Squarespace Google SEO: 8 Simple Steps to Help Your Website Show Up on Google
"Is Squarespace actually any good for SEO?"
I get asked this a lot! And the short answer is yes.
Squarespace takes care of a lot of the techy stuff for you behind the scenes. Every site comes with a sitemap, an SSL certificate and mobile-friendly templates as standard.
But Google still needs a little help understanding what your business does and who it's for. That bit is down to you.
The good news? You don't need to be techy to do it. Here are the eight Squarespace SEO steps I go through on every website I build, so you can work through them on yours.
How to improve your Squarespace Google SEO
1. Know your keywords
Before you change a single setting, have a think about what your customers are actually typing into Google.
It's usually simpler than you'd expect. Something like "wedding photographer Suffolk" or "dog groomer Ipswich". Pick one main keyword for each page, so every page has its own little job to do.
Top tip, keyword doesn’t actually mean one word, it’s usually three or four words together as a phrase, it’s just rather stupidly called a keyword.
2. Write your SEO titles and descriptions
These are the blue headline and short description people see in Google search results.
Squarespace lets you set them for your whole site and for every individual page. Keep titles under 60 characters with your keyword near the start, and write descriptions that make someone want to click.
Top tip is to ask your AI buddy for help with this, but don’t forget to tell it the keyword you’d like to rank for!
3. Use your headings properly
Each page should have one (and only one!) main heading (your H1) that includes your keyword. Then use smaller headings (H2s and H3s) to break up your content.
It makes your page easier to read for people, and much easier for Google to understand.
4. Tidy up your URL slugs
Your URL slug is the bit after your domain name, like /website-design.
Make sure they're short, use real words and include your keyword. Squarespace sometimes adds things like "-1" to the end, so it's worth a quick check! If you change a slug, set up a 301 redirect from the old one so you don't lose any traffic.
5. Add alt text to your images
Alt text is a short description of what's in an image. It helps people using screen readers, and it helps Google understand your images too.
Top tip, If you head to your Squarespace homepage and find the SEO settings, you can automatically generate and add alt text to all your images in one go!
While you're at it, keep your images under 300 KB so your pages load nice and quickly.
6. Link your pages together
Internal links help Google find its way around your website, and they keep visitors clicking.
So if you mention your services in a blog post, link to your services page! And vice versa.
7. Connect Google Search Console
This is the free Google tool I think every Squarespace website needs. It shows you exactly what people are searching to find you, and flags any problems Google has with your site.
Squarespace makes it really easy to connect, and you can ask Google to index your site once it's set up. I've written a whole post on it here.
8. Set up your Google Business Profile
If you work with local customers, this one is a must. It's what gets you showing up on Google Maps and in those local results at the top of the page.
Add your business details, a few photos, and ask happy customers to leave you a review.
Top tip, you can use Elfsight to embed your Google Reviews directly onto your website like I have on my homepage!
Squarespace Google SEO FAQs
Is Squarespace good for SEO?
Yes! Squarespace includes an automatic sitemap, SSL and mobile-friendly templates as standard. You just need to add the right keywords, titles and descriptions so Google knows what you do.
How long does it take for Google to find my Squarespace website?
It can take anything from a few days to a few weeks. Connecting Google Search Console and requesting indexing can help speed things up.
Why isn't my Squarespace website showing on Google?
It might be brand new and not indexed yet, or your pages might be missing keywords, titles and descriptions. Search Console is the best place to start, as it'll tell you exactly what Google can and can't see.
Want a hand with your Squarespace SEO?
SEO can feel like a lot, but a little bit of time on these steps really does make a difference.
If you'd rather hand it over, my Expert Day is six focused hours on your Squarespace site, and SEO is one of my favourite things to tackle. Or if you're starting from scratch, every bespoke Squarespace website I build comes with SEO set up from day one.
Any questions at all, please do get in touch!