Squarespace Sitemaps: What They Are and How to Submit Yours to Google
Have you ever searched for your own website on Google and struggled to find it? There are a lot of reasons that can happen. But one commonly overlooked piece of the puzzle is your sitemap.
A sitemap is a structured file that lives quietly on your website. Its job is to give search engines a clear map of your important pages so they can crawl and index your content more efficiently. If you use Squarespace, the good news is that your sitemap already exists. The part many clinicians miss is connecting it properly to Google Search Console.
In this blog, we’ll break down what a Squarespace sitemap does, where to find it, and how to submit it to Google so your site has the best chance of showing up in search.
What is a Sitemap?
A sitemap is a file that tells search engines what pages exist on your website.
Think of it as a directory or roadmap. It helps Google and other search engines:
Discover your pages
Understand your site structure
Crawl new content faster
Index updates more efficiently
For clinicians who blog or regularly update service pages, this matters.
Does Squarespace Automatically Create a Sitemap?
Yes.
One of the biggest misconceptions about sitemap Squarespace setups is that you need to build one from scratch. You do not.
Every Squarespace website automatically generates an XML sitemap for you.
You can find it at:
yourdomain.com/sitemap.xml
For example:
www.yourpractice.com/sitemap.xml
That file updates automatically when you:
Publish a new blog post
Add a service page
Create a location page
Delete or unpublish content
No coding required.
What Does a Squarespace Sitemap Include?
Your Squarespace sitemap typically includes:
Main website pages
Blog posts
Product pages (if applicable)
Category pages
Index pages
It does not include:
Draft pages
Password protected pages
Pages marked “noindex”
This is actually helpful. It prevents search engines from crawling content you do not want indexed.
Why Sitemap Squarespace Matters for SEO
Even though Squarespace creates your sitemap automatically, it still needs to be connected to Google properly.
Here is why it matters:
1. Faster Indexing
If you publish blog content regularly, submitting your sitemap helps Google find new posts more quickly. This is especially important if you are trying to grow organic traffic.
2. Clear Site Structure
Search engines like clarity. A sitemap reinforces your internal structure and helps search engines understand how your pages relate to one another. If you are working on improving your services page structure, you may also want to read our guide on building strong clinician service pages.
3. Technical Credibility
Submitting your sitemap is a simple technical signal that tells search engines your website is actively maintained. While your sitemap is a foundational SEO step, it's not a magic trick.
How To Submit Your Squarespace Sitemap to Google
You do this through Google Search Console.
If you have not set up Search Console yet, that is your first step.
Once inside:
Select your property
Click “Sitemaps” in the left menu
Enter:
sitemap.xmlClick submit
That is it.
You only need to do this once.
If you need help setting up Search Console, we have a full guide on why every provider should use it and how to set it up correctly.
Common Sitemap Squarespace Mistakes
Here are a few issues we see often:
Not Verifying Your Website in Search Console
If Google does not recognize your site as verified, submitting a sitemap will not help.
Blocking Pages Accidentally
If you mark a page as “noindex” in Squarespace, it will not appear in your sitemap. Sometimes clinicians forget they toggled this setting.
Assuming a Sitemap Alone Improves Rankings
A sitemap helps search engines crawl your site. It does not replace:
Keyword strategy
Internal linking
Optimized titles and meta descriptions
Strong services pages
Consistent content
It is one piece of the puzzle.
Should You Ever Create a Custom Sitemap in Squarespace?
For small businesses, like a dietitian's and a therapist's private practices, no. Squarespace’s automatic sitemap is more than enough.
Custom sitemaps are usually only necessary for:
Very large e-commerce sites
Highly complex multi-language sites
Enterprise-level builds
If you are running a private practice website, the default setup is completely appropriate.
Final Thoughts on Sitemap Squarespace and SEO
If you are building a website for your practice, your goal is not to master technical SEO overnight.
Your goal is to:
Make it easy for the right clients to find you
Clearly communicate your services
Build trust through aligned messaging
Your sitemap supports that behind the scenes. If you are unsure whether your Squarespace sitemap setup is connected properly or if you want help building an SEO strategy that actually aligns with your values and voice, that is exactly what we do at CV Brands.
We specialize in Squarespace design and ethical SEO for weight-inclusive clinicians who want their websites to reflect the depth of their work and show up in search. Ready to make sure your foundation is solid? Reach out to build something that works quietly and powerfully in the background.
