidance.