SEO Setup For A Squarespace Website
Getting your Squarespace website onto Google doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. By setting up just a few essentials, you can improve your site’s visibility and be better prepared if you ever decide to work with an SEO expert. These steps will help you build a solid foundation for your website’s search engine optimization (SEO).
SEO Titles and Descriptions
Adding SEO titles and descriptions to your pages helps search engines understand what your content is about. It’s not a guarantee that it will use your suggested titles and descriptions, but it gives you a chance to guide how your site appears in search results.
Here’s how to set them up:
For Your Homepage:
Go to Settings > Marketing > SEO > SEO Appearance.
Update the SEO Title and Description fields.
The default SEO title often includes placeholders like
%s, which pulls your site’s title automatically. Replace this with something more descriptive if needed, but keep it clear and relevant.
For Other Pages:
Navigate to Pages and click the gear icon next to each page.
Under the SEO settings, fill in the title and description for each page.
Use terms people might search for, but don’t overstuff keywords. Aim for a readable paragraph that naturally describes the content on the page.
Hide Pages You Don’t Want Indexed
Not every page on your site needs to show up on search engines. For example, internal pages like 404 pages, Instagram link pages, or policy pages.
To hide a page:
Go to the page’s settings, click the gear icon, and navigate to the SEO section.
Toggle on the option to Hide page from search results.
If the page is something only you or your team should see, like a private template, you can also disable it entirely. This prevents access for both search engines and users.
Page Structure and Headings
Page structure is a big deal for SEO. And here’s the thing: headings aren’t just for looks they also help search engines understand your content.
Make sure each page has only one Heading 1 (H1). Think of it as the title of your page.
Use supporting headings like H2s and H3s to break content into sections and make it easier to read.
Use Alt Text for Images
Alt text serves two critical functions: accessibility and SEO. Accessibility ensures your website is usable for those with visual impairments, and from an SEO perspective, alt text gives search engines more context about your content. When adding images, describe what’s in the photo. Instead of leaving it blank or using file names like "image12345.jpg," write something helpful like, "Yellow flowers in a field with a person wearing a black shirt." Alt text makes your website more inclusive and reinforces relevant keywords in a natural way.
Keep URLs Simple and Neat
Your URL slugs (the part of the web address after your main domain) play a role in SEO. They should be short, descriptive, and free of random numbers or words. For example, if you’re creating a blog post about “Squarespace Development Tips,” your URL slug should look something like /squarespace-development-tips instead of /blog123456. Be sure to fix duplicate or messy slugs, especially when you copy pages or posts. If you rename a URL, use a 301 redirect to send visitors from the old address to the new one to prevent broken links.
To set up URL mapping:
Go to Settings > Advanced > URL Mapping.
Add entries in the format: /old-url -> /new-url 301.
For a full guide on how to use URL mapping in Squarespace check out this blog post.
Check for Broken Links
Broken links can frustrate users and hurt your SEO ranking. Regularly check your site for broken links. If you’ve updated a page or renamed a URL, use redirects to ensure users land on the correct page instead of a 404 error.
Submit Your Site to Google Search Console
Google will eventually find your website on its own, but registering it with Google Search Console speeds up the process. It’s a free tool that lets you submit your sitemap and monitor how Google is indexing your website.
To get started:
Go to Google Search Console and sign in with your Google account.
Add your website and verify ownership.
Submit your sitemap, which you can find at /sitemap.xml (e.g., www.yourwebsite.com/sitemap.xml).
You can also connect your site to Bing Webmaster Tools for broader visibility.
Use Analytics to Track Your Progress
Once your site is registered, connect your Squarespace analytics with Google Search Console. This will show you the keywords people are searching for to find your site.
To set it up:
Go to Analytics > Traffic > Connect Google Search Console.
This data is incredibly valuable if you decide to work with an SEO expert later. It helps them refine your strategy using real search data from your site.
Update Your Content Regularly
Search engines like websites that are updated frequently. Adding blog posts, new pages, or fresh content signals that your site is active. It also gives visitors more reasons to stick around. Make it a habit to review your site every so often for updates, check links, and post fresh content.
In Conclusion
SEO on Squarespace doesn’t have to be intimidating. By focusing on the basics, titles, descriptions, alt text, clean URLs, and regular updates, you're giving your site the best chance to appear in search results. Follow these steps, and you'll not only help search engines find your site faster but also improve your visitors' experience.
