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Are you a creative professional with a Showit website that isn't ranking as high as you'd like in search results? I've got you covered!

As an SEO strategist, I see my fair share of website issues when potential clients come knocking on my virtual door.

There are a lot of Showit websites online that are drop dead gorgeous, but they’re lost in the abyss of the internet.

If that’s your website, don’t worry. Most problems I see are small issues that can be fixed with a few tweaks and tools.

In this post, I’m breaking down Showit SEO tips to help your website improve its ranking on Google.

Ready to reach more potential clients on autopilot?

Let’s dive in!

SEO explained

SEO, or search engine optimization, is a method of increasing traffic to your website and improving your website's rankings in search engines.

In simpler terms, you can think of it as a way to help Google understand what your website is about so that it appears in the search results for the people who are looking for services similar to yours.

The more organic traffic you get to your website, the easier it is to attract ideal clients and customers for your services and digital products.

When you implement key SEO strategies, such as incorporating relevant keywords, meta descriptions, alt tags, and compressing images, for example, you now have a better chance of ranking on page 1 of Google for years.

It's a very attractive marketing strategy compared to the fleeting attention your Instagram Stories might get, so it's definitely worth looking into!

Is a Showit website good for SEO?

Absolutely!

With Showit, you get total creative freedom with its drag-and-drop interface while still being able to integrate SEO into your website content seamlessly.

For example, Showit includes options to rename your images and page titles, provide clear and concise descriptions of your site's content (what users will see below your site's title in the search engine results page), and much more — all of which are essential for higher rankings.

It's a combination that allows you to craft a visually stunning design without compromising on the functionality of your website.

Implementing SEO on your Showit websites

Now you might be wondering, “well, Lauren, how do you optimize SEO on a Showit website?”

Don't worry, it's truly not as complicated as many of us make it out to be. ;)

There are various aspects of your website that you can optimize to help you rank higher on search engines like Google:

• Title tags

• Meta descriptions

• Website copy

• Images

Let’s dive into each one…

Title tags

Title tag is a technical term for the title of a page. These are known as “page titles” in Showit.

Even if this sounds foreign, you’ve most likely seen it before. The page title is the text that appears in the browser window of an internet tab.

For example, you should see at the top of your browser that the tab you’re in right now is showing the title of this blog post.

Typically, your title tag has the following format: [page main keyword] | Brand Name

Your home page is the opposite, in this format: Brand Name | Page Main Keyword

Here are some examples:

• Home page: Mary Ellen Photo | Houston Wedding Photographer

• Services page: Houston Wedding Photography Services | Mary Ellen Photo

You can do keyword research to identify the best and most aligned keywords for each main page of your website.

Remember: Keep your title tags concise and compelling. Aim for a length between 50-60 characters to ensure they they don't cut off in search engine results pages (SERPs).

How to add to your Showit website: click on the page you want to edit and then SEO Settings. You’ll see an empty box for Page Title.

Meta descriptions

A meta description is a quick snippet about your page or blog post.

Although it’s recommended to include a keyword in your meta description, Google doesn’t “crawl” this SEO element the same way as the others.

Meta descriptions actually don’t directly impact your website’s ranking. They impact click through rate (CTR), which then impacts SEO.

When writing your meta description, it’s extremely important that they read as full sentences in plain language. You’re simply stating what the page (or blog post) is about. 

Here’s an example of the meta description or my homepage. You’ll see my URL, followed by the title tag and the meta description below.

How to add to your Showit website: same as above, you’ll click on the specific page, SEO Settings, and then the Meta Description box. Enter your info here.

Add keywords to your website copy

Each main page of your website (i.e. home, about, and services) should have a specific main keyword in mind.

Start by identifying relevant and highly searched terms related to your photography, wedding industry, or other creative business. Use keyword research tools like Ubersuggest or Semrush to find popular keywords with low competition (if possible).

By knowing who you are trying to reach and what they are searching for, you can select keywords that align with their needs and interests. Additionally, analyzing competitor websites for keyword ideas can provide valuable insights into what keywords are working well within your industry.

Once you identify that keyword, you want to find areas to add it into the copy on the specific page it's associated with. Don't forget to include it in your page titles, headings, meta descriptions, and image alt tags as well.

You want to be careful with this step because it can easily lead to spammy SEO.

For a typical website page, it’s realistic to only get 2-3 mentions of the keyword on the page before it starts to negatively impact the user experience and its performance on search engine results (SERPs).

When writing copy for these pages, naturally incorporate the chosen keyword while maintaining readability and flow. This strengthens the SEO value of your website content and makes it easier for search engines to crawl and index your site.

Image size

Image size is a very important SEO element because adding dozens of large photos to your website can dramatically slow down the load speed.

This creates a poor user experience and increases bounce rate (the number of people who leave your website after viewing only one page).

Ensure all your banner images are below 500KB. Other images should be as small as possible - below 200KB if possible.

There are a few different ways to do this:

1. Change the dimensions of the image on your desktop first. Banner images should be max 2000-2500px wide. Other images are optimal around 1500px wide or tall.

2. Use JPEGmini to reduce images further without impacting the quality (free trial but the paid plan is so worth it for photographers or other creatives who have lots of portfolio pieces for their website)

3. Use tinyJPG to reduce images further without impacting the quality (free and allows up to 20 images at once)

This blog post includes more detailed information about resizing images.

Note: Showit does have a auto compressing feature when you upload your images, but I think it's still a good idea to have your images somewhat resized before you upload them. If they appear blurry on the website, then you can reupload them as a bigger size.

Image file name

True or false: you rename your images every single time before uploading them to Showit. Was it the latter? Don't worry - nearly everyone forgets this step!

Whether your images are from your photographer or a stock photo website, you’ll need to adjust their file name for SEO.

Showit has a built-in feature for images (except banner images that take up a canvas background) where you can rename your images.

I prefer to change image file names on my desktop before uploading them in the backend of the website, but you do have the option of doing it later on.

Your image file name can be written with your keyword followed by a descriptor of the image.

Example for a coach: online business coach -  woman holding coffee mug.jpg

See how simple that is?! I promise SEO is more straightforward than you think ;)

How to add to your Showit website: inside Showit, select an image on your screen and click on the image tab on the right. There, you’ll see the option to edit the SEO Title.

Image all text

I know you may be wondering “what’s the difference between file name and alt text for images?”

They’re both readable by Google, and you can include your main keyword in both.

However, alt text is used for accessibility purposes. So it’s best to put your descriptor first (I sometimes elaborate on this) followed by your keyword.

Using the same example above, here’s an alt text option: woman smiling and holding white coffee mug - online business coach

Avoid leaving alt text tags empty as they provide important context for visually impaired users and search engines.

How to add to your Showit website:  follow the same steps as above. Below SEO Title, you’ll see the option to add a custom Description. Enter your alt text here.

Add a blog to your Showit website

Some people think blogging is dead, but I'm here to tell you that is not true.

In fact, blogging is more relevant than ever, particularly in the business world of content marketing.

I know people who have built multi-million dollar businesses from content marketing alone (with barely a social media presence).

Blog posts are evergreen pieces of content that can live on page 1 of Google for years. They strengthen the authority of your website and attract ideal clients who are actively searching for your services.

Read more: 7 Reasons to Be Blogging for Your Business

Don't believe me? I’ve ranked at number 1 for “Squarespace SEO expert” and it didn’t happen by accident.

It was a result of producing a couple dozen blog posts about Squarespace SEO - how else would Google see me as an expert on a topic and deem me worthy of this ranking position?

See how that all works?

With that said, this is your invitation to add a blog to your Showit (affiliate link) website.

It's one of the most powerful tools you have at your disposal. You can write helpful articles for your audience and use keyword research to find specific topics to write about.

Keyword research ensures that you’re writing blog posts on topics that people are searching for.

Check out these other blogging resources:

• How to Repurpose Content For Your Business Blog

• How to Format Your Blog Posts for SEO and Optimal User Experience

• Blog Post Writing Hack: How to Improve SEO and Easily Expand Your Content

• 6 Top Blogging Tips for Photographers

Does Showit have analytics?

This is a common question I wanted to address.

The short answer is no. Unlike Squarespace, Showit does not have a built-in analytics dashboard.

However, you can still easily connect your Showit website to Google Analytics and Google Search Console (both of which are free).

Have you conducted an SEO audit or used any of these SEO tips on your Showit website?

If not, what are you waiting for?! Page 1 ranking is right around the corner for you.

Looking for support in creating an SEO strategy for your coaching or creative business?

Click the link below to learn more!

Looking for more blogging and SEO tips? Check out these blog posts:

• What is an SEO Blog Writer?

• Is SEO Worth the Money?

• Is Showit Good for SEO?