Boost Squarespace Speed: Universal Footer Code

6 May

Written By JC Pass

Why We Built This

Squarespace makes beautiful websites easy to create — but when it comes to speed, performance can be a struggle. Despite best efforts, many Squarespace users are stuck with slow load times, poor mobile Core Web Vitals, and frustratingly little control over what’s happening under the hood.

We know because we’ve been there: analyzing render-blocking scripts, battling layout shifts, squeezing every millisecond we could — all within the platform’s tight limitations.

So we built this lightweight, universal snippet of code to give Squarespace users a fighting chance at better performance without breaking the editor, design, or custom plugins.

What This Code Does

This snippet is designed to be pasted into your Squarespace Footer Code Injection box. It applies a range of smart, safe, and widely supported optimizations:

✅ Adds font-display: swap to all Google Fonts to improve perceived load time.
✅ Preconnects to key Squarespace CDN domains to reduce DNS and handshake delays.
✅ Lazy-loads all iframes (like YouTube embeds or maps) to speed up initial load.
✅ Defers non-essential scripts on desktop via requestIdleCallback — like analytics or widgets (you can customize this).
✅ Adds a loaded class to the body on window load — handy for fade-ins or lazy CSS.

It’s safe, non-destructive, and won’t interfere with your site’s design or content.

How To Use

Simply Click the button below to copy our custom code, then paste it into your footer code section.

// 🔹 Preconnect to common Squarespace/CDN resources
    const preconnects = [
      "https://static1.squarespace.com",
      "https://images.squarespace-cdn.com",
      "https://fonts.googleapis.com",
      "https://fonts.gstatic.com"
    ];
    preconnects.forEach(href => {
      const link = document.createElement("link");
      link.rel = "preconnect";
      link.href = href;
      link.crossOrigin = "anonymous";
      document.head.appendChild(link);
    });

// 🔹 Lazy load iframes (like embedded YouTube or Maps)
    document.querySelectorAll("iframe").forEach(iframe => {
      if (!iframe.hasAttribute("loading")) iframe.setAttribute("loading", "lazy");
    });

// 🔹 Defer non-essential scripts on desktop
    if (window.innerWidth > 768) {
      requestIdleCallback(() => {
        // Example: lazy-load analytics or 3rd-party widgets
        const script = document.createElement("script");
        script.src = "https://example.com/non-critical.js"; // Replace or comment out
        script.defer = true;
        document.body.appendChild(script);
      });
    }
  });

// 🔹 Mark body as loaded (useful for CSS fade-ins, etc.)
  window.addEventListener("load", () => {
    document.body.classList.add("loaded");
  });
</script>

Realistic Expectations

Performance doesn’t improve overnight — especially in Google's eyes. Core Web Vitals like Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) and Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS) are measured over a rolling 28-day average. This means changes take time to reflect in your reports (like Search Console or PageSpeed Insights).

Also, while this code helps mitigate Squarespace's structural slowness, some platform limitations can’t be fixed without switching platforms. We believe this code gets you as far as possible without drastic redesigns.

Is This Free to Use?

Personal use is free forever.
If you’re using this tool/game on your own blog, portfolio, or personal Squarespace site, you don’t need to pay — enjoy it freely.

Commercial use requires a one-time license.
If you’re a developer, agency, or using this on a client project or monetized site, please purchase a commercial license. It helps support ongoing development and gives you peace of mind.

One-time cost: £49.99 (normally £79.99)
Covers unlimited client sites, all current tools, and future updates.

👉 Learn more or buy a lic ense here

Disclaimer

This script is provided as-is with no guarantees. While it's designed to be safe for most Squarespace sites, always test changes before going live — especially if you’ve installed third-party plugins, custom fonts, or heavy integrations. By using this code, you accept that we are not liable for any unexpected behavior or performance changes.

JC Pass

JC Pass is a specialist in social and political psychology who merges academic insight with cultural critique. With an MSc in Applied Social and Political Psychology and a BSc in Psychology, JC explores how power, identity, and influence shape everything from global politics to gaming culture. Their work spans political commentary, video game psychology, LGBTQIA+ allyship, and media analysis, all with a focus on how narratives, systems, and social forces affect real lives.

JC’s writing moves fluidly between the academic and the accessible, offering sharp, psychologically grounded takes on world leaders, fictional characters, player behaviour, and the mechanics of resilience in turbulent times. They also create resources for psychology students, making complex theory feel usable, relevant, and real.

https://SimplyPutPsych.co.uk/