Is Squarespace Good for SEO? A Review Of Squarespace SEO Features

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Having a website isn’t just a nice-to-have, it’s essential for business blogging. And if you're using Squarespace, you may wonder if it can hold its own regarding SEO. With so many platforms vying for attention, understanding how Squarespace stacks up in 2024 can give your business the edge it needs to stand out. This article will break down the platform's SEO tools and features so you can make an informed choice.

As you assess Squarespace's capabilities, Feather's notion to blog can be a game-changer. Streamlining content creation helps you focus on what matters most: reaching your audience and growing your business.

What Is Squarespace? Understanding Squarespace & Its Uses

Is Squarespace Good for SEO

Squarespace began as a simple blog hosting service in 2003. Fast forward a few years, and it was pulling in a cool $1 million in revenue by 2006. Today, with its sleek templates and user-friendly interface, Squarespace powers around 3 million live websites.

Undoubtedly, designers, artists, and photographers flock to it. Whether you want a business website, an eCommerce store, or a personal blog, Squarespace makes it easy.

Building Websites Without Code

You don’t need to know how to code to build a website with Squarespace. It's as simple as:

Creating an account

Picking a template

Customizing it to your liking

You get everything you need to get your site up and running, including:

Built-in eCommerce tools

Custom domain name

SSL certificate protection

Squarespace takes care of the technical details so you can focus on what matters most: your content.

Flexible Uses for Squarespace

Squarespace is versatile. You can create:

Business websites

eCommerce stores

Portfolios

Blogs

Event or nonprofit websites

Its flexibility and ease of use make it a top choice for individuals and businesses of all sizes. Whether you're a creative professional or a small business owner, Squarespace has the tools you need to succeed.

Is Squarespace Good for SEO

Squarespace is a decent choice for SEO if your needs are simpler. It offers:

Customizable page titles

Meta descriptions

Clean URLs

Thanks to its automatic XML sitemap, you won’t have to worry about search engines having trouble crawling your site. All Squarespace templates are mobile-responsive, which is crucial since Google’s algorithm factors in mobile-first indexing. You get built-in SSL certificates, letting search engines know your site is secure and improving your SEO performance.

Squarespace: When It Fails to Deliver for Advanced SEO Needs

Squarespace is fine for basic SEO but has limitations for advanced SEO needs. If you need full control over your site’s structure and schema markup, or want to use third-party SEO tools, Squarespace might not be the best choice. You’ll want to look at platforms offering more flexibility and control to compete in tough SEO environments.

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Squarespace SEO Issues

Is Squarespace Good for SEO

The Speed Struggle: Squarespace’s Performance Woes

Website speed can make or break you in competitive niches. With Google’s 2021 core web vitals update, site speed became a significant ranking factor. Squarespace sites typically load in 3-5 seconds, but the ideal range is 1-2 seconds.

Navigating Squarespace Speed Limitations

Unfortunately, achieving this on Squarespace is almost impossible. While you can improve speed by compressing images and limiting animations, you may still see warnings from tools like PageSpeed Insights or Mobile-Friendly Test. Though, speed is just one factor. Your site's speed shouldn't hold you back if your content and link-building strategies are on point.

Schema Markup: A DIY SEO Headache

Structured data is crucial for helping search engines understand your content. Squarespace auto-generates schema markup, but there are issues. For instance, if you use a text logo instead of an image, the image field for local business schema will be empty, which isn’t ideal. Plus, Squarespace doesn’t offer product data feeds, so your products won’t get rich results like:

Price

Rating

Description in search

To fix these issues, you’ll need to manually add schema markup to your site’s code.

Template Turbulence: Squarespace’s Inconsistency Problem

Squarespace 7.0 templates have different underlying code, leading to template-specific SEO issues. For example, the Forte template codes headlines as body text instead of H1-H3 on index pages, while the Bedford template has also received negative feedback.

Squarespace 7.1 aimed to fix this by streamlining templates, but it doesn’t yet have all the features of 7.0. For instance, adding social sharing buttons to blog posts is easy in 7.0, but it requires custom code in 7.1. These discrepancies will likely be resolved as Squarespace 7.1 evolves.

Plugin Paucity: Squarespace Lags Behind

Squarespace has fewer SEO plugins than competitors like Wix and Shopify, which have extensive app stores. You can install apps like Yoast for extra help, but the options are limited. This can be a problem if you’re looking to add advanced SEO features to your site.

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Squarespace SEO Tools & Features Checklist

Is Squarespace Good for SEO

Site Title: The Key to Instant Recognition

A site title is the first impression you give search engines and users alike. It sits at the top of every page, giving a quick snapshot of your website's purpose. Keep it concise and packed with keywords for maximum effect. Squarespace lets you easily customize your site title, so make it count.

Google Index: Getting Noticed by the Giant

Google’s bots are always on the prowl, indexing web pages to serve up in search results. You can sit back and wait for them to find you, but proactively requesting indexing through Google Search Console speeds up the process. While Squarespace doesn't initiate this for you, Google will eventually catch up.

Bing Webmaster Tools: Broadening Your Search Horizons

Just like Google, Bing has its own criteria for indexing websites. You can verify your Squarespace site with Bing and Yahoo to ensure you're visible on these platforms. But take note: you’ll need to do this manually by connecting through your Webmaster account.

Meta Title: The Search Result Showstopper

Think of the meta title as your page’s headline in search results. It’s a critical HTML element that tells everyone about your page. In Squarespace, every page and post has a section for crafting this vital piece of text. Make sure it’s clear and concise.

Meta Description: The Persuasive Snippet

A well-crafted meta description is like the opening line of a great novel. It expands your meta title and persuades users to click through to your page. You can edit this in Squarespace in the Page Settings section. Keep it under 155 characters for best results.

Custom URLs: Clarity and SEO in One

Custom URLs are your chance to make web addresses descriptive and memorable. Squarespace auto-generates URLs based on page titles, but you can easily tweak them for clarity in the Page Settings. A straightforward URL like “example.com/article/squarespace-seo-guide” beats a random string of letters and numbers daily.

Headings: Structuring Content for Clarity

Headings and subheadings break up your content, making it easier for both users and search engines to understand. Squarespace supports H1s through H4s, which may seem limiting compared to other builders with H6s. Still, you can craft digestible, well-structured content within these parameters.

Image Alternative Text: Making Visuals Accessible

Alternative text is vital for describing images to search engines and users with visual impairments. This text appears if an image fails to load and offers an easy way to boost your site’s accessibility. Squarespace makes it straightforward to add alt text to each image.

Speed and Uptime: Keeping Your Site Running Smoothly

Fast, reliable websites rank higher in search results. Squarespace performs well in this regard, boasting a 0.5-second server response time, better than the recommended 0.6 seconds. While no platform can promise 100% uptime, Squarespace comes close.

Mobile Friendly: Catering to On-the-Go Users

Squarespace sites are designed to be mobile-friendly, which is crucial since Google prioritizes mobile-first indexing. You can tweak your site’s mobile version from the editor; every template comes with a touch-friendly mobile version.

301 Redirects: Keeping Users on Track

Changing a page URL? No problem. 301 redirects ensure users reach the right page even if they’re using an outdated address. You can set these up in Squarespace under Developer Tools in the Advanced Settings.

SSL Encryption (HTTPS): Securing Your Site

An SSL certificate is a must-have for any website. It establishes a secure link between the web server and browser, protecting your data. Squarespace provides free SSL certificates to all its domains, giving you peace of mind.

Sitemap: Guiding Search Engines Through Your Site

A sitemap is like a blueprint for search engines, helping them understand your site’s structure. Every Squarespace site includes a sitemap that updates automatically as you make changes. You can view it by adding ‘/sitemap.xml’ to your URL.

Google Analytics: Tracking Your Success

Google Analytics is a powerful tool for gaining insights into your site’s performance. This freemium service offers a wealth of information from traffic data to user demographics. Connect your Squarespace site in the External Services section of Advanced Settings.

Google Search Console: Monitoring Search Performance

This free tool lets you see how your site is performing in search results. Once set up, you can find which keywords are driving traffic to your site. Pair it with Google Analytics for even deeper insights.

Squarespace offers built-in functionalities for connecting your site with various social media platforms. This not only boosts your SEO but also helps you reach a broader audience. You can link to networks like Instagram and Facebook, which appear as icons on your site.

Canonical Tags: Preventing Content Duplication

Canonical tags help search engines focus on one version of a page, preventing duplicate content issues. Squarespace automatically adds these tags, but you can’t edit them directly from the editor.

Structured Data: Enhancing Search Results

Structured data provides search engines with specific information about your pages. Squarespace implements some types automatically, but additional options require manual code injection. This can influence how your site appears in search results.

Should You Use Squarespace for Your Website?

Is Squarespace Good for SEO

Squarespace makes sense for those who want to build a website quickly without needing technical skills. With its drag-and-drop interface and modern templates, you can easily assemble a site. Since it's all bundled, you don’t need to worry about hosting or design.

This makes it handy for small businesses, freelancers, and creatives who just want to focus on their work. Squarespace offers tools for:

Updating content

Basic SEO

e-Commerce

Plus, the templates are mobile-responsive, and SSL encryption is secure.

Squarespace’s Customization Limits

While Squarespace keeps things simple, it can be frustrating if you want more control over your design. Compared to platforms like WordPress, which lets you tweak and adjust almost everything, Squarespace can feel restrictive.

You might find yourself hitting a wall if you need specific features or third-party tools. Sure, it’s a solid choice for those who prioritize ease of use, but advanced users or those with more specific needs might prefer a more flexible platform.

Squarespace Cost Considerations

Squarespace isn’t always the cheapest option, especially if you’re looking at e-commerce features. The platform simplifies the process of building and managing a site, but it can get pricey as you add on more features. Keep this in mind when budgeting for your project.

Is SEO Better on WordPress or Squarespace?

Is Squarespace Good for SEO

When we talk about SEO, WordPress is often the first choice due to its flexibility and power. It gives you tons of plugins and tools to tweak every aspect of your site for SEO. But this same flexibility comes with challenges. You need to manage:

Plugins

Updates

Potential security issues

A Comparison of SEO Capabilities

Squarespace, on the other hand, provides a more streamlined experience. It offers good SEO capabilities that are out of the box and require less maintenance. If you follow best practices and use the right template, you can achieve similar SEO results to WordPress, minus the hassle of backend issues.

Are You Stuck with Squarespace’s SEO Limitations?

If you’re using a Squarespace template that’s holding you back, you might consider switching templates. But often, the best move is to focus on producing excellent content and following a solid content strategy. This will usually do more for your SEO than switching platforms.

Considering Something Other Than WordPress?

WordPress is powerful, but it can be overwhelming. If you’re looking for something simpler, but find Squarespace limiting, consider Feather. Feather offers an SEO-friendly platform for blogs and email newsletters, with a unique twist: you can publish directly from Notion.

This eliminates the need for coding or design skills. Plus, you won’t face the same plugin, update, or hosting issues you would with WordPress.

Choosing the Right Platform Comes Down to Your Needs

Whether WordPress is the right choice depends on your:

Goals

Technical skills

Willingness to learn

If you want a highly customizable site and don’t mind the complexity, WordPress is a great option. But if you need something more straightforward, there are plenty of alternatives to consider.

Streamline Your Content Creation with Feather

Run your blog and newsletter with Feather today! Create a new account and send emails from Notion, or go from notion to blog in minutes!

18 Tips for Boosting SEO on Squarespace Sites

Is Squarespace Good for SEO

1. Craft Winning Page Titles and Descriptions

Start by optimizing your page titles and meta descriptions. Think of them as your first impression on search engines and users. Keep them clear, concise, and packed with relevant keywords. This will tell search engines what your page is about and help users decide if they want to click.

2. Create Content That Matters

Regularly update your site with fresh, valuable, and original content. This keeps users engaged and signals to search engines that your site is active and relevant. Think blogs, articles, or any content that adds value to your audience.

3. Embrace Relevant Keywords

Incorporate relevant keywords naturally into your content. But don't overstuff them. Focus on delivering valuable information that resonates with your readers. This makes your content more appealing to search engines and your audience.

4. Simplify with Readable URLs

Create user-friendly and descriptive URLs for your pages. This not only helps users understand your content but also makes it easier for search engines to index your pages. Keep them short and to the point.

5. Optimize Images for SEO

Use descriptive file names and add alt text to your images. This improves accessibility and helps search engines understand the content of your images, which can improve your site's overall SEO.

6. Structure with Heading Tags

Properly structured content is easier to read and understand. Use H1-H6 heading tags to organize your content. This helps users navigate your page and allows search engines to grasp its structure.

7. Improve Page Loading Speed

Speed matters. Optimize your site’s loading speed by reducing unnecessary elements and optimizing images. Google favors fast-loading sites and provide a better user experience.

8. Boost with Internal Linking

Use internal links to connect relevant pages within your site. This improves navigation and helps search engines crawl and index your content more effectively.

9. Leverage Your XML Sitemap

Squarespace automatically generates an XML sitemap. Ensure it's up to date and submit it to search engines via Google Search Console. This helps search engines understand your site’s structure and index your pages.

Link your site to your social media profiles. Social signals can indirectly influence your SEO by driving traffic and engagement. Plus, it helps build your brand's online presence.

11. Enhance with Structured Data

Use structured data (schema markup) to provide additional context about your content to search engines. This can improve how your content appears in search results and increase your visibility.

12. Avoid Duplicate Content

Ensure your content is unique across pages. Duplicate content can confuse search engines and negatively impact your ranking. Focus on originality and providing unique value to your audience.

13. Monitor with Analytics

Integrate Google Analytics and Google Search Console with your site to track performance, traffic sources, and keywords. This data is invaluable for refining your SEO strategy and making informed decisions.

14. Prioritize User Experience

Aim for a user-friendly and intuitive website design. A good user experience can indirectly affect your SEO by influencing metrics like bounce rate and time on site. Make sure your site is easy to navigate and accessible.

15. Add Credibility with External Links

Include authoritative external links when relevant. This adds context and credibility to your content, which can improve your SEO and provide additional value to your audience.

Stay active on social media to increase brand visibility and indirectly impact your SEO. Share content, engage with followers, and build your online presence.

17. Keep Up with SEO Trends

Stay informed about SEO trends and algorithm changes. SEO is always evolving, so it’s crucial to adapt your strategies as needed to stay competitive.

18. Explore SEO Plugins

While Squarespace has built-in SEO features, consider exploring third-party SEO plugins for more advanced options. SEOSpace is a great option to help you boost your rankings on search results.

Go From Notion to Blog With Ease Today With Feather

Feather is revolutionizing how businesses approach SEO and content creation. Imagine writing your blog content on Notion and then automatically publishing it to your Feather blog. Feather allows you to run a subfolder blog, think domain.com/blog instead of blog.domain.com, because a subfolder is way better for SEO.

Feather enables companies to manage their websites and Notion to blog, offering the HubSpot experience without the steep learning curve. With Feather, you can customize your design with:

Collect emails

Collaborate with your team during the publishing process.

Feather also allows you to set up and send newsletters to your email subscribers directly from Notion. Run your blog and newsletter with Feather today.

Is Squarespace Good for SEO?

Regarding SEO, Squarespace is often criticized for its lack of flexibility and customization options. Nevertheless, Squarespace can be a powerful tool for improving your website’s search engine ranking with the right approach.

One of Squarespace's main advantages is its:

Clean

Responsive design, which is crucial for SEO

Squarespace offers built-in SEO features, such as customizable meta tags and descriptions and creating a custom URL structure.

Squarespace’s limited integration options can be a drawback for more advanced SEO strategies. Squarespace is a solid choice for SEO, especially for small businesses and individuals looking to create a professional-looking website quickly and easily.