Squarespace SEO | A Simple Guide to Squarespace SEO for Beginners
Are you a creative entrepreneur, small business owner, or a blogger wanting to know how to improve your Squarespace site traffic and rank higher on Google?
If you've heard about SEO as a potential solution, but aren’t sure how to use SEO to increase traffic to your Squarespace site, you're not alone. The world of SEO can seem complex and daunting, especially at the beginning.
Here, I break the basics of SEO down into simple, digestible steps for you in this post.
Here is your simple guide to Squarespace SEO for beginners:
How do search engines, like Google, work?
Starting from the very beginning, how do search engines (like Google, Yahoo, and Pinterest) actually work? With billions of websites online, without a central directory or home for them all, search engines are constantly “crawling” website content. They use “crawlers”, like curious ladybugs, to scan websites carefully and collect information about the content. This process of exploring website content and gathering data is known as “indexing”.
What SEO?
On-page SEO (i.e., Search Engine Optimization) aligns your content and website with what searches are looking for and how they look for it. Optimizing your website pages and their content helps Google’s search algorithm connect searchers with you and your offerings.
Why does on-page SEO matter for small business site traffic? Does my business need SEO to improve traffic?
SEO is a powerful long-term strategy for enhancing your website’s visibility on search engines, drawing in your target demographic. By integrating SEO into a well-designed website, your online platform can solidify its presence on search engines, positioning your business as a credible authority over time. What sets SEO apart is its cost-effectiveness and efficiency in capturing your desired audience, compared to traditional paid advertising methods, ultimately boosting your return on investment and giving you back time to do thinks you actually love.
Business websites (especially for entrepreneurs and small businesses) need SEO to thrive. With millions of active websites, without SEO, it’s likely your competitors will outrank you for keywords relevant to your business.
How does Google index & rank content? How can I increase SEO on Squarespace?
Search engines use powerful algorithms to help searches find what they are looking for quickly. The search algorithm considers a number of factors, including key factors such as keywords, website quality, and backlinks.
As mentioned, the search engine algorithm has a number of key criteria to index and rank your content. When learning and applying SEO to your website as a beginner, there are a few criteria that impact your SEO more than others. Let’s familiarize ourselves with the following terms:
Relevance: Your content should align with what searchers are looking for and how they are looking for it (i.e., keywords!).
Keywords (more on this in the next section, it’s THAT important): SEO is pretty much impossible without keywords. Keywords help search engines connect searches with your content. Crafting keywords and incorporating them into your on-page SEO strategy is paramount.
Meta descriptions: Impactful descriptions about each website page that tell search engines exactly what the searcher will find on that specific page.
Internal links: Connecting your site pages and resources by adding internal links is like “voting” for that content or page in Google’s view. As well, internal links direct visitors around your website. Keeping site visitors on your website is a huge win in Google’s book.
Alt text: Since Google can’t see your pictures, adding alt text to each image helps add context for search engines as to what your website/page are about.
Page speed: No one likes a slow website. A slow website often encourages visitors to leave and increases your website’s “bounce rate” (i.e., the percentage of visitors who navigate away from the site after visiting only one page). Keeping visitors on your website is a “plus” to the search engine algorithm. Some ways to keep your website working quickly include:
Optimizing image and file sizes
Limit clutter and unnecessary content
Choose a quick website design platform (like Squarespace!)
Limit the number of redirects
What are SEO keywords?
SEO keywords (also known as key phrases) are essential components of online content creation that converts.
Keywords are specific phrases entered by searchers into search engines to discover relevant information.
The strategic use of SEO keywords in website content, blog posts, and product descriptions is crucial for boosting search engine rankings. Crafting these keywords thoughtfully increases visibility, ensuring that individuals seeking those terms can easily locate your offerings. Successful integration of SEO keywords can significantly enhance your online presence and attract the right audience to your platform.
There are two types of keywords:
“Short-tail” keywords consist of one or two words (e.g., Website Designer)
“Long-tail keywords” are phrases that incorporate 3 to 7 keywords to describe you, what you offer, and where you offer it (e.g., Website Designer for Entrepreneurs in Calgary)
The difference is very important. It’s most likely you will not rank on the first page of Google for a short tail keyword. Long tail keywords provide search engines more information about you, and help the algorithm find you and your content more easily. Therefore, your focus should be on creating and applying long tail keywords that speak to your unique offerings.
Does Google automatically scan my website? How do I make sure Google finds my site?
Once you launch, with the many millions of websites that are out there, it may take Google a while to find and scan your content. That’s where Google Search Console comes in! Google Search console is a completely free service that manages your site's visibility in Google search results. To ensure your Squarespace website is located and reviewed (aka “indexed”), you will first link your domain and verify your site with Google Search Console. This step is non-negotiable; without it, your SEO efforts will be for nothing, yielding zero online traction. So, prioritize getting this set up if you haven't already!
Although connecting your domain and verifying your site with Google Search Console may seem daunting, I can assure you it's a straightforward process with a lot of tutorials and information online.
Here’s how to connect & verify your site with Google Search Console:
Log into your Squarespace website.
Connect Via Your Google Account:
In the Home Menu, navigate to Settings, then scroll down to the "Third Party Accounts" section and select Connected Accounts.
Click "Connect Account."
From the Connected Accounts menu, choose the account you wish to add (Google).
Log in with your account credentials and click "Authorize."
It's a quick process—literally taking a couple of minutes—so don't hesitate; take care of it now!
Does social media affect my Google ranking? Will posting on social media more often help me rank higher on Google?
Although social media can be a valuable tool to establish a following, it can take a lot of time and energy to create content for. And, unfortunately, it is not a factor in Google’s ranking algorithm. Google doesn’t take into account number of followers or engagement when determining website rankings. Leaning in to your websites on-page SEO, incorporating key algorithm factors we’ve talked about (i.e., crafting and implementing keywords throughout your content, optimizing your images, adding meta descriptions, etc.) to your website can help improve your Google ranking and grow your business.
That’s your simple guide and intro into Squarespace SEO for beginners!
This guide scratches the surface on Squarespace SEO and its power to rank your business higher on Google. Building a website is one thing, but building a site that get’s noticed and grows your business is another!
If you want to learn more about SEO, improve your Google rankings, and increase traffic FAST, then check this out!
