Module 7: Going Live

Time to Complete Module: 30 minutes

Last updated: 13 March 2025

IN THIS MODULE

7.1 Upgrade Your Squarespace Plan 7.2 Connect a Custom Domain 7.3 (Optional) Connect to Google Workspace 7.4 Publish Your Site 7.5 Make Post-Launch Adjustments 7.6 Congratulations!

Now that you’re done building your pages, adding navigation, and checking your site’s functionality, there’s nothing left to do but launch your site to the world. We’ll go over the last steps you need for publishing, particularly connecting a domain and performing a couple of post-launch adjustments.

We’re very close to the finish line, so let’s not waste any more time and get right to it!

7.1 Upgrade Your Squarespace Plan

If you haven’t already, you’ll need to upgrade to one of Squarespace’s paid plans to publish your site. If you don’t have a domain yet, you can get a free domain name for a year with any plan as long as you select an annual payment cycle. Annual billing also has the benefit of costing you less on a per-month basis.

Here’s what you need to do to upgrade your plan:

Step 1: Head to global settings

Click the “Settings” icon ( ) in the main sidebar menu.

Step 2: Select “Billing”

Step 3: Upgrade your subscription

Select “Subscriptions” in the billing menu.
Click on “Website.”
In the “Website Subscription” panel, click the “Subscribe” button.
Open the currency dropdown in the upper-right corner, and select your currency if needed.
Choose the ideal Squarespace plan for you and click “Select.”

Overview of Squarespace plans:

Personal: An entry-level plan that’s more than enough for a simple personal website or business card site.
Business: Designed for e-commerce sites needing basic online store features.
Commerce (Basic and Advanced): This option is best for businesses that require advanced e-commerce tools, such as digital cash registers and third-party system integration.

Step 4: Select your billing cycle

Choose if you want to pay annually or monthly.
Click “Confirm Selection.”

If you want to host your domain with Squarespace, you’ll need at least a yearly billing cycle to get the free domain name for a year. After that, you’ll have to pay an annual fee for your domain name.

Step 5: Fill out your billing details

Complete all the address fields.
Optional: If you’re tax-exempt, check the VAT status box and enter your business name and registration number.
Click “Save and Continue.”

Step 6: Choose your payment method

Select “Credit or Debit Card,” “SEPA Direct Debit” (for euro payments), or “PayPal” as your payment method.
Enter the required payment details for your chosen method.
Click “Save and Continue.”

Step 7: Review and confirm payment details

Check the total amount you’ll pay and other payment details.
Click “Confirm Payment.”

7.2 Connect a Custom Domain

Now that you have set up your subscription, connecting your site to a custom domain will be straightforward. You can connect a domain from Squarespace or another provider.

Option A: Connect Domain Directly From Squarespace

Step 1: Open the “Settings” ( ) menu

Step 2: Go to “Domains & Email”

Select the “Domains” option.

Click “Get a Domain.”

Step 3: Get a custom domain

Type your desired domain name in the search bar on the “Get a New Domain” page. You can also choose from the list of suggested domain names.

Tip: If the domain you want isn’t available, you can always try changing the top-level domain (TLD) – the .com, .net, and other extensions at the end of your website’s address. For example, if “example.com” isn’t available, you can try searching for “example.net” or “example.org.”

Click on your chosen domain name to add it to your cart. If you signed up for a yearly plan, the domain’s price should say “for free.”
Optional: Add more domains if you want to, but you might have to pay extra for those.
Click on “Checkout.”

Step 4: Choose your domain registration term

Click the “Term length” dropdown and choose how long you want to register your domain. You can choose up to 10 years.
Click “Save and Continue.”

You’ll have to fill out some extra information like your name, contact details, address, and payment information on the next pages. Simply follow each step as they appear, and you’ll have your domain in no time.

The domain you’ve chosen should automatically connect to your Squarespace site.

Option B: Connect Domain From a Different Registrar

If you already own a domain registered with a different service or prefer using a different domain registrar, start by following their steps to purchase your domain. Most registrars will also give you instructions for connecting your domain to a website, which should probably be the simplest way. Alternatively, you can add a third-party domain directly from Squarespace.

Step 1: Head to the “Domains” menu

Go to “Settings” ( ).
Select “Domains & Email” and then “Domains.”

Step 2: Click on the “Use a Domain I Own” button

Step 3: Enter your domain

A pop-up panel will open requesting you to type in your domain address.

Insert your domain and hit “Enter” or click the arrow next to the text field. Squarespace will automatically look up where the domain is hosted and offer you two options:
- “Transfer Domain” transfers the domain information to Squarespace’s registrar.
- “Connect Domain” simply connects your Squarespace site to your domain.

Select “Connect Domain.”

Step 4: Connect your domain

Connecting your domain to your site is the most straightforward option, especially if you choose to keep your domain with a different domain registrar. In this case, you can skip the “Transfer Domain” option.

If a panel appears offering you to use Squarespace’s auto-connect option for GoDaddy, Namecheap, or Network Solutions, select “No, Use DNS Records.” Otherwise, continue to the next step.
Click the “Select Provider” dropdown menu and select your domain provider. If your provider isn’t on the list, select “Other.”
Click on “Connect Domain.”
A dialog box appears, indicating the domain is connecting to your site. Click “Continue” to open the “DNS Settings” panel.

Step 5: Add Domain Name System (DNS) records to your domain provider

Log in to your domain provider and go to its DNS manager.
Copy the DNS records from your Squarespace site’s “DNS Settings” panel and add them to your domain provider’s DNS. Include the hostname, type, and data in the correct fields.
Once you’ve added your DNS records, return to Squarespace’s “DNS Settings” panel. Click the “Refresh Records” button in the upper-right corner.

Ensure a green “Connected” appears for all entries under the “Current Data” column in the “DNS Settings” table. If so, your domain is now successfully connected to your site. Take note that the process may take up to 72 hours, so expect some waiting time before your site goes live.

7.3 (Optional) Connect to Google Workspace

If you’ve purchased the Business plan or above, you can connect your site’s domain to a Google Workspace account free for one year. You can also connect to a Google Workspace account independently, which can help you manage communications to your website from a single business address.

To connect your site to Google Workspace, all you have to do is:

Step 1: Go to the “Google Workspace” panel

Head to “Settings” ( ).
Go to “Domains & Email,” then click “Google Workspace.”
In the “Google Workspace” panel, select “Use a Domain I Own.” Squarespace may automatically use the connected domain and take you directly to the “Select a Google Workspace Plan” page.

Step 2: Create a Google Workspace account

Choose a Google Workspace plan. If you’re eligible and want to claim your free Google Workspace plan, select the “Starter” plan.
Choose your billing cycle and complete the registration, address, and payment pages.
After completing registration and payment, follow the steps on the screen to finish setting up your Google Workspace account.

7.4 Publish Your Site

Now that you have a premium plan and an ideal domain name, we can finally move on to premiering your site to the world.

Step 1: Head to “Settings” ( )

Step 2: Go to “Website” and select “Site Availability”

Step 3: Select “Public” to launch your site live

Tip: You can also select “Password Protected” if you want to show the finished version of your site to specific people first to get their feedback. That way, you can implement whatever notes they give you before moving on with your finished product.

7.5 Make Post-Launch Adjustments

Now that the site is public, you only have to make some final adjustments to ensure the quality of the finished experience.

Step 1: Remove the “www” prefix

Go to “Settings” ( ).
Select “Domains & Email” and click “Domains.”
Click on your primary domain to go to its “Domain Overview” panel.
Turn off “Use ‘www’ prefix.” This will make your web address look cleaner.
Repeat the process for other domains linked to the site.

Step 2: Make sure your site is secure

Website encryption is fundamental to your online safety and the safety of your visitors. It also plays a key role in SEO, so you’ll want to ensure your site is secure.

Head to “Settings” ( ) and then “Developer Tools.”
Click on “SSL.”

Enable the “Secure” option.
Turn on “HSTS Secure” to make sure your visitors always use the secure version of your website.
Click “Save” in the upper-right corner of the panel.

7.6 Congratulations!

Regardless of whether you wanted to build a site for your business, as a presentation card, or simply as a personal project, it was, no doubt, a labor of love. To keep your site alive and thriving, you’ll have to come back regularly and update it as time passes.

Before moving on, though, take a well-deserved break to feel proud of what you’ve accomplished. Provided you followed through with our guide, you should now have a finished website – one that will help you support your goals for the future. You provided the love, and we hope we were able to help a little with the labor part.

Congratulations on publishing your site. We’re sure you’ll do great.