Sprint 00: Setting Up

Written By Denson Smith

Welcome to the first sprint of our project! As we lay the groundwork for our digital presence, it's crucial to establish our domain and professional email. You will need to do this in order to promote your own research or other project. Squarespace simplifies this process by allowing us to register a domain and set up Google Workspace. Follow these steps to ensure a smooth setup. Even if you have an established website, it will save a lot of work if you create a new domain for this specific purp


While there are alternative methods for setting up your online presence, they often involve more complexity. For simplicity and efficiency, it's recommended to register a new domain with Squarespace and connect it to a Google Workspace account, unless there's a compelling reason not to. This approach will facilitate our use of the Google API and other Google tools.


Step 1: Verify Your Eligibility


Before we begin, let's make sure we meet the necessary conditions:

  • Possess a Squarespace trial site, paid site, or parking page on version 7.1 or 7.0.

  • Own at least one custom domain, whether through Squarespace or another registrar.

  • Reside in a country where Squarespace's Google Workspace integration is available.

  • Ensure your domain is not currently linked to, nor has it been previously linked to, a Google Workspace or legacy G Suite/Google Apps account.

Domain Registration and Propagation

Before making any changes or setting up services like Google Workspace, ensure your domain registration has fully propagated. This means waiting until your website is accessible at your new domain name (e.g., my-new-domain.com). Domain propagation can take up to 72 hours across the DNS system. During this time, DNS servers around the world update their records to reflect the new domain information.

Step 2: Google Workspace Registration via Squarespace

You will save trouble if you wait until your domain registration has propagated and you can view your website at your domain. For example if you bought my-new-domain.com this can take up to 72 hours to propogate through the DNS and be full available.

To register for Google Workspace:

  • Access the Google Workspace Panel within your Squarespace settings.

  • Choose a Google Workspace plan and decide on a monthly or annual payment cycle.

  • Complete your registration details, including your contact information and desired Google Workspace username.


Step 3: Domain Verification and MX Record Configuration


  • Verify your domain with Google Workspace if prompted, using the Google Admin Console or the provided setup tool.

  • Configure MX records in your domain's DNS settings to enable email services. Squarespace domains will have these records added automatically, but third-party domains will require manual setup.


Step 4: Managing Your Google Workspace Account

  • With your account active, you can manage Google Workspace tasks from Squarespace, such as adding users, renaming users, and managing invoices.


Step 5: Integrating Google Workspace Email with Your Site


  • Connect your Google Workspace email to your Squarespace site to centralize your communications.


Step 6: Ongoing Monitoring and Updates


  • Use the provided tools to monitor your email performance and keep your account up to date.


**Important Note:** If you have an existing Google Workspace account from Google or another reseller, it cannot be linked to your Squarespace site. However, you can set up a new Google Workspace account through Squarespace and migrate your email.


For comprehensive instructions and support, consult Squarespace's help articles and Google's setup documentation for Google Workspace.


Denson Smith