How to Add Squarespace SEO Basics to Your Website Without Feeling Overwhelmed
Introduction to Squarespace SEO
Feeling overwhelmed when it comes to SEO? You are not alone! The good news is, you can make a huge difference with just a few simple changes. In this guide, we'll focus on the three most important things you can do for your Squarespace SEO. We'll show you exactly how to do SEO yourself by adding great meta titles, meta descriptions and URLs to your website and we will talk about heading heigherarchy and external links. This is all about practical steps and you don't need to be a Squarespace SEO expert to carry them out.
How to Choose a URL
What is a URL?
Your URL (or "slug") is the last part of your web address (e.g., yourwebsite.com/your-url-here).
How to Add your URL in Squarespace
In your Squarespace settings
Go to "Pages"
Click the gear icon next to the page you want to edit
Click on the "General" tab
You'll see a box that says "URL Slug
Type in a short, descriptive URL that includes your primary keyword. Use hyphens between words (e.g., express-squarespace-website)
Best Practices & Tips
Keep your URLs short and easy to read.
Avoid dates or random numbers.
Use your main keyword.
What is a Meta Title?
This is the name of your page that appears at the top of a Google search result. It's the first thing people see, so it needs to be catchy and clear.
How to Add your Meta Title in Squarespace
In your Squarespace settings
Go to "Pages”
Click the gear icon next to the page you want to edit
Click on the "SEO" tab
In the "SEO Title" box, type a clear title for your page
Best Practices & Tips
Keep it to around 55-60 characters. Anything longer might get cut off in search results.
Use a spacer to improve readability, keyword separation and brand placement.
Use your primary keyword, this is a crucial step.
What is an SEO Meta Description?
This is the short summary that appears right under your page title in search results. It's your chance to tell people why they should click on your page.
How to Add your meta description in Squarespace
Go back to settings and your SEO tab
Right below the SEO Title box, you'll see the "SEO Description" box
Type in a clear description of who you are and what you offer
Best Practices & Tips
Aim for a meta description length of around 150-160 characters. A good description is a mini-ad for your page, make it sound friendly and inviting.
Ensure you add the primary keyword you used in the title and any secondary keywords as well.
What is heading hierarchy?
Heading hierarchy is the way you structure your content using different levels of headings, from H1 down to H6. Think of it like a table of contents for your blog post or web page. The H1 is the main title, and each subsequent heading (H2, H3, etc.) represents a subheading or a new section within your content.
Why is heading hierarchy so important for SEO?
Heading hierarchy is crucial for SEO for several reasons:
Improves readability and user experience: A well-structured hierarchy makes your content easy to scan and digest.
Helps search engines understand your content: Search engine bots, like Googlebot, crawl your page and use headings to understand the main topics and subtopics of your content.
Provides context for keywords: Headings often contain keywords or phrases that are important to your content. By placing keywords in your headings, you're not only making them more prominent to readers but also providing search engines with strong signals about the most important topics on your page.
Creates a "featured snippet" opportunity: Search engines often pull content from a webpage to create a featured snippet, which is a short answer to a user's query that appears at the top of the search results page.
Best Practices and Tips
Use one H1 per page: Your H1 should be the main title of your blog post or web page. It should be unique, descriptive, and accurately reflect the content of the entire page.
Maintain a logical flow: Structure your headings in a natural, hierarchical order. Start with H1, and then use H2s to break up your content into major sections. Use H3s for subsections within your H2s. Avoid skipping heading levels (e.g., going straight from an H2 to an H4), as this disrupts the logical flow and can confuse search engines.
Incorporate keywords naturally: While it's a good idea to include relevant keywords in your headings, don't overstuff them. Your headings should still be clear, concise, and helpful for the reader.
What is Image Alt Text?
Image Alt text, or alternative text, is a short, written description of an image on a web page. It is part of an image's HTML code and serves two primary functions:
Accessibility: Alt text is read aloud by screen readers and other assistive technologies for users who are visually impaired. It provides them with the context and information conveyed by the image.
Fallback: If an image fails to load due to a slow internet connection or a broken link, the alt text will be displayed in its place, so users can still understand what the image was meant to show.
Why is it important for SEO?
Alt text is a critical component of on-page SEO for several reasons:
Image Ranking: Search engines like Google can't "see" images. They rely on alt text to understand what an image is about. By including relevant and descriptive alt text, you help search engines properly index your images.
Contextual Relevance: Alt text provides search engines with more context about the overall content of your page.
Improved User Experience: Accessibility is a major factor in modern SEO. A website that is easy for everyone to use, including those with disabilities, is seen as more valuable by search engines.
How to add Alt Text to your images
Open edit mode for your image
Click on your image
Click on your edit pen in top the left-hand corner
Add your filename
Add your alt text using advise from Best Practices & Tips below
Best Practices & Tips
Be Descriptive and Concise: Your alt text should accurately describe the image and its purpose within the context of the page.
Avoid Keyword Stuffing: While including keywords is important, don't force them into every alt tag. Use keywords naturally and only when they fit the image's description.
Don't Use Redundant Phrases: Screen readers will already announce that a graphic is an "image" or "picture." Avoid starting your alt text with phrases like "image of..." or "picture of..."
External Links
Why are External Links good for SEO?
External links, also known as outbound links, are hyperlinks that point from your website to a different domain. While it might seem counterintuitive to send users away from your site, external links are actually a valuable part of a strong SEO strategy. Here's why:
Builds Trust and Credibility (E-E-A-T): Linking to high-quality, authoritative sources shows both users and search engines that your content is well-researched and trustworthy.
Enhances User Experience: External links provide users with additional value and a richer experience. They allow you to point to supplementary information, original data, research, or further reading without having to create all the content yourself.
Boosts Topical Relevance: When you link to other websites that are relevant to your content, you help search engines understand the context and topic of your page.
Fosters Relationships and Can Lead to Backlinks: Linking out to other websites can get you noticed. When you consistently link to other experts or brands in your niche, they may see your content and be more likely to link back to you in the future.
Why should you ensure an external link opens in a new tab?
While there are arguments for and against opening external links in a new tab, here are some key reasons why many websites and SEO professionals choose this practice:
Keeps users on your site: When a user clicks on an external link that opens in the same tab, they are taken away from your website. By opening the link in a new tab, your original page remains open in the user's browser, making it easy for them to return to your content.
Improves user experience: From a user's perspective, it can be frustrating to accidentally navigate away from a page they were actively reading or working on.
Maintains your brand and content flow: You've worked hard to create a user journey on your website. When a user clicks an external link that takes them away, you risk losing the narrative you've built.
Conclusion
By focusing on these fundamental elements—your URL, SEO title, meta description, heading hierarchy, and alt text—you've laid a strong foundation. You don't need to be an expert to make a big impact.
Remember, SEO is a marathon, not a sprint. The key is to be consistent. Every time you create a new page or blog post, take a few extra minutes to apply these practices. You'll not only make your Squarespace site more visible to search engines but also create a better experience for your visitors.
Now that you've got the basics down, what's one small change you can make to your website today?
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