Squarespace makes it easy to manage and publish blog posts, but sometimes, you may need to adjust the date of a post. Whether you’re backdating an article, correcting a mistake, or scheduling a future post, knowing how to change blog post dates can help you maintain a well-organized and professional-looking website. Additionally, adjusting dates can improve content visibility, help with search engine optimization (SEO), and ensure your blog appears fresh and relevant. This guide will walk you through each step, covering everything from accessing post settings to troubleshooting potential issues.
Accessing Blog Post Settings in Squarespace
Before changing the date on a blog post, you first need to navigate to the correct settings in your Squarespace editor. All blog post modifications, including date changes, are done within the post editor. The steps to access it are simple, but understanding where to find these options will save time when managing your blog.
- Log into your Squarespace website and go to the Home dashboard.
- Click on Pages and navigate to the Blog section.
- Find the post you want to edit, either from the list of published posts or drafts.
- Click on the post title to enter the editor, where you can modify content and settings.
Once inside, you will find different customization options, including those that allow you to edit the post’s timestamp. The date and time of a post can usually be found near the title or within the post settings panel, depending on the template you are using.
How to Change the Date on a Squarespace Blog Post
Once you’re in the blog post editor, updating the date is straightforward. Changing the date can help improve the chronological order of your content and maintain the relevance of your blog.
- Look for the Post Settings or Options tab within the editor.
- Find the field labeled Publish Date or Date & Time.
- Click on it to open a calendar view where you can choose a new date.
- Manually adjust the date and time by selecting the appropriate values.
- Click Save or Update to apply the changes.
After saving, the blog post will now reflect the new timestamp. If your blog displays posts in chronological order, this change may also affect the post’s placement in the feed.
Backdating Blog Posts in Squarespace
There are many reasons why you might want to backdate a blog post. Perhaps you are adding historical content, reposting an article while preserving its original context, or simply adjusting your blog’s timeline for organizational purposes. Backdating is useful when migrating old posts from another platform or aligning new content with past events.
- Follow the same steps to access the Post Settings panel.
- Select an earlier date from the calendar.
- Confirm the change by clicking Save or Update.
Backdated posts will still appear in search engines, but they may rank lower if Google determines that they are outdated or less relevant. However, if you are repurposing content, it can be a useful strategy.
Scheduling Future Blog Posts
Squarespace allows you to schedule blog posts in advance, which is particularly useful for maintaining a consistent posting schedule. This feature ensures that content goes live at the right time without manual intervention, helping businesses, bloggers, and marketers automate content delivery.
- Set the post’s date to a future time using the date selector.
- Ensure the post is saved as Scheduled instead of publishing it immediately.
- Once scheduled, Squarespace will automatically publish the post at the specified time.
Updating the Published Date for SEO
Regularly updating content is a key SEO strategy. Search engines often prioritize fresh and updated content, so modifying the publish date can signal that a post has been revised and is still relevant. However, this should be done carefully, as frequent unnecessary updates may have the opposite effect.
- Update the post’s content with new insights, statistics, or links.
- Change the publish date to the current date.
- Save the changes and allow search engines to recrawl the page.
Modifying Blog Post Metadata
Changing the publish date in Squarespace also updates the metadata associated with the post. Metadata helps search engines understand when content was originally published or updated.
- Check your post’s SEO Settings under the blog editor.
- Ensure the correct date appears in the metadata preview.
- Verify structured data if using custom JSON-LD schema.
Controlling Post Order in Squarespace
In Squarespace, the date determines the order of blog posts. If you want to rearrange the order, changing the date is the easiest method.
- To push a post to the top: Set the date to a more recent time.
- To move a post further down: Backdate it to an earlier date.
Troubleshooting Date Issues
If the date change isn't reflecting correctly on your website, try these common fixes:
- Refresh the page: Some updates may take a few moments to process.
- Clear browser cache: Cached data can prevent recent changes from appearing.
- Verify blog settings: Some templates may have specific display rules for dates.
- Check timezone settings: Ensure that your website’s timezone is set correctly in Squarespace’s general settings.
An Easier Alternative: Elfsight Blog Plugin
While Squarespace provides built-in options for managing blog post dates, an even more flexible solution is using the Elfsight Blog plugin. This customizable widget allows you to create, manage, and display blog posts on your Squarespace website with ease. Unlike the default Squarespace blog system, this plugin gives you full control over post structure, order, and appearance without being restricted by platform limitations.
With the Elfsight Blog plugin, you can:
- Embed a fully customizable blog section into any page of your website.
- Manually adjust post order without relying on publish dates.
- Showcase featured content, recent updates, or organize posts by category.
- Modify blog post appearance to match your website’s design seamlessly.
Useful Links
Changing Blog Post Publication Dates – This guide provides step-by-step instructions on how to modify the publication date of your blog posts, allowing you to reorganize how posts display on your blog page.
Blogging with Squarespace – Learn the fundamentals of creating and managing a blog on Squarespace, including adding new posts, categorizing content, and utilizing blog-specific features.
Managing Posts – This article covers how to edit, delete, and organize your blog posts, ensuring your content remains up-to-date and well-structured.
Content Metadata – Understand how to manage and customize metadata for your blog posts, which can influence how your content appears in search engine results.
Hiding a Blog Post's Metadata – Learn how to show or hide metadata such as publication dates, authors, tags, and categories on your blog posts to achieve the desired level of information disclosure.
Categories and Tags – Organize your blog content effectively by learning how to add and manage categories and tags, helping visitors navigate your posts with ease.
Summary Blocks – Utilize summary blocks to display a curated list of blog posts on different pages, enhancing content visibility and user engagement.
Events Pages – Explore how to create and manage events pages, which can be useful if your blog includes event-related content.
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Conclusion
Changing the date on a Squarespace blog post is a simple but powerful tool for managing your content. Whether you need to backdate a post, schedule future content, or update an article for SEO, understanding how to modify dates ensures better content organization and visibility. With the right strategies, you can enhance your blog’s structure and maintain an engaging website for your audience.