Building a Professional Portfolio Website on Squarespace

Last Updated:
July 4, 2025

Essential Steps to Craft a Compelling Showcase on Squarespace with SEO Best Practices

Create a Striking Portfolio Website on Squarespace

TL;DR:

Start with a Squarespace portfolio template designed to showcase your work
Use portfolio pages, gallery sections, and image blocks for different display options
Add bios or CVs using text blocks or PDF embeds
Set up password protection for client-exclusive content
Optimise for SEO with proper image descriptions and alt text
Collect leads directly through form blocks

Choosing Your Portfolio Template

Squarespace offers templates specifically designed for portfolios, each emphasizing your work with unique layouts. Browse the Portfolio category in the template store and preview different styles before selecting one.

The templates are built to present your projects attractively and keep visitors engaged. Each comes with pre-designed sections that work well for creative work.

Pixelhaze Tip: Check out Squarespace forum communities, like the Artists and Photographers club, to see how other creatives are using their sites.

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Displaying Your Work

Squarespace gives you several ways to showcase your projects:

Portfolio Pages

These work well for grouping related projects under a theme. You can create a main landing page with subpages for detailed project displays. Choose between grid layouts or hover formats for your image links.

Gallery Sections

Gallery sections display images in various layouts with descriptions and links. They're useful for categorizing images by theme or concept on any page of your site.

Image Blocks

Image blocks give you flexibility for placing individual images. While they don't align automatically, you can organize them into structured layouts for creative presentations.

Pixelhaze Tip: Image blocks allow for unique caption styles and placements that can grab the viewer's attention.

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Adding a Bio or CV

You can integrate a personal bio or CV into your portfolio easily. Use a text block on a layout page with structured headers for organization, or embed a PDF for more detailed content.

Keep in mind that embedding a PDF can impact your site's SEO since search engines can't crawl these files effectively.

Client-Exclusive Content

Squarespace lets you create restricted access areas on your portfolio. You can make pages non-indexed or add password protection to offer exclusive content to specific clients. This adds privacy and exclusivity for sensitive client projects.

Lead Collection and Client Invoicing

Add a form block to gather inquiries and connect it with Squarespace's CRM tools to manage leads and project invoicing. This keeps everything in one place and streamlines your client communication.

SEO Optimisation

To improve visibility, make sure all images have descriptive captions and alt text. Verify your site with Google Search Console and follow recommended SEO strategies to boost your portfolio's presence in search results.

Pixelhaze Tip: Regular content updates and active SEO management keep your portfolio fresh and more likely to rank well.

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Creating Text-Heavy Portfolios

For portfolios focusing on text rather than images, use layout pages, hover-style portfolio pages, or blogs. These tools help you design engaging, content-rich pages without needing visuals.

FAQs

Can I password-protect specific pages on my Squarespace portfolio site?
Yes, Squarespace supports page-specific password protection, allowing restricted access for confidential content.

How can I add a bio or CV to my Squarespace portfolio?
Use a text block for simple bios or embed a PDF file for comprehensive CVs. Just be aware that PDF files can impact your SEO since search engines can't crawl them.

Is it possible to create a portfolio without images on Squarespace?
Absolutely. Use text blocks, layout pages, or blogging features to present text-based portfolios creatively.

Jargon Buster

Portfolio Pages: Web pages designed specifically for showcasing collections of related work.

Gallery Sections: Dedicated areas on a site for displaying images or series of artwork with descriptive information.

Image Blocks: Individual units on Squarespace for displaying single images, allowing for varied arrangement and styling.

Wrap-up

Setting up a portfolio on Squarespace is a straightforward way to present your creative work professionally online. Choose the right template, organize your content smartly, and use the platform's tools effectively to make your portfolio stand out.

Get the Squarespace Template Builder, with over 300 unique section designs.

The flexibility and integrated features of Squarespace enhance both the visual appeal and functionality of your portfolio, making it a comprehensive showcase of your professional work.

Ready to build your portfolio? Join Pixelhaze Academy for step-by-step guidance and expert tips.