Using the Website Content Planner

Learning Objectives

By the end of this chapter, you'll be able to:

• Navigate to and set up the Website Content Planner in Squarespace
• Schedule different types of content using the planner's calendar view
• Troubleshoot common issues and work around planner limitations

Introduction

Planning your website content ahead of time makes the difference between a scattered approach and a professional, consistent web presence. Squarespace's Website Content Planner gives you a central place to map out your posts, pages, and updates before they go live.

This chapter shows you how to find the planner, set up your first scheduled content, and handle the common hiccups that trip up most users.

Lessons

Accessing the Content Planner

Getting to your content planner takes just a few clicks once you know where to look:

Step 1: Log into your Squarespace account and head to your site dashboard.

Step 2: Click on 'Settings' in the main navigation menu.

Step 3: Look for 'Website Content Planner' in the settings list and click it.

Step 4: If you don't see it straight away, check your plan includes this feature – it's available on most plans but worth confirming.

The planner opens in calendar view by default, showing the current month with any scheduled content marked on specific dates.

Setting Up Your First Scheduled Post

Now you've found the planner, here's how to schedule your first piece of content:

Step 1: Click the '+' button or 'Add Content' to create a new item.

Step 2: Choose your content type – blog post, page update, or product listing.

Step 3: Set your publication date and time using the calendar picker.

Step 4: Fill in the basic details like title, description, and any images you want to include.

Step 5: Save your scheduled item and check it appears on the calendar view.

The content stays in draft mode until the scheduled time, when Squarespace automatically publishes it for you.

Working Around Common Limitations

The content planner does have some quirks that catch users off guard:

Limited customisation options: You can't create custom categories or tags within the planner itself. Work around this by keeping a separate spreadsheet or document for detailed content planning, then use the Squarespace planner for scheduling only.

Mobile experience issues: The planner works better on desktop than mobile. If you need to check schedules on your phone, use the main Squarespace app instead of trying to access the planner through your mobile browser.

Integration hiccups: Sometimes scheduled posts don't appear immediately in your main content areas. Refresh your browser and wait a few minutes – the system usually catches up.

Team collaboration limits: Multiple users can access the planner if they have admin rights, but there's no commenting or approval system. Set up a separate communication method for team coordination.

Practice

Create your first scheduled post in the content planner. Pick a blog post topic you've been meaning to write about and schedule it for one week from today.

Fill in a working title and brief description, even if you haven't written the full post yet. This gives you a deadline to work towards and helps you see how the scheduling process works.

After setting it up, navigate back to your main dashboard and check whether you can see the scheduled post in your blog section.

FAQs

Is the Website Content Planner included in all Squarespace plans?
The planner is available on most Squarespace plans, but not all. Check your specific plan details in your account settings to confirm access.

Can multiple team members use the Content Planner?
Yes, team members with contributor or admin access can view and edit the content schedule. However, there's no built-in approval workflow.

How do I see all my scheduled posts at once?
Switch to the calendar view in the Content Planner. This shows all upcoming content organised by publication date across the month.

What happens if I want to change a scheduled post?
Click on the scheduled item in the calendar view, then edit the details or change the publication date. Changes save automatically.

Jargon Buster

Website Content Planner: Squarespace's built-in tool for scheduling when your posts, pages, and updates go live on your website.

Calendar View: The main interface showing your scheduled content laid out across dates in a monthly calendar format.

Publication Date: The specific date and time when your scheduled content automatically goes live on your website.

Draft Mode: The state your content stays in before the scheduled publication time – visible to you but not to website visitors.

Wrap-up

The Website Content Planner helps you stay organised and maintain a consistent publishing schedule without having to manually post everything in real-time. While it has some limitations around customisation and mobile use, it's a solid tool for basic content scheduling.

Start with simple blog post scheduling to get comfortable with the system, then expand to other content types as you build confidence. Remember that the planner works best as part of a broader content strategy rather than a complete solution.

Ready to upgrade your Squarespace skills? Join Pixelhaze Academy for more detailed tutorials and advanced techniques.