How to Add a Privacy Policy Page to Your Squarespace Website (with video)
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Privacy policies aren’t the juiciest part of having a website, but…
Not having one could land you in some seriously hot water - it’s actually legally required.
Laws like GDPR in Europe, CCPA in California, and many other state privacy laws require websites to have a privacy policy if they collect data that can identify individuals. The Federal Trade Commission Act also prohibits deceptive practices, which includes collecting personal information without telling people about it.
Your website is probably collecting personal data even if you think isn’t isn’t.
Things like email addresses from contact forms, IP addresses from visitors, and data from tools like Google Analytics ALL count as personal information.
Who Needs a Privacy Policy for their Website (Spoiler: Probably You)
Your Squarespace website needs a privacy policy if it collects any of these:
The obvious stuff:
Email addresses from contact forms or newsletter signups
Names and contact information
Payment information when people buy from you
The stuff you might not realize counts:
IP addresses (which happens automatically for every single visitor)
Data from Google Analytics or other tracking tools
Information from third-party integrations like scheduling apps or chat widgets
Cookies (and yes, most websites use these even if you don't know it
If your website does anything beyond displaying completely static information with zero interaction, you almost certainly need a privacy policy.
Got a contact form? You need one. Using Google Analytics to see how many people visit your site? You need one. Have a newsletter signup? Definitely need one.
How to Add a Privacy Policy to Your Squarespace Site
Step 1: Create Your Privacy Policy Page in Squarespace
Head over to your Squarespace dashboard and click on "Pages" in the main menu.
Scroll down to the "Not Linked" section at the bottom of your pages list. This is where pages live when they exist but aren't showing up in your main navigation at the top of your website.
Click the "+" button to add a new page.
Choose "Blank" as your page type and name it "Privacy Policy."
Make sure the page is enabled (the toggle should be on).
Step 2: Turn Off SEO
You don't want search engines indexing your privacy policy page. This means when someone searches your site, ‘Privacy Policy’ might come up instead of say ‘Services’. Not good.
Click on the gear icon next to your privacy policy page to open settings.
Go to the "SEO" tab and turn off "Enable search engine indexing."
Step 3: Add Your Privacy Policy Content
Now comes the important part: you need to actually add your privacy policy content to the page. How you do this depends on what type of privacy policy you get (I’ll explain more further down).
For text-based policies: Copy and paste the text directly into a text block on your page. Straightforward, but you'll be responsible for updating it manually when laws change (and they do change. Frequently.).
For code-based policies: Add a code block to your page and paste the embed code there. This creates a live connection to the provider's servers, so when they update your policy for legal changes, it automatically appears on your site without you lifting a finger.
Personally, I'm team code-based all the way. Set it once and forget it.
Step 4: Link It in Your Footer
Go to Design > Edit Footer in your Squarespace dashboard.
Add a text link that says "Privacy Policy."
When you add the link, type "privacy policy" and Squarespace should automatically suggest your page.
Make sure you set the link to open in a new tab so visitors don't leave your main site.
Where to Get Your Privacy Policy
You have a few options, but don't just copy someone else's or use a basic template. Privacy laws change constantly, and you need something that actually protects you.
My Top Recommendation: Termageddon
Termageddon is what I use and recommend to all my clients. For about $120 per year, you get:
Up to 5 different policies (privacy policy, terms of service, cookie policy, etc.)
Automatic updates when laws change
Code that embeds on your site and updates itself
Support to walk you through setup
They handle all the legal updates for you. When new laws pass or existing ones change, your policy updates automatically.
I'm an affiliate for Termageddon because I genuinely believe it's the best option out there. Use my affiliate code JPKDESIGN when you sign up and you'll get extra support.
Budget Option: Termly Free Generator
If you're just starting out and money is tight, Termly offers a free privacy policy generator. It's basic but a great option for budget-conscious newer small business owners.
The downside is it doesn't update automatically, so you'll need to check back regularly and update it yourself as laws change.
Middle Ground: Sprout Law
For $59 one-time fee, with Sprout Law you get legally compliant templates that are more detailed than free options. But again, no automatic updates, so you'll be on the hook for staying current with legal changes.
Text-Based vs Code-Based Privacy Policies: What's the Difference?
Text-based policies: You copy and paste the privacy policy text into a regular text block on your Squarespace page. Simple to set up, but you'll need to manually update it every time laws change.
Code-based policies: You add a code block to your page and paste in embed code from your provider. This creates a live connection to their servers, so updates happen automatically without you touching anything.
If you're the type of person who sets calendar reminders and actually follows through on them, text-based is fine.
If you're like me and would definitely forget to update it until you get a scary legal letter, go with code-based.
Getting Your Privacy Policy Live: A Quick Recap
Create the page in your Squarespace dashboard under "Not Linked"
Turn off SEO indexing so it doesn't show up in search results
Add your privacy policy content using either text blocks or code blocks
Link it in your footer so people can actually find it
The whole process should take you less than an hour once you have your privacy policy content ready. Here’s a quick 2 minute tutorial (no sound):
Beyond just avoiding legal trouble (which, let's be honest, is reason enough), having a proper privacy policy shows your visitors that you're professional and take their privacy seriously.
And when data breaches are making headlines almost weekly, that trust factor is more important than ever.
Plus, some email marketing platforms and payment processors actually require you to have a privacy policy before they'll let you use their services. Getting this sorted now saves you headaches later.
Don't Let Perfect Be the Enemy of Done
Here's the thing about privacy policies: the perfect one doesn't exist. Laws vary by state and country, they're constantly changing, and even lawyers disagree on the finer points sometimes.
What matters is that you have something legitimate and legally compliant. Don't spend weeks agonizing over every word; just get something good up there and move on with your life.
Your website visitors aren't reading your privacy policy with a magnifying glass anyway. They just want to know you're not doing anything sketchy with their information.
Your Next Steps (AKA: Just Do It Already)
If you don’t have one set up yet, block out an hour this week to get your privacy policy sorted. I know it's not the most exciting task on your to-do list, but your future self will thank you when you're not scrambling to add one because you got a compliance notice.
While you're at it, make sure you're covering all your legal bases. Check out my other guides on the essential legal pages every website should have and what to include in your website footer to keep everything above board.
