Create a ‘Featured’ Blog Header | Pseudo Header Trick
When it comes to showcasing your blog content on Squarespace, the default layout options, grid, list, or column, work beautifully. But, say you want to do a little more; what if you’d like to feature on one particular post right at the top of your blog page itself?
This is where the “featured blog header” trick comes in. I recently had a reader ask how to add featured posts to her blog, and since Squarespace doesn’t have the feature built in, I’m going to share with you how. This technique makes your page look professional and editorial, as well as helping you stand out from the article that is most important.
In this tutorial, let’s work through step-by-step how to build a featured blog post header on Squarespace with summary blocks, links, and just a little bit of custom CSS.
Why Add a Featured Blog Header
A featured post header immediately provides your blog with a dynamic, “curated” feel.
Here’s why it’s worth doing:
Points traffic from your biggest post or announcement.
Makes your blog page look more appealing
Navigational enhancements in which what’s new or trending is spotlighted.
Brings out branding in a magazine-style hero section.
The best part? Not only can you do this on your blog, but also do it on your home page or even from custom landing pages.
Step-by-Step: How to Create a Featured Blog Header
Step 1. Add a Blank Section
In your Squarespace editor, go to the page where your blog is displayed.
Add a new blank section at the top. This is where your featured header will live.
Step 2. Add a Summary Block
Inside that section, add a Summary Block and connect it to your blog.
You can choose any layout (grid or list), but for this trick, you’ll only use it to help position the featured post visually below your header image.
Step 3. Insert a Poster Image
Above the summary block, add an Image Block.
Choose the image you want to represent your featured blog post.
In the image settings, switch the Design Layout to Poster.
This allows you to overlay text directly on top of the image — perfect for adding your post title or short tagline.
Step 4. Add Your Blog Title and Link
In the text overlay, type the title of your featured blog post.
Then, in the image settings panel:
Select “Link” → “On Image.”
Paste the URL of the blog post you want to feature.
Now your featured image doubles as a clickable header that takes users directly to the post.
Step 5. Add Custom CSS for Hover and Gradient Effects
To make your header interactive, let’s enhance it with subtle hover transitions and a soft gradient overlay.
Hover Fade Effect
Go to Design → Custom CSS and paste the following code.
Replace #BLOCK-ID-HERE with your actual block ID (you can find it using a Squarespace Block ID Finder).
#BLOCK-ID-HERE {
transition: 0.3s !important;
}
#BLOCK-ID-HERE:hover {
opacity: 0.8 !important;
transition: 0.3s !important;
}
This adds a clean fade effect when users hover over the featured image.
Gradient Overlay for Text Contrast
To add a gradient behind your text for better readability, use this CSS snippet:
#SECTION-ID-HERE .sqs-block-image .design-layout-poster .image-card-wrapper {
justify-content: flex-start !important;
align-items: flex-end !important;
padding: 20px;
padding-bottom: 50px !important;
position: relative;
}
#SECTION-ID-HERE .sqs-block-image .design-layout-poster .image-card-wrapper::after {
content: '';
position: absolute;
bottom: 0;
left: 0;
width: 100%;
height: 45%;
background: linear-gradient(to top, rgba(0,0,0,0.8), rgba(0,0,0,0));
z-index: 1;
}
@media (max-width: 500px) {
#SECTION-ID-HERE .sqs-block-image .design-layout-poster .image-card-wrapper::after {
height: 40% !important;
}
}
Tip: Adjust the gradient height or opacity for lighter or darker effects depending on your image brightness.
Step 6. Make It Full Screen (Optional)
If you want the featured header to fill the full viewport height:
Switch to Fluid Engine, select the section, and enable “Fill Screen.”
Adjust spacing by dragging the image boundaries until it visually balances with your content.
Bonus: Use the Trick on Other Pages
This pseudo header method isn’t limited to your blog page. You can:
Add a “Featured Article” banner on your homepage.
Highlight client case studies or new launches.
Create a rotating featured section using multiple linked poster blocks.
It’s a lightweight, code-friendly approach that enhances both design and engagement.
Final Thoughts
While Squarespace does not natively provide a “featured post” function at the moment, it is an elegant workaround providing professionals and bloggers to use.
It’s fast to implement, easy to update, and totally flexible. You can, at any time, change the image or link to highlight a different article.
Here at Squareko, we find ways to break that mold, such as using good old HTML tables to create new functionality that isn’t available on Squarespace by default, without knowledge of coding or CSS.
Looking for a Squarespace blog that looks a little nicer?
The Squareko design team is available to work with you on ad styles, animations, and features that present your content in a visually appealing and strategic way.
Book a Free Consultation →
Frequently Asked Questions
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Yes. Though Squarespace doesn’t have a “featured post” feature in the dashboard, you can make your own using the one special pseudo header trick. It requires first adding the Poster Image Block, just link it to your preferred blog post, and place it above your Blog list for a featured look.
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The pseudo header trick is a great layout hack that styled a linked Poster Block to act as a header to feature a blog post prominently. When you combine this with the light CSS styling around it (think hover or gradient effects), easily build for yourself a professional editorial-style hero section on top of your blog post.
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Very little CSS is needed, just hovers for transitions and some overlays for gradients to make text readable. These can even be added by a beginner safely under Design → Custom CSS. It makes your featured post look shiny, and you don’t need to do much coding.
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Yes. The layout is fully responsive. If you'd like, you can use this mobile-friendly CSS snippet I've included so that your gradients and text placement scale well on mobile devices. Mobile preview is always used to fix padding and font sizes to make them more readable.
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Absolutely. You can use the same pseudo header trick on your homepage, portfolio, or landing pages to showcase new content, announcements, or case studies. It’s a versatile and reusable technique that gives any page a strong, curated look.
