Your new website is live, you have the keys, and now you're wondering: how do I actually change things myself? Good news, Squarespace is built for business owners, not developers. Once you know where the buttons are, most updates take a few minutes.
This guide covers the everyday edits my clients ask about most after handover. Keep it bookmarked, and remember I'm always a message away if you get stuck.
Before you start: logging in and the editor
Go to squarespace.com and log in with the email your website was transferred to.
Click your website, then Pages in the left menu.
Click the page you want to change, then click Edit in the top left of the preview.
Make your changes, then click Save (top left). Nothing goes live until you save.
Tip: made a mistake? Use the undo arrow at the top, or click Exit and choose Discard to throw away unsaved changes.
1. Changing text
In Edit mode, click straight onto the text you want to change and start typing.
Highlight words to make them bold, italic or a link, or to change the style (Heading 1 to 4, or Paragraph) from the little toolbar that pops up.
Click Save.
Keep one main heading per page and use the headings in order. It looks tidier and it helps Google understand your page. If you want to know more, read how to get your website found on Google.
2. Replacing images (and adding alt text)
Double-click the image you want to change.
Click the image in the settings panel, then upload your new photo or choose one from your library.
Fill in the Alt text: a short, plain description of the photo, e.g. "Bathroom renovation in Burleigh Heads with walk-in shower". This helps Google and visitors using screen readers.
Use the focal point dot to choose which part of the photo stays in view on mobile.
Tip: keep photos under about 500 KB so your site stays fast. You can shrink them for free at TinyPNG or resize them in Canva.
3. Editing accordions (the drop-down FAQ or service lists)
Double-click the accordion block.
In the Content tab you'll see a list of items. Click one to edit its title and description.
Click Add item for a new one, or drag the dots on the left to reorder them.
The Design tab controls dividers, icons and spacing.
4. Changing a section's colours
Hover over the section and click Edit Section (the pencil).
Open the Colors tab and pick a colour theme. Your themes are already set to your brand colours, so you just choose light or dark.
To change the brand colours themselves, click the paintbrush (Site Styles) and go to Colors. Be careful here, it changes every section that uses that theme.
5. Adding a new section
Hover between two sections until you see the blue Add Section button and click it.
Choose a ready-made layout (About, Contact, Services and more) or Add Blank to build your own.
Use Add Block in the top left of the section to add text, images, buttons, forms and more. Drag blocks to move them, and drag the corners to resize.
Always check the mobile view (the phone icon at the top), because mobile has its own layout.
6. Buttons and links
Change a button: double-click it, edit the button text, then click the link field to paste a web address, choose one of your pages, or add an email or phone link.
Link some text: highlight the words, click the link icon, and paste the address or pick a page.
Header button (like "Book a call"): click Edit Site Header, then click the button to change its text and link.
Tip: links to other websites (like Instagram) are best opened in a new tab so people don't leave your site. Tick "Open in new tab" in the link settings.
7. Navigation: adding, hiding and reordering pages
In Pages, everything under Main Navigation shows in your menu. Drag pages up or down to change the order.
Pages under Not Linked are live but hidden from the menu. They're perfect for landing pages you only share in ads or emails.
Click + to add a new page, or the cog next to a page for its settings (title, URL and SEO description).
8. Connecting Instagram
Social icons in your header and footer: click Edit Site Header, then Elements, and turn on Social Links. Add or update your Instagram address in the social links settings (search "social links" in Settings).
Show your Instagram posts on your site: click Add Block, choose Instagram, and connect your account. Your newest posts will show automatically.
Showing your latest jobs from Instagram is an easy way to keep your website looking fresh without extra work.
9. Enquiry forms: making sure leads reach you
Double-click your form block to edit the questions. Keep it short: name, email or phone, and "how can we help?" is usually enough.
Open Storage and check that Email is connected to an inbox you actually check. You can also send submissions to Google Drive or Mailchimp.
Edit the Post-submit message so people know what happens next, e.g. "Thanks! I'll be in touch within 24 hours."
Send yourself a test enquiry, and check your spam folder the first time.
When to call in help
You can't break your website by trying things, because nothing changes until you click Save. But if something looks off on mobile, a page is missing from the menu, or you'd just rather not spend your evening on it, send me a message. My clients never pay ongoing maintenance fees, and small help is only ever a quick chat away.
Want to see how your website is actually performing? Read my guide to tracking your website traffic with Google Search Console and Analytics. For anything else, the Squarespace Help Centre has step-by-step articles and videos.
Don't have a website yet? See my $397 one page websites or book a free 15 minute call.
