How to Submit Your Squarespace Sitemap to Google for Better Visibility

Why This Matters

Picture the scene. You’ve finally launched your Squarespace website. The design is sharp, the content is spot on, and you’re ready for visitors to flood in. Except… where are they? For too many site owners, the problem is simple but overlooked: Google doesn’t know your site exists.

Every day your website goes unnoticed in Google search results is a wasted opportunity. Whether you’re aiming to attract customers, build an audience, or just get your blog in front of the right eyes, visibility is everything. When Google can’t find your pages, those hours spent crafting the perfect About section or Blog post go to waste.

The culprit is often a missing or poorly submitted sitemap. Without it, Google is left to stumble blindly, potentially missing your most important pages entirely. As a result, you may find yourself wondering why your site isn’t appearing when you search for it. You can fix this easily by following a straightforward process.

Common Pitfalls

Most site owners trip up at the same points. They either can’t locate their Squarespace sitemap, assume that having a site means Google will automatically find every page, or they give up when Google Search Console shows an indexing error that reads like ancient Latin.

Here’s what usually goes wrong:

• Not knowing where to find the sitemap: Squarespace buries it deeper than you might expect.
• Assuming Squarespace ‘just handles it’: Squarespace doesn’t do this automatically for Search Console.
• Submitting the wrong URL: A missing ‘sitemap.xml’ here, an extra slash there, and Google gets sent on a wild goose chase.
• Not checking the status after submission: The process isn’t ‘set and forget’ if you want reliable results.
• Ignoring errors or warnings in Google Search Console: This is like ignoring the engine light on your car and hoping for the best.

Most of these are easy to avoid by following a clear process. Let’s break it down step by step.

Step-by-Step Fix

Step 1: Locate Your Sitemap URL in Squarespace

First, you need your sitemap’s exact address. In Squarespace, this doesn’t mean rifling through confusing menus for hours. Here’s how you find it:

1. Log in to your Squarespace account.
2. Go to the Home Menu and click on Settings.
3. Scroll down to Advanced.
4. Click on Sitemaps.

You’ll find a web address that looks something like https://www.yourdomain.com/sitemap.xml. That’s the only sitemap URL you need.

Can’t see the ‘Sitemaps’ tab? No stress. Even if your version of Squarespace doesn’t show a Sitemaps option, simply type /sitemap.xml after your main website domain (for example, yourdomain.com/sitemap.xml). Open that link in your browser to check it loads. If it does, you’re all set.

Step 2: Sign In and Set Up Your Website in Google Search Console

If you’ve never used Google Search Console before, now’s the time. It’s free, painless to set up, and the data is invaluable for any website owner.

1. Go to Google Search Console and sign in using your Google account.
2. Click Add Property and enter your website address. There are two routes:
   • Domain (e.g. yourdomain.com): This covers all subdomains and protocols (https, www, non-www).
   • URL prefix (e.g. https://yourdomain.com): Use this if you have a specific version you want tracked.
3. Follow the instructions to verify your site ownership. This may require adding a DNS record or uploading a file to Squarespace. Don’t worry, Squarespace guides you through these steps if you get stuck.

If you’re not sure which verification method to choose, use the URL-prefix route. Squarespace users often find this easier, especially if you’re less comfortable poking around DNS panels.

Step 3: Submit Your Sitemap URL to Google Search Console

Now things get real. This is where you hand Google the keys to your site map.

1. In Google Search Console, select your site property.
2. Find the Sitemaps option in the left-hand menu.
3. You’ll see a box labeled ‘Add a new sitemap’.
4. Paste the end of your sitemap URL (everything after your main domain, e.g. sitemap.xml) into the box. For most, this will simply be sitemap.xml.
5. Click Submit.

If all goes well, you’ll see a success message and your sitemap’s listed status below.

Don’t stress if you don’t see immediate results. Google often takes a few hours (sometimes days) to check your sitemap for the first time. If you make major changes to your site, revisit this screen and resubmit your sitemap. Reminding Google this way encourages it to review your updated pages.

Step 4: Monitor Your Sitemap’s Status

Submission is only half the job. Now, you need to check if Google is happy with what you’ve sent. In the same ‘Sitemaps’ screen, you’ll see your submission status:

• Success means Google found it and is processing the links.
• Has errors or Couldn’t fetch indicates a problem with your sitemap. Click into the details for guidance.

Further down, you’ll find details on how many pages Google has discovered, indexed, or ignored.

See fewer indexed pages than you expect? This isn’t unusual. Google doesn’t always index everything instantly or at all, especially if it thinks a page is thin or duplicated. Focus on your most valuable pages and watch how their visibility improves over the next few weeks.

Step 5: Troubleshoot Problems When They Appear

Every so often, Search Console will flag an issue. Here are common messages and how to fix them:

• “Couldn’t fetch”: Double-check that your sitemap link is correct, loads in your browser, and contains actual URLs.
• Submitted URL not found (404): You may have mistyped the sitemap location, or Squarespace isn’t generating it. Go back and confirm the format is correct.
• Indexed, not submitted in sitemap: This means Google found pages that aren’t included in your sitemap. Check your site’s settings. Private, password-protected, or noindex pages are frequently left out by design.

For persistent issues, clear your browser cache and try reloading Search Console. If you’re still getting nowhere, Squarespace support can double-check if your site is generating a valid sitemap file.

Step 6: Regularly Refresh Your Submission After Major Site Updates

Submitting your sitemap is not a one-off process. If you overhaul your Squarespace site, add dozens of new posts, or remove old pages, remind Google:

1. Go back to the ‘Sitemaps’ tool in Search Console.
2. Resubmit your sitemap using the same process.

This keeps Google updated with your latest changes, ensuring new or updated pages are indexed much faster.

Set yourself a recurring reminder to check Google Search Console monthly, even if you haven’t changed your site recently. Problems can crop up without warning, and catching them early saves headaches down the line.

What Most People Miss

Submitting your sitemap has a bigger impact than just completing an SEO checklist. It allows you to control Google’s first impression of your site. Paying attention to the following details will set you apart from those just going through the motions:

• Review your sitemap’s content: Does it include every page you want to rank? Are irrelevant, duplicate, or ‘noindex’ pages showing up?
• Make sure new content is always discoverable: Whenever you launch a new landing page or blog, double-check that it’s included in the sitemap. Not all template designs auto-update sitemaps instantly.
• Monitor indexing reports: Dig into Search Console’s ‘Coverage’ and ‘Indexing’ sections. When key pages are absent or marked as ‘Excluded’, resolve these issues so Google sees your content as worth surfacing.

Small, regular checks like these often decide whether your site lingers on page ten or appears right where your audience is searching.

The Bigger Picture

Submitting your Squarespace sitemap and confirming it is working properly is the foundation of strong search visibility. When you do this, you open a direct line of communication with Google and avoid waiting indefinitely for your new content to appear in search results.

To take things further once Search Console is set up, you can:

• Spot technical issues before they hurt your ranking
• Identify which pages are winning or losing search impressions
• Use concrete data to guide your content strategy

By keeping an eye on these details over time, you spend less energy worrying about what might work and more time experiencing the results of a website that is easy to find.

Squarespace Sitemap FAQs

How do I find my sitemap link on Squarespace?
Go to your Squarespace site, then open the full domain in a browser and add /sitemap.xml on the end (for example, www.example.com/sitemap.xml). That’s your sitemap address. You can also check Settings > Advanced > Sitemaps for a direct link if your template supports it.

Why is submitting my sitemap to Google Search Console so important?
Without a sitemap, Google might miss entire sections of your website. Submitting it gives Google a clear list of your pages, boosting the odds that important ones show up in search results faster and more reliably.

What if I change or update my Squarespace website?
Google will usually pick up changes eventually, but resubmitting your sitemap ensures new or updated pages are noticed promptly. Making this a habit significantly improves your site’s visibility.

How can I see if Google has actually indexed my pages?
After submitting your sitemap, use the ‘Coverage’ report in Google Search Console for a breakdown of which pages have been indexed. If you spot missing pages, review your sitemap settings or look for technical issues.

I submitted my sitemap but pages are missing from Search Console. What should I do?
Possible reasons include privacy settings, ‘noindex’ tags, or publishing errors. Check each affected page to confirm it’s set to be publicly visible and included in your sitemap. If problems persist, reach out to Squarespace support.

Jargon Buster

Sitemap
A file listing the pages on your website, helping search engines discover and scan your site’s structure.

Google Search Console (GSC)
A free platform from Google that lets you check your site’s appearance in search, monitor indexing, and fix common technical SEO problems.

Indexing
The process by which Google and other search engines store and list your site’s pages so they can appear in search results.

Noindex
A tag or setting that tells search engines not to add a specific page to their results. Useful for thank-you pages, drafts, or private content.

Coverage Report
Found inside Search Console, this tool shows which of your site’s pages Google has indexed, and flags errors or exclusions.

Wrap-Up

Submitting your Squarespace sitemap to Google Search Console lays the groundwork for all the organic traffic your site can attract. Once you find your sitemap, submit it properly, and monitor the results, you’re already ahead of much of the competition still trying to figure out why their site isn’t visible.

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