Squarespace SEO: a practical website launch review
Fictional website review, not a Squarespace account audit. Example observations are not measured rankings, traffic or indexing results.
Inspect the workshop example
Fictional website review, not a Squarespace account audit. Example observations are not measured rankings, traffic or indexing results.
Homepage
Introduces the studio and links to the current workshop.
Old /classes path
An obsolete leaflet address, not the current page.
Workshop destination
/workshops/printmaking contains the class and booking route.
- Homepage Relevant internal navigation Workshop destination
- Old /classes path Permanent redirect after the old page is disabled Workshop destination
/classes -> /workshops/printmaking 301| Inspection step | Example observation | Evidence to record | Action if it differs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homepage / | Generic studio description in the example | Saved homepage description and rendered page | Describe the studio distinctly; do not reuse the workshop summary |
| Workshop page | Useful class details and a homepage link | Title, description, visible heading and booking route | Resolve mismatched dates or unavailable booking before promotion |
| Booking confirmation | Customer details should remain private | Signed-out access test and chosen access control | Restrict access; a search-hiding toggle is not privacy protection |
| Old /classes URL | Leaflet still uses the obsolete path | Old response, 301 destination and final enabled page | Disable or remove the old page, add mapping, update owned links |
| Sitemap | Check the intended current workshop URL | Primary-domain sitemap and review date | Investigate missing eligible pages; do not record inclusion as indexing proof |
How to use the matrix
Our fictional printmaking studio uses studio.example. Its homepage links to /workshops/printmaking, while an old leaflet points to /classes. The launch worksheet assumes that the workshop has a useful title and description but the homepage still has generic copy. A booking confirmation page contains customer details and must not become a public resource. The five rows below record observations and corrective actions; they are an exercise you can replace with your own dated evidence.
Keep customer information behind appropriate access controls. Hiding a page from search results requests exclusion; it does not authenticate visitors or make a known URL secret. For a permanent move, Squarespace URL mappings use the old path, an arrow, the new path and 301. The old page must be deleted or disabled for that mapping to work; confirm the destination is enabled first. Our escaped example changes nothing here. Also update the homepage and any links you control to the new URL. A 301 redirect does not guarantee unchanged search rankings.
Review checklist
- Record the platform version and exact page type before following an editor path.
- Write different descriptions for the homepage and the workshop.
- Test restricted pages while signed out; keep customer data out of the review export.
- Verify the old path, one intended redirect and the final booking destination.
- Recheck the sitemap after changes; record indexing separately in your own Search Console.
On a public, non-trial site, inspect /sitemap.xml on the primary domain. Squarespace generates the sitemap; it is not a file you manually rewrite. Compare the intended workshop URL with the list, and investigate page availability or search-hiding settings when it is missing. A sitemap entry helps discovery but does not prove Google indexed the page. Record the reviewed URL, setting, public response, reviewer and date; use your own verified Search Console property later for indexing evidence.
After launch, check the actual visitor path from homepage to workshop and from the old leaflet URL to the current page. Test signed out and on a narrow screen; confirm that the booking action still works without exposing private information. Search engines may choose different title or snippet text and may take time to revisit changes. This guide provides a repeatable editorial and technical review, not an expert-services engagement, a live account scan or a guarantee of first-page rankings.