How to Use Page Drafts on Squarespace Enterprise
TL;DR:
- Page drafts are exclusive to Squarespace Enterprise on version 7.1
- Create drafts to test changes without affecting your live site
- Share drafts with team members using URLs and passwords
- Drafts work on individual pages but can't change site-wide elements
- Publishing a draft replaces the live page permanently
Page drafts on Squarespace Enterprise let you test changes before they go live. This feature gives teams a safe space to experiment with content and design without breaking the live site.
Getting Started with Page Drafts
You'll need a Squarespace Enterprise plan on version 7.1 to use this feature. Head to your Pages panel and hover over the page you want to work on. Click the settings icon and select 'Create draft'.
Give your draft a descriptive name so your team knows what you're working on. Once created, you can edit the draft just like a regular page. The key difference is that none of your changes will appear on the live site until you decide to publish them.
Working with Draft Pages
The draft editor works the same way as the regular page editor. You can add content blocks, rearrange elements, and update text. When you're ready to save your progress, click 'Done' and select 'Save draft'.
If you decide you don't like the changes, click 'Done' and choose 'Discard changes'. This removes all your edits and keeps the original page intact.
Sharing Drafts with Your Team
Team collaboration is where drafts really shine. Website managers and administrators can set up sharing permissions by going to the Pages panel, selecting the draft, and clicking the sharing settings.
Turn on the 'Enable sharing' toggle, create a password, and save your settings. Share the draft URL and password with your team members so they can review and provide feedback.
Editors without publishing rights can copy the draft URL and share it directly with other contributors. This makes it easy to get input from multiple people before going live.
Publishing Your Changes
When your draft is ready, click 'Done' and select 'Publish and replace'. Confirm your action and the draft will replace your live page.
Here's the important bit: once you publish a draft, you can't revert to the previous version. Make sure you're happy with all changes before hitting that publish button.
Always use the preview mode to check your draft thoroughly. Look for broken links, formatting issues, or content that doesn't display properly on different devices.
What You Can't Do with Drafts
Page drafts have some limitations. You can't modify site-wide settings like headers, footers, or global styles. These changes still need to be made through the regular editor and will affect your live site immediately.
Drafts also don't work with all page types. Some specialized pages might not support the drafting feature.
FAQs
Do I need a special Squarespace plan for page drafts?
Yes, page drafts are only available on Squarespace Enterprise plans using version 7.1.
Can I edit my site's header and footer in a draft?
No, drafts only work for individual page content. Site-wide elements like headers and footers can't be included in drafts.
What happens to my old page when I publish a draft?
The draft completely replaces the live page. You can't undo this action or restore the previous version.
Can multiple people work on the same draft?
Yes, you can share draft URLs with team members. However, be careful about multiple people editing simultaneously as changes might conflict.
Jargon Buster
Page Draft: A temporary version of a webpage where you can make changes without affecting the live site.
Draft URL: A special link that lets people view and access your draft page for review and feedback.
Website Editor: A user role in Squarespace that allows content editing but has limited publishing permissions.
Wrap-up
Page drafts make website management much safer for teams. You can test changes, get feedback, and perfect your content before visitors see it. The key is using the preview feature thoroughly and remembering that published drafts can't be undone.
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