Squarespace Image Optimization for Better SEO

Learning Objectives

• Understand when manual image optimization makes a real difference to your Squarespace site's SEO
• Learn the practical steps for compressing and resizing images before upload
• Know how to write effective alt text and filenames that help search engines understand your content
• Identify which pages and images to prioritize for maximum SEO impact

Introduction

Your Squarespace site's images could be slowing you down without you realizing it. Large, unoptimized images are one of the biggest culprits behind slow-loading pages, and search engines like Google factor page speed into their rankings.

This chapter shows you how to get your images working harder for your SEO. We'll cover the manual optimization steps that can give your site a speed boost and help search engines better understand your content. While Squarespace handles basic image processing automatically, taking control of the process yourself can make a noticeable difference, especially if you're in a competitive market.

Lessons

Lesson 1: When Manual Image Optimization Makes a Difference

Squarespace automatically compresses images when you upload them, but this default processing isn't always optimal for SEO. Manual optimization becomes particularly valuable if you run an online store, have image-heavy content, or compete in crowded niches where every speed advantage counts.

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Here's how to assess whether your images need attention:

• Step 1: Run your homepage through Google PageSpeed Insights to see your current performance score
• Step 2: Look at the "Opportunities" section – if "Serve images in next-gen formats" or "Properly size images" appear, you've got room for improvement
• Step 3: Check your largest images first – these typically have the biggest impact on load times

The biggest wins usually come from optimizing your homepage hero images, product photos, and any images above the fold on key landing pages.

Lesson 2: Compressing and Resizing Images Before Upload

Getting your images ready before uploading them to Squarespace gives you much more control over quality and file size than relying on automatic compression.

Follow these steps for each image:

• Step 1: Resize your image to match its display size on your site – there's no point uploading a 2000px wide image if it only displays at 800px
• Step 2: Use an image compression tool like TinyPNG, ImageOptim, or Squoosh.app to reduce file size while maintaining quality
• Step 3: Aim for JPEG files under 100KB for most web use, or under 200KB for hero images where quality is crucial
• Step 4: Consider WebP format for even better compression – Squarespace supports this on newer templates

Keep your original files backed up somewhere safe. You might need them later for different purposes or if you want to try different compression settings.

Lesson 3: Writing SEO-Friendly Filenames and Alt Text

Search engines can't see your images, but they can read your filenames and alt text. This is your chance to help them understand what your images show and how they relate to your content.

For filenames (before you upload):

• Step 1: Rename files to describe what they show – change "IMG_1234.jpg" to "handmade-ceramic-mug-blue.jpg"
• Step 2: Use hyphens between words, not spaces or underscores
• Step 3: Keep it concise but descriptive – aim for 3-5 relevant words

For alt text (added in Squarespace):

• Step 1: Click on any image in your Squarespace editor and select "Edit"
• Step 2: Add alt text that describes the image's content and purpose
• Step 3: Include relevant keywords naturally, but write for humans first
• Step 4: Keep it under 100 characters when possible

Good alt text example: "Blue ceramic coffee mug on wooden table" rather than "Mug product photo image ceramic kitchen"

Practice

Choose one important page on your site – either your homepage or a key product/service page. Work through these steps:

1. Take a screenshot of your current Google PageSpeed Insights score for that page
2. Identify the 3-5 largest images on the page
3. Download and re-optimize each image using the compression and sizing steps above
4. Replace the images in Squarespace with your optimized versions
5. Update the alt text for each image
6. Wait 24 hours, then run PageSpeed Insights again to measure the improvement

Document what you did and the results. This gives you a template for optimizing other pages and helps you see what works best for your site.

FAQs

How much difference will image optimization actually make to my SEO?
The impact varies, but faster-loading pages consistently rank better than slow ones. If image optimization improves your load time by even half a second, that can translate to better user engagement and higher search rankings over time.

Should I optimize every single image on my site?
Start with the images that matter most – your homepage, key landing pages, and any images that appear "above the fold" when pages first load. These have the biggest impact on user experience and SEO.

What's the best image format for Squarespace SEO?
JPEG works well for photos, PNG for graphics with transparency, and WebP for the best compression. Squarespace 7.1 supports WebP, which can reduce file sizes by 25-35% compared to JPEG.

How do I know if my alt text is good enough?
Read it out loud. If it clearly describes what someone would see in the image and makes sense in the context of your page content, you're on the right track.

Jargon Buster

Image Compression – Reducing an image's file size by removing unnecessary data while keeping it visually acceptable

Alt Text – Short descriptions of images that help screen readers and search engines understand image content

Above the Fold – The part of a webpage visible without scrolling – these images load first and impact user experience most

WebP – A modern image format that provides better compression than traditional JPEG or PNG files

PageSpeed Insights – Google's free tool for measuring how fast your webpages load on desktop and mobile devices

Wrap-up

Image optimization might seem like a small detail, but it's one of those behind-the-scenes improvements that can genuinely impact your site's performance. The key is being systematic – focus on your most important pages first, measure your results, and build up your optimization skills over time.

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Remember that this is an ongoing process, not a one-time fix. Each time you add new images to your site, run them through your optimization workflow. Your visitors and search engines will both appreciate the faster, more accessible experience.

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