Squarespace On-Page SEO Basics
Learning Objectives
By the end of this chapter, you'll be able to:
- Apply essential on-page SEO elements to your Squarespace site
- Use the SEOSpace Basics 2.3 checklist systematically
- Optimise meta tags, headings, URLs, and images for better search rankings
Introduction
Getting your Squarespace site's on-page SEO right from the start makes a real difference to how well it performs in search results. This chapter walks you through the essential on-page SEO practices using our structured SEOSpace Basics 2.3 checklist. These techniques work whether you're building a new site or improving existing pages.
Lessons
Lesson 1: Setting Up Meta Tags
Meta tags tell search engines what your page is about. Here's how to get them right:
Step 1: Open your Squarespace editor and select the page you want to optimise.
Step 2: Click on the gear icon to access page settings.
Step 3: In the SEO tab, write a title tag that clearly describes your page content and includes your main keyword.
Step 4: Create a meta description that summarises your page and encourages people to click through from search results.
Step 5: Save your changes and preview the page.
Keep title tags under 60 characters and meta descriptions around 155 characters. This ensures they display properly in search results without being cut off.
Lesson 2: Structuring Headings and URLs
Good heading structure helps both users and search engines understand your content:
Step 1: Use one H1 heading per page as your main topic.
Step 2: Follow with H2 headings for main sections, then H3 for subsections.
Step 3: Make sure each heading clearly describes the content that follows.
Step 4: For URLs, go to page settings and create a URL slug that includes key phrases from your content.
Step 5: Keep URLs short and descriptive.
Avoid stuffing URLs with too many keywords. Natural language works better and looks more professional.
Lesson 3: Optimising Images
Images affect both loading speed and user engagement:
Step 1: Compress images before uploading. Aim for file sizes under 500KB for web use.
Step 2: Upload your image and click on it to access image settings.
Step 3: Add descriptive alt text that explains what the image shows.
Step 4: Include relevant keywords in alt text where it makes sense naturally.
Step 5: Use Squarespace's built-in image editor to adjust size and quality as needed.
Good alt text helps with SEO and makes your site accessible to users with screen readers.
Practice
Pick one page on your Squarespace site and work through these steps:
- Update the meta title and description
- Check your heading structure (H1, H2, H3)
- Optimise the URL slug
- Add or improve alt text for all images
- Save and preview your changes
Monitor your site's performance over the next few weeks to see how these changes affect your search rankings.
FAQs
How do I find the right keywords for my Squarespace site?
Start with Google Keyword Planner or use SEOSpace's keyword research tools. Focus on terms your target audience actually searches for.
Do I need to optimise every page on my site?
Yes, each page should be optimised to give your site the best chance of ranking well overall.
What if my meta descriptions keep getting cut off in search results?
Shorten them to around 155 characters. Search engines sometimes show longer descriptions, but staying within this limit keeps you safe.
Can I change URLs after my site goes live?
You can, but it's better to get them right from the start. Changing URLs after launch can affect your search rankings temporarily.
Jargon Buster
On-Page SEO: Optimisation techniques applied directly to your website pages to improve search rankings.
Meta Tags: HTML elements that provide information about your page to search engines and don't appear on the page itself.
Alt Text: Brief descriptions of images that help search engines understand what the image shows and assist users with screen readers.
URL Slug: The part of your URL that comes after your domain name and identifies a specific page.
Wrap-up
The SEOSpace Basics 2.3 checklist gives you a solid foundation for optimising your Squarespace site's on-page SEO. Focus on getting your meta tags, headings, URLs, and images right, and you'll see improvements in how your site performs in search results.
Apply these principles consistently as you add new content or update existing pages. Next, we'll look at off-page SEO techniques to complement what you've learned here.
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