- SEO on Squarespace is straightforward but requires consistent effort on content and settings.
- Optimise your page titles, descriptions, and URLs to improve Google rankings.
- Use Squarespace’s built-in SEO tools and monitor your site’s performance to refine your strategy.
How to Boost Your Google Rankings with Squarespace SEO
Getting your website found on Google feels like hunting for treasure. But unlike pirate maps, Squarespace gives you plenty of tools to help X mark the spot. If you want your website to show up in search results and who doesn’t? SEO is your best mate.
Search engine optimisation (or SEO for short) is the process of improving your website so that search engines like Google rank it higher. When you rank higher, more people find your site and potentially become your customers. Squarespace, a popular website builder, makes SEO easy to use, even if you’re not a tech whizz. Let’s break down how to make the most of Squarespace SEO and get that Google traffic flowing.
1. Pick the Right Keywords: Speak Your Customers’ Language
Keywords are the words and phrases people type into Google. The first step is to figure out which keywords your customers use when searching for your products or services.
- Use tools like Google Keyword Planner or even the Google search bar’s autocomplete suggestions to find relevant terms.
- Focus on keywords with good search volume but low competition, you’re not competing against Amazon just yet!
- Think about what makes your business unique and include those phrases too.
Trade-off: Choosing broad keywords might give you more traffic, but they’re also harder to rank for. Niche keywords attract smaller but more targeted audiences.
2. Optimise Page Titles and Descriptions: Your Website’s Shopfront Window
Your page titles and meta descriptions are like your shopfront window displays. If you don’t make them appealing and clear, people won’t come in.
Squarespace lets you customise both:
- Go to **Pages > choose a page > click on the gear icon > fill in the SEO tab.
- Keep titles under 60 characters and descriptions under 160 characters to prevent Google from cutting them off.
- Include your main keyword naturally in both.
Stats show that 50% of searchers click on the first organic result, so make your titles and descriptions count!
3. Use Clean and Custom URLs: Keep It Simple and Search-Friendly
A messy URL like `www.mywebsite.com/page?id=1234` isn’t going to help your SEO. Squarespace automatically generates clean URLs, but you can update them to be more keyword-rich and straightforward.
- Edit URLs in your page’s SEO settings.
- Use hyphens to separate words, Google reads these better.
- Avoid special characters or unnecessary numbers.
Clean URLs improve both user experience and search engine readability.
4. Optimise Images: Because Google Can’t ‘See’ Pictures
Google relies on descriptions (alt text) to understand images. Squarespace gives you the option to add alt text to every image, never skip it!
- Describe the image clearly and include relevant keywords where appropriate.
- Keep file sizes small to avoid slowing down your site; faster sites rank better.
A study found that slow-loading websites lose nearly 40% of visitors, so image optimisation is crucial.
5. Enable SSL and Mobile Optimisation: Google Loves Secure, Mobile-Friendly Sites
Squarespace includes free SSL certificates, so make sure yours is enabled (you want that little padlock in the address bar). Google favours secure websites in rankings and customers trust them more.
Mobile optimisation is equally non-negotiable, a whopping 60% of Google searches happen on mobile devices. Squarespace’s templates are responsive, but check your site on various devices to ensure everything works smoothly.
6. Submit Your Sitemap to Google Search Console
Squarespace automatically creates a sitemap (`yoursite.com/sitemap.xml`). Submitting it to Google Search Console helps Google find and index your pages faster.
- Sign up for Google Search Console.
- Add your website and submit the sitemap URL.
- This tool also shows how your site performs in search and highlights any SEO issues.
7. Create Quality Content Regularly: Content is Still King
Even with perfect SEO settings, you won’t rank without content worth reading. A blog or regular updates on your site help you target new keywords and engage visitors.
- – Write useful, relevant posts that answer your audience’s questions.
- – Use a friendly, conversational tone (no jargon!).
- – Include links to other pages on your site to keep visitors exploring.
Risk: Poor quality or duplicate content can hurt your rankings. Quality trumps quantity every time.
8. Monitor Your SEO and Adjust
SEO isn’t a set-and-forget job. Use tools like Google Analytics and Search Console to track which pages perform well and which need work.
- Watch your traffic sources.
- Check bounce rates and time on site.
- Adjust keywords and content based on what works.
Should You Do Squarespace SEO Yourself or Hire an Agency?
If you love learning and experimenting, handling Squarespace SEO yourself is doable. The platform’s user-friendly interface means you won’t feel stuck fiddling with code late at night. It also keeps costs down. However, it requires time, patience, and a willingness to keep up with evolving SEO rules.
Hiring a professional agency brings expertise, up-to-date knowledge, and the ability to craft strategies tailored to your business goals. Agencies can spot subtle SEO opportunities and mistakes you might miss. They’ll also save you time so you can focus on what you do best: running your business. Given that 70% of consumers ignore paid ads and trust organic search results more, getting SEO right can make all the difference.
Final Thoughts
SEO with Squarespace is like planting a garden. You prepare the soil (your website), plant the right seeds (keywords), water and tend (optimise content and settings), and watch it grow over time (improved Google rankings). With consistent effort and by using Squarespace’s handy SEO features, you can get more eyes on your website and grow your business online.
Need a little help getting started? We’re here to guide you through the process or take the reins so you can enjoy success without the SEO legwork.
Happy ranking!