Not Linked Pages in Squarespace
TL;DR:
- Not Linked pages don't appear in your main navigation but are still publicly accessible
- Anyone can find these pages through direct URLs or external links
- You can control access with passwords or by disabling pages entirely
- Search engines can still index these pages unless you specifically exclude them
- Perfect for storing draft content, testing new designs, or sharing targeted content
The Not Linked section in Squarespace sits in your pages panel and holds pages you don't want cluttering up your main navigation. Think of it as your site's storage room – everything's still there and accessible, just tucked away from immediate view.
How People Access Not Linked Pages
Even though these pages won't show up in your navigation menu, they're still live on the internet. Anyone who knows the direct URL can visit them, and you can share links to them through email campaigns, social media, or anywhere else online.
Here's what catches people off guard: search engines can still find and index these pages unless you tell them not to. So your "hidden" page might still pop up in Google results.
Controlling Access and Visibility
You've got several options to manage who sees what:
Password Protection
Add a password when you want specific people to access the page. Useful for client previews or member-only content.
Disabling Pages
This makes pages completely inaccessible to everyone except you. Great for content that's still under construction or needs major revisions.
Excluding from Search Results
Keeps pages publicly accessible but hidden from search engines. The page stays live for anyone with the direct link, but won't show up in Google.
This is particularly handy when you're testing new designs or working on updates. You can preview everything without visitors stumbling across half-finished content.
Practical Uses for Not Linked Pages
Strategic Linking
Create pathways to these pages using text links, buttons, or clickable images placed elsewhere on your site. This gives you complete control over how visitors discover your content.
Content Storage
Store pages you're planning to phase out or content that needs major revisions. Instead of deleting everything, you can move it to Not Linked and work on it without affecting your live site.
Testing and Staging
Use Not Linked as your testing ground. Build new pages, try different layouts, or experiment with content before moving everything to your main navigation.
Targeted Sharing
Share specific content with particular audiences without making it part of your general site structure. Perfect for campaign landing pages or special announcements.
Moving Content Around
You can move collection items like blog posts between Not Linked and visible areas of your site. This flexibility lets you control exactly when and how content appears to your visitors.
The key is thinking of Not Linked as your backstage area. It's where you prepare, organize, and store content before it goes live or after it's served its purpose.
FAQs
Are Not Linked pages indexed by search engines?
Yes, by default they are. You'll need to change the SEO settings for individual pages if you want to exclude them from search results.
How do I make a Not Linked page completely private?
Either add a password or disable the page entirely. Disabling makes it inaccessible to everyone except you when you're logged into your Squarespace account.
Can I share Not Linked pages on social media?
Absolutely. Just use the direct URL and share it wherever you like. The page will load normally for anyone who clicks the link.
Do Not Linked pages affect my site's SEO?
They can, since search engines may still index them. If you don't want them affecting your SEO, exclude them from search results in the page settings.
Jargon Buster
Not Linked Section: The area in your Squarespace pages panel where you store pages that don't appear in your main navigation menu.
Collection Pages: Groups of related content like blog posts or gallery items that can be organized and moved between different sections of your site.
Direct URL: The specific web address that leads directly to a page, regardless of whether it's linked in your navigation.
Wrap-up
The Not Linked section gives you serious flexibility in how you structure and share your content. Whether you're storing draft pages, testing new designs, or creating targeted content for specific audiences, this feature lets you work behind the scenes while keeping your main site clean and organized.
Remember to check your privacy and SEO settings for each Not Linked page to make sure they're behaving exactly how you want them to.
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