MODULE EIGHT: LESSON FOUR
How to Publish Your Site + What to Do After Launch
This is it — the moment you’ve been working toward! In this lesson, I’ll walk you through how to publish your site, what to do immediately after launching, and a few simple steps to help you keep your website polished and discoverable moving forward.
Step 1: Make Your Site Public
Once your site is ready, here’s how to officially publish:
From your Squarespace dashboard, go to Settings > Site Availability.
Change the setting from Private to Public.
Click Save.
Congratulations — your website is live! 🎉 Anyone who visits your domain will now see your fully customized site.
Step 2: Submit Your Site to Google Search Console
If you want your site to start showing up in Google search results, you’ll need to submit it to Google Search Console.
Here’s a simplified way to do it:
Go to https://search.google.com/search-console.
Sign in with your Google account.
Add your domain as a new property.
Squarespace will automatically generate a site map — the URL is:
Submit your sitemap to Google Search Console to help Google index your site.
Step 3: Announce Your Launch!!!
Now that your site is live, let people know!
Here are a few ways to announce your launch:
Post on social media with a direct link to your site
Send an email to your newsletter subscribers
Share it in any reader groups or author communities you’re active in
Add the link to your Instagram bio or Linktree
Step 4: Schedule Regular Site Check-Ins
Your website is a living part of your author brand, so don’t forget about it after launch!
I recommend setting a reminder to check your site every 3-6 months to:
Update your book list if you’ve released anything new
Refresh your Extras or Bonus Content
Make sure all links are still working
Confirm your newsletter signup form is still connected
Step 5: Troubleshooting After Publishing
If your domain isn’t working right away, don’t panic! It can take time for everything to connect and propagate across the internet.
If it’s been more than 48-72 hours and you’re still seeing issues:
Double-check your domain connection in Settings > Domains
Review your DNS settings if your domain is connected externally
Contact Squarespace support if needed, they’re very responsive with publishing and domain issues
That’s a Wrap!
You did it! your author website is complete! You’ve built a beautiful, professional home for your books, customized it with your unique brand, and learned how to maintain it with confidence. This is a huge accomplishment, and you should be incredibly proud.
Your new site isn’t just a place to showcase your books… it’s a space to connect with readers, build your community, and grow your author career.
Remember:
Keep your site fresh by updating it regularly with new releases, extras, or events.
Check your Resources Page for easy access to fonts, color palettes, and assets to keep your site aligned with your brand.
Reach out for help if you ever feel stuck — you don’t have to do it alone.
If you’d like even more personalized support, my Semi-Custom and Custom Website Services are here to help you take your site from polished to perfect. Whether you need a few tweaks or a full redesign, I’d love to partner with you on your next chapter.
Thank you for letting me guide you through this process! I’m so excited to see your website out in the world, helping you share your stories with readers everywhere.
If you ever need to revisit anything, all your lessons and resources will remain available to you. And if you want to take your design even further, don’t forget to explore the Bonus Module: Custom CSS for extra personalization.
You did it — welcome to the world, author website!
