How to Put Squarespace Site Under Construction: A Quick Setup Guide

When revamping an established Squarespace site, it's crucial to restrict access to its pages.

Unlike a simple announcement of pending availability through a 'Coming Soon' label, a comprehensive site overhaul requires a more robust solution—namely, an 'Under Construction' barrier that cloaks all content.

This approach involves setting up a barrier page that secures every page behind a password.

Consequently, anyone following old links or searching via engines like Google will encounter this gatekeeper page instead of potentially stumbling into a work-in-progress environment, which could misrepresent the forthcoming user experience.

Creating the barrier page is straightforward and includes steps to ensure no visitor can enter without a password.

This works perfectly for those desiring comprehensive concealment during a site's transition period.

Here's a breakdown of the setup process:

Set Up Page Type: Initiate a new 'Lock Screen' or 'Under Construction' page.
Customization: Personalize it with text, images, or even a promotional video to maintain brand presence.
Security Implementation: Enhance privacy by password-protecting the page.
Navigation Refinement: Ensure this page is in the 'Not Linked' section, effectively hiding it from direct access.
Styling: Tailor colors, styles, and backgrounds to match the aesthetic of the brand.

One important consideration is the Search Engine Optimization (SEO) impact.

Sites that are entirely blocked with a password will become invisible to search engines, possibly affecting their rankings. Those who prioritize SEO might opt for a slightly less restrictive 'Cover Page', keeping essential content like blog posts visible to search engines.

Access Control Alternatives in Squarespace:

Cover Page: Suited for new Squarespace sites that don't require total privacy.
Password-Protected Page: For ongoing sites needing to shield all content from the public eye.
Site-Wide Password: Lock down the entire site with a single password for ultimate control.

To maintain a connection with your audience:

Display social icons and links to encourage engagement on social platforms.
Offer a newsletter signup form to keep interested visitors informed.

Utilize pop-ups to notify visitors about the reconstruction and manage expectations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Setting Up an "About to Launch" Page on Squarespace

To create a "Coming Soon" page on Squarespace, follow these steps:

Go to your Pages panel.
Click the "+" icon to add a new page.
Choose "Cover Page" as the page type.
Select a layout and customize it with your branding.
Set this cover page as your homepage during the setup phase.

Locating Templates for an Under Construction Page on Squarespace

Under construction page templates can be found by:

Browsing the Squarespace template store.
Selecting "Cover Pages" which often serve as placeholders.
Customizing a cover page template to match your “Under Construction” message.

Crafting a Standalone Landing Page on Squarespace

To establish a landing page without site navigation:

Create a new page.
Disable the header and footer in the page settings.
Customize your landing page content and style as desired.
Ensure it's not linked from other pages to keep it standalone.

Using a No-Cost Template for Squarespace In-Progress Pages

You can use free templates on Squarespace by:

Selecting from the existing free cover page designs provided by Squarespace.
Customizing them to fit your "Under Construction" theme.
Remember, there is no separate category for free "Under Construction" templates, but cover page designs can be adapted for free.

Making an Unpublished Page on Squarespace

The process for creating an unpublished page includes:

Adding a new page to your site in the Pages panel.
Customizing the page with your content.
Keeping the page in the "Not Linked" section, which makes it inaccessible from the navigation menu.
When you’re ready, link the page to your navigation or make it public.

Reasons for an "Under Maintenance" Message on Squarespace Sites

A Squarespace site may show an "Under Construction" message because:

The site owner is in the process of building or updating the site.
A cover page is used to inform visitors while backend updates or design changes are made.
It can serve as a marketing tool to build anticipation before a full site launch.