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How to Add and Customise Blog Excerpts on Squarespace

Learn how to add, customise, and troubleshoot blog excerpts on Squarespace to make your content more scannable and engaging.

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How to Add and Customise Blog Excerpts on Squarespace
Last Edited Time
Jun 25, 2025 09:35 PM
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Learn to add and customize blog excerpts on Squarespace to enhance content visibility, including adding images, styling "Read More" links, troubleshooting display issues, and writing effective excerpts that engage readers. Check template limitations for optimal use.
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How to Add and Customise Blog Excerpts on Squarespace

Blog excerpts give visitors a preview of your posts without overwhelming them with walls of text. They're particularly useful if you write long posts or include lots of images and videos. Think of them as the shop window for your content.

Adding Excerpts to Your Posts

Here's how to add excerpts to new and existing posts:
For new posts:
  1. Go to your blog page through the Pages panel
  1. Click to create a new post
  1. In the Options tab, add your excerpt text
  1. Save or publish your post
For existing posts:
  1. Navigate to your blog page in the Pages panel
  1. Hover over the post title and click 'Edit'
  1. Go to the Options tab and add your excerpt
  1. Save your changes
The excerpt will now appear on your blog listing page instead of the full post content.

Customising How Excerpts Look

Adding Images to Excerpts

Most modern Squarespace templates let you add images alongside your excerpts:
  • Featured images: Add these when creating or editing your post. They'll appear with the excerpt if your template supports it
  • Promoted blocks: Some templates offer these as an alternative to featured images. If you add both, the promoted block image takes priority
You can change the appearance of your "Read More" links to match your site:
  1. Go to Design > Site Styles
  1. Find the Blog section
  1. Adjust the font, colour, and styling of your Read More links
  1. Save your changes

When Excerpts Don't Show Up

Added an excerpt but can't see it? Here's how to fix it:
  1. Go to your Pages panel and select your blog page
  1. Look for excerpt display settings (usually under the page settings or site styles)
  1. Make sure excerpts are set to "Show"
  1. Save and refresh your page
Some templates hide excerpts by default, so you might need to enable them manually.

Writing Better Excerpts

A good excerpt should:
  • Summarise the main point of your post
  • Create curiosity without giving everything away
  • Be around 1-2 sentences long
  • Include relevant keywords naturally
Don't just copy the first paragraph of your post. Write something specific that makes people want to read more.

Template Limitations

Not every Squarespace template handles excerpts the same way. Older templates or certain template families might have limited excerpt features. If you're planning to use excerpts heavily, check your template's capabilities first.
Some templates also offer a "single column" layout that shows full posts instead of excerpts. Make sure you're using the right layout for what you want to achieve.

Quick Troubleshooting

Excerpt appears but looks odd? Check your site styles - sometimes the excerpt styling needs adjusting to match your overall design.
Image not showing with excerpt? Verify your template supports featured images with excerpts, and make sure you've actually added a featured image to the post.
Read More link missing? This is usually a template or styling issue. Check your blog page settings and site styles.
Blog excerpts are a simple way to make your blog more scannable and professional-looking. Once you've set them up, they'll automatically appear on your blog listing page, giving visitors a clear overview of your content without the scroll fatigue.
FAQ
How do I add an excerpt to an existing blog post? Go to your Pages panel, select your blog page, hover over the post title, click 'Edit', then add your excerpt in the 'Options' tab.
Can I customise the look of the Read More link? Yes, through Design > Site Styles > Blog section. You can change fonts, colours, and other styling options.
Do all Squarespace templates support excerpt displays? Most do, but older templates or certain template families might have limited support. Check your specific template's features.
Glossary
  • Excerpt: A brief preview of a blog post that appears on listing pages
  • Featured Image: The main image for a blog post, often displayed with excerpts
  • Template Families: Groups of Squarespace templates that share similar features
  • Single Column Layout: A blog layout that shows full posts instead of excerpts

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