13 Squarespace SEO Tips to Rank at the Top of Google [Updated for 2024]
As a coach or creative entrepreneur, you know the importance of having a great website. But what good is a website if no one can find it?
That's where search engine optimization (SEO) comes in.
In this post, I’ll explain the top Squarespace SEO tips for ranking in the Google top 10 for coaches and creatives. From understanding Squarespace SEO to off-page optimization and tracking results - I've got you covered!
So what is SEO? SEO is the process of optimizing your website to rank higher in search engine results pages (SERPs).
Squarespace offers a variety of built-in features for SEO optimization for your website. However, it's up to you to use these features correctly and implement SEO best practices to improve your website's ranking in Google.
Squarespace is sometimes looked down upon for SEO, but as someone who has been working in the industry since 2016 and is seen as an SEO expert, I can tell you it's more about the quality of your content and how well you optimize your website versus the platform itself.
Why is ranking in the Google top 10 important?
Studies show that the first page of Google captures 71% of search traffic clicks, while the second page only captures 6%. That's why it's crucial to aim for the top 10 search results.
Before you can start optimizing your Squarespace website....
1. Do keyword research
The first step in optimizing your Squarespace site for SEO is to conduct keyword research.
This involves finding relevant keywords that your target audience is searching for and incorporating them into your website content (we’ll get to that later).
Use keyword research tools like Ubersuggest, Semrush, and Keywords Everywhere to identify high-traffic, low-competition keywords related to your niche.
These keywords should be:
Terms relating to the work that you do (ie "business coach for women") that you can use for your core pages (about, portfolio, services, etc)
Topics that you teach/consult on through your services (ie "find clients online," "create an Instagram strategy," "niching tips," etc) that you can use for blog posts
It’s important to search for long-tail keywords.
If you're attempting to rank for just one keyword, then you probably compete with strongly reputable websites like the New York Times and Huffington Post. As your chances of ranking as an online business owner are very limited, you should avoid concentrating on just one keyword. You won't even find it worth your time and effort.
Rather, you should concentrate on long-tail keywords if you want Google to rank your website. Three words or more make up a long-tail keyword phrase.
Because these keywords are more specialized in niche, there will be less volume and competition, which is why you should concentrate on them. In simple terms, there is a significant increase in the likelihood of appearing in searches on Google.
For example, if you're a photographer, then don’t try to rank for "photographer" or "photography". Rather, you should narrow down on the kind of photography you do and/or the area you serve. As an example:
Destination wedding photographer
Boston family portraiture
Engagement and wedding photos in Dallas
Suppose you work as a coach. Once more, you shouldn't attempt to rank as a "coach." You might want to use the following long-tail keyword examples instead:
Online entrepreneurs looking for a business mentor
A business mentorship program for imaginative business owners
Entrepreneurial mindset coach
Individual fitness instructor
Moms' fat loss coach
Create a bank of keywords where you note these metrics:
Keyword
Search volume (the number of people searching for that term each month)
Difficulty/competition (how hard it is to rank for that term)
Search intent (“informational” keywords are perfect for blog posts and “commercial” keywords are great for products and services)
2. Assign a primary keyword and secondary keywords to each page
In your keyword bank, you should have noted keywords for your core pages and blog posts.
Based on your research, you want to identify the primary keyword for each core page. It’s important to note that each core page should target a different keyword so that they don’t compete with one another in the search results.
These should be keywords that:
Have at least 100 searches per month (unless you’re in a super specific niche)
Have a competition below 50
Have commercial intent
This keyword will be used throughout the specific page’s SEO settings. Note any additional keywords with lower search volumes that are related to your primary keyword.
Once you have your keyword bank and assigned keywords, then you're ready to get started!
Understanding On Page Squarespace SEO
To rank in Google's top 10, your Squarespace website needs high-quality content and effective on-page optimization.
Let’s dive in…
3. Add keywords into your page content
When it comes to Squarespace SEO, the quality of your content and keywords play a crucial role in determining search engine ranking.
Insert your primary keyword and secondary keywords into the copy of each core page.
Here are some tips to optimize your copy for better rankings…
Only include your primary keyword as many times as it sounds natural.
Many business owners make the mistake of adding it into every other paragraph, which sounds spammy and creates a horrible user experience. For a 1,000 word services page, I wouldn’t include the keyword more than 3-4 times.
Include the primary keyword in your heading tags.
There should only be one H1 tag on your website. It helps to tell Google what the main context of your page.
Try to put the keyword in your H1 - if not, include it into at least one H2.
4. Optimize Your Page Title Tags
Title tags are crucial elements for Squarespace SEO.
A well-written title tag can grab the attention of potential visitors on the Google search results page and also provides more context to Google about the contents of the page.
Include your primary keyword in your title tag to improve your chances of ranking higher on Google searches.
The common format to follow is this:
Homepage: [business name] - [keyword]
Other pages: [keyword] - [business name]
For instructions on adding an optimized title tag to each page of your website, check out this blog post: How to Add a Title Tag to Your Squarespace Pages
5. Write compelling meta descriptions
Meta descriptions are also an important SEO element for websites. They provide a brief summary of what your page is about to give context to people scrolling through Google.
Although they don’t directly impact ranking, they do impact CTR (click through rate).
Here are some tips:
Meta descriptions should be short and concise - under 155 characters.
Write them as 1-2 full sentences, not fragments or a place to stuff keywords.
Include your primary keyword or a variation of your keyword since Google will commonly bold the keyword.
Click here for instructions on adding a meta description to each page of your Squarespace website.
6. Set Up a Clean URL Structure
A clear and concise URL that includes the primary keyword further helps Google understand what your content is about.
A standard practice is including dashes between each word in your URL. Otherwise, Google will read it as one word.
For core pages…
You can keep your core pages as simple as “/services” or “/about”.
Sometimes, it will make sense to add folders into your URL structure. If you have multiple services pages that are linked to from one main services page, you can categorize them by adding a folder.
Here’s an example for a business coach:
yourdomain.com/services
yourdomain.com/services/group-coaching
yourdomain.com/services/private-coaching
yourdomain.com/services/mastermind-program
For blog posts…
You need to remove all unnecessary words from your URLs for blog posts. This includes dates of blog posts and transitional phrases (to, and, from, the, etc.). Your blog post URL should only contain the primary keyword of the page or post.
Let's take an example where your keyword is "breakfast foods with protein."
"10 high protein foods to eat for breakfast" might be the title of your blog post. Therefore, your URL would be https://yourdomain.com/breakfast-foods-for-protein.
This leads me to my next tip….
7. Create a Content Hub
Think of this as a blog where you create quality content for your readers and ideal clients. You can even repurpose podcast content into blog posts.
Writing strong content is the way you get to page 1 for certain keywords. You want to find the common ground between the content that supports your offers and what ideal readers are typing into the Google search bar.
Let’s dive into some best practices…
Content length and frequency
Your content should be in-depth, between 1,000 and 3,000 words, because Google wants to provide the best resources to its users.
Quality over quantity is key. That’s why creating a mass of 500 word blog posts isn’t recommended.
It would be more impactful if you wrote 2 long form blog posts a month than 1 a week that was super short.
You have to show Google that you are an authority on a topic, and writing short posts will not help you rank on page 1. Of course, you don’t just want to add more content to your blog post for the sake of it. It should be high quality content.
Content uniqueness
Additionally, Google wants to showcase unique information. Duplicate content is frowned upon, which is why you don’t want to copy other people’s work.
What you can do instead is take a look at what is already ranking on page 1 for the keywords you want to show up for and ask yourself...
How can I do better?
How can I make it more unique and add an extra spin on it?
How can I build off of this information?
That is how you can create better content.
Blog post titles
Your blog posts will have a low click-through rate if they have unclear titles. They won't click it if they don't understand precisely what they will learn by clicking through to your blog post.
One of the most common mistakes I see business owners doing is creating blog articles with unclear titles.
You need to be clear over clever. Someone asked me in a podcast interview...what if I want to make the title fun and entertaining?
Here’s what I have to say...without properly optimizing your blog post titles, you’re doing yourself a disservice.
Focus on a clear, straightforward and strategic title. Inside your blog post, then you can infuse your personality and write however you speak.
Listicles, or list articles (like this one) tend to do very well!
More resources:
8. Optimize All Your Images
There are a few different aspects of image optimization that are important for SEO.
Image sizing
High-quality images can attract potential customers and help your website stand out, but they can also negatively impact your website's load time.
To avoid this issue, it is important to optimize your images by reducing their file size without sacrificing image quality. This can be achieved through compression tools or using the correct file format.
This is critical because uploading large files (3MB - 20MB) to your website can severely slow down the site speed, which is a ranking factor.
Not to mention that a slow load speed can negatively impact the user experience.
You want horizontal images that will take up an entire background to be less than 500KB. For other images, you want to aim for much lower.
Here is my process for wide banner images:
Open the image in Preview on my Mac and manually adjust the size to 2000-2500 pixels wide (Tools - Adjust Size)
Drop the image in JPEGmini pro on my desktop
I first condense the image manually because it holds its quality very well up until 1500 pixels, which is why you don’t want to go lower than that.
Then, by using the other tools I mentioned, you’re able to condense the file size down even more without impacting photo quality.
That’s the key. Uploading blurry photos to your website and blog will only hurt your professionalism.
Using this process, I’ve been able to condense 20MB images to 300 KB or lower.
Read more: Squarespace Image Size: How to Resize & Optimize for SEO
Image file names
Another step to image optimization is to add keywords to the file name. The file name of the majority of photos you’ll find on a stock photo website or receive from your brand photograph is similar to "IMG_84329."
You should change the file name to include the keywords you are trying to rank for. When it comes to blog posts, I usually just put the keywords in here or copy and paste the title.
I usually find that it’s easier to rename your images before you upload them to Squarespace but you can also modify them within the image settings.
Image alt text
In addition to optimizing the file size of your images, it is also important to include relevant alt text and captions that accurately describe the content in the image.
Alt text helps search engines understand what an image is about, and caption assists in providing context for users who may not be able to see the image due to accessibility issues.
This is not a place to stuff your keywords but rather an area to describe what the image is in very simple words, such as: “flatlay of laptop and journal on desk” or “woman in downward dog pose on pink yoga mat.”
By optimizing your images, you improve user experience on your site while improving visibility on Google Search results pages through improved indexing of those visuals in Google Image Search results, as well as alongside regular web search results for relevant keywords.
9. Ensure Mobile-First Design
In today's digital age, having a mobile-first design for your website is no longer an option, but a must-have. With more people accessing the internet through their smartphones and tablets, search engines have adjusted their algorithms to prioritize mobile-friendly websites.
This means that if you want your Squarespace site to rank high in Google search results, then you need to optimize it for mobile.
To achieve a successful mobile-first design, use headings and subheadings throughout your content to make it scannable and readable on different devices. Focus on providing content that loads quickly even on slow connections.
Additionally, use Google Search Console to monitor how often Google crawls your site and detect any mobile indexing issues as soon as possible.
By prioritizing mobile design elements in your SEO strategy, you will increase the chances of converting traffic into leads from both coaches and creative entrepreneurs alike!
By paying attention to all the technical details mentioned in this section, you'll have a better chance at ranking in those top 10 positions!
Off-Page SEO and Link Building
Creating a strong off-page SEO strategy is crucial for ranking well on search engines. Link building is an essential part of this process, and it involves acquiring relevant backlinks from high-quality websites to your Squarespace site. One effective way to do this is through guest blogging, where you contribute articles to other sites in exchange for a link back to your own website.
Another important aspect of off-page SEO is social media marketing, which can help increase brand awareness and drive traffic to your Squarespace site. By creating engaging content that resonates with your target audience on platforms like Instagram or Facebook, you can attract new visitors while also building meaningful relationships with potential customers and clients.
10. Establish Local SEO
Claiming your Google Business Profile listing and optimizing it for local search is important to improving your local SEO. This will help ensure that potential customers in your area can find you when they search for relevant keywords.
In addition, including local keywords in website content, titles, and meta descriptions as mentioned above will also improve the chances of appearing at the top of results pages.
Other important steps to take include getting listed in popular directories such as Yelp or other local directories related to your industry
By doing so, you increase exposure and visibility among potential customers who are searching specifically for businesses like yours.
11. Backlinks and Guest Blogging
Researching relevant websites for guest posting opportunities and building relationships with industry influencers can be powerful strategies to secure backlinks.
By writing high-quality guest posts that provide value to the readership of the site you're writing for, you'll position yourself as an expert in your field.
Here are some tips for successful backlinking and guest blogging:
Utilize tools like Ahrefs or Moz to research websites within your industry that accept guest posts.
Craft compelling pitches tailored to each website's audience and guidelines.
Write informative, actionable content that provides value to readers while showcasing your expertise.
Include a natural link back to your own website within the post or author bio section (if allowed).
Reach out to key influencers in your industry through social media or email. Offer them something of value (like free resources) before asking for anything in return.
By implementing these tactics consistently over time, you can increase both traffic and authority on search engines like Google, ultimately growing your business and converting more leads.
Tracking and Analyzing Results
To truly understand the effectiveness of your Squarespace SEO efforts, it's important to track and analyze your results. By regularly reviewing this data, you can identify areas for improvement and adjust your strategy accordingly.
Keyword ranking and tracking tools like Ahrefs or SEMrush can give you valuable insight into how well specific keywords are performing on search engines.
Let’s dive in deeper…
12. Connect Google Analytics and Search Console
Google Analytics and Search Console are essential tools for any website owner looking to improve their Squarespace site's search engine ranking. Understanding the basics of Google Analytics can provide valuable insights into your site's traffic sources and user behavior.
Meanwhile, setting up Google Search Console allows you to monitor how your site appears in search results and identify any issues that may be hindering its performance.
By using Google Analytics, you can track which channels are driving the most traffic to your Squarespace site, such as organic search, social media, or paid advertising. You can also analyze user behavior on each page of your site to see where visitors are spending the most time and where they're dropping off. This information enables you to make informed decisions about optimizing your content for better engagement and conversions.
To set up Google Search Console for your Squarespace site, simply verify ownership by clicking into the “analytics” tab, then “search keywords,” and following the instructions in the dashboard.
You can also submit a sitemap. A sitemap is a file that lists all of the pages on your website. Submitting a sitemap to search engines can help them crawl. It’s a very simple process within Google Search Console.
Once verified, you’ll be able to see data in both the backend of Squarespace and your Google Search Console dashboard.
You'll have access to data on clicks from search results pages (SERPs), impressions, and click-through rates (CTRs) for specific keywords used in searches related to your business or industry.
13. Set Up Keyword Ranking and Tracking Tools
Tracking keyword rankings is an important aspect of tracking your SEO progress. Tools like SEMrush or Ahrefs make this process simple by providing real-time updates on how well your website is performing for specific keywords.
By keeping tabs on where you rank, you can fine-tune your strategy and improve results over time.
Analyzing competition keywords can give you valuable insights into new opportunities to target potential customers. Look for gaps in their targeting that you could fill with unique content or better optimization techniques.
With these tools at hand, coaches and creative entrepreneurs alike can take full advantage of Squarespace SEO tips to rank higher in Google's top 10 results pages!
To recap, here are some of the top Squarespace SEO tips to help rank your website on page 1:
Optimize your page titles, meta descriptions, and copy: Your page titles and descriptions should be concise, descriptive, and include your target keywords. Squarespace makes it easy to edit these elements on each page of your website.
Use SEO-friendly URLs: Squarespace automatically generates SEO-friendly URLs based on your page titles, but you can also customize them to include your target keywords.
Add alt text to images: Alt text is a description of an image that is used by search engines to understand what the image is about. Squarespace makes it easy to add alt text to your images.
Use header tags: Header tags (H1, H2, H3) help search engines understand the structure of your content. Use them to break up your content and include your target keywords.
Create a content hub: Blogging and adding valuable content to your website helps to establish you as an authority in your niche.
Off Page SEO: If you work with clients in your local area, be sure to create a Google Business Profile and submit your website for local directories. Submit guest posts to websites to get backlinks to your website.
Set up analytics: Connect your website with Google Analytics, Google Search Console, and SEO tools to track your progress with increasing traffic and ranking for more keywords.
Struggling to drive traffic to your website, grow your leads and make more sales?
After implementing SEO strategies for billion dollar global brands and high profile individuals, I help position my clients at the top of the Google search results so they can get seen by the people that need their services most.
Looking for more Squarespace SEO tips? Check out these blog posts: