Why SEO matters in website design: there's no point having a website if no one can find it
Here's something I say a lot, to clients, at workshops, to anyone who'll listen really...
There is no point having a beautiful website if no one can find it.
You can have the loveliest fonts, the dreamiest photos and copy that makes people want to book you on the spot. But if your website isn't showing up when someone in Suffolk searches for exactly what you do, it's a bit like opening a shop on a street nobody walks down.
That's where SEO (search engine optimisation) comes in. And as a Squarespace website designer, it's the part of my process I'm most passionate about, because it's the part so many websites miss.
The problem with how most small business websites get built
When you need a website, there are usually three routes:
Ask someone to build it for you (a friend, a family member, a cheap freelancer)
Use an AI website builder
Pick a template and do it yourself
All three can give you something that looks nice. I totally get the appeal!
But typically, none of them put SEO first. A template doesn't know who your ideal customer is. AI doesn't know what people in Ipswich are actually typing into Google. And if the person building your site isn't thinking about search, it simply won't happen.
The result? A website that exists, but sits on page five of Google where nobody ever goes. For a small business, that's a real loss: missed enquiries, missed bookings, and a lot of time and money spent on something that isn't working hard for you.
For me, SEO has to be woven through the whole build, right from the very first chat.
It starts before I design a single page
Before any project begins, I sit down with my clients for an in-depth chat. I want to truly understand:
Your business and how it works
Your offer and the services you want to sell more of
Your ideal customer, and how they'd describe what they're looking for
Where you are, and the areas you want to be found in
If you already have a website, I'll also look at your existing statistics. Which pages get visits? What are people searching to find you? Where are they dropping off?
All of this helps us decide on the keyword (or search term) your website should focus on. That might be "wedding planner Suffolk" or "holistic therapist Colchester". It's the phrase your ideal customer types into Google, and it becomes the thread that runs through everything else.
How SEO runs through my whole website design process
Once we know the keyword, it shows up at every stage.
The copywriting prompts. I guide you through writing your website content with prompts designed around your keyword and your customer. That way your words sound like you, and they also tell Google exactly what you do and where.
The backend set up. Behind the scenes on Squarespace, I set up page titles, meta descriptions, clean URLs, image alt text and file names, and make sure your site is mobile friendly and quick to load. You'll never see most of it, but Google does.
The on page SEO. Headings in the right order, keywords placed naturally (no awkward stuffing!), internal links between your pages, and clear calls to action so visitors know what to do next.
It's all connected. Good design keeps people on your site, and good SEO gets them there in the first place.
The things that help your website (that aren't on your website)
Some of the most useful SEO work happens off your site, so I help with that too:
Google Business Profile. Setting it up (or tidying it up) so you show on Google Maps and in local searches. For businesses around Ipswich and Suffolk, this one is huge.
Google Search Console. Connecting your website so Google can find and index your pages, and so you can see which searches you're appearing for.
5 blog topic recommendations. Every client gets five blog ideas picked specifically to boost their SEO. Blogging gives Google fresh content and gives you more chances to show up for the questions your customers are asking.
That way you leave with a website that's ready to be found, and a clear little plan for keeping the momentum going.
Scared of SEO? You're not the only one
I speak to so many small business owners who feel a little overwhelmed by SEO. It sounds technical, there's a lot of jargon, and it's hard to know where to start.
That's completely fine! Part of my job is helping you understand it, in plain English, so you feel confident about what's been done and why. No question is a silly one.
What I'd really love you to take away is this: choosing who builds your website (and what they build it on) matters. Pick the wrong person or the wrong platform, and SEO might not even be thought about. For a small business, that can be the difference between a website that brings in enquiries and one that just sits there.
Ready for a website people can actually find?
If you're a small business owner in Ipswich or anywhere in Suffolk and you'd like a website that looks lovely and gets found, I'd love to chat.
My Squarespace website design packages start from £950 for a one-page website and £1,850 for a full 5-page website, and SEO is built into every single one. Already have a Squarespace site that isn't getting found? My Expert Day could be a great fit.
Get in touch and let's get you found!