Prepare Your Squarespace Site for an SEO Audit
Getting your Squarespace site ready for an SEO audit doesn't have to be complicated. It's about covering the basics properly and making sure everything's working as it should. Here's what you need to focus on before someone takes a proper look at your site's search performance.
### TL;DR:
- Check your page titles and meta descriptions are doing their job
- Make sure keywords appear naturally in your content
- Keep your navigation simple and URLs descriptive
- Test your site speed and mobile performance
- Set up Google Analytics and Search Console tracking
- Review your site structure for logical flow
Getting Your SEO Basics Right
Start with the fundamentals. Your page titles need to tell people exactly what they'll find on each page. Make them clear and specific rather than clever or vague.
Meta descriptions matter too. These are the snippets that appear under your page titles in search results. Write them like you're convincing someone to click through to your site. You've got about 160 characters to work with.
Keywords should feel natural in your content. Don't stuff them in everywhere – search engines spot this and it makes your writing sound robotic. Focus on creating genuinely helpful content that uses relevant terms where they make sense.
Sorting Out Your Site Structure
Your navigation should be obvious to anyone who lands on your site. If visitors can't figure out where to go next, search engines will struggle too.
Keep your URLs simple and descriptive. Instead of /page-1/, use something like /about-us/ or /services/web-design/. This helps both users and search engines understand what they're looking at.
Make sure your most important pages are easy to reach. If someone has to click through five different menus to find your main service pages, that's a problem.
Checking Performance
Page speed affects everything. Slow sites frustrate visitors and get penalized by search engines. Test your site on different devices and connections to see how it performs.
Mobile responsiveness isn't optional anymore. Your site needs to work properly on phones and tablets. Squarespace templates handle this well, but it's worth checking your specific content doesn't break the mobile layout.
Setting Up Your Tracking
Google Analytics and Google Search Console are essential tools for any SEO audit. If you haven't connected them to your Squarespace site yet, do it now. You'll need at least a few weeks of data before an audit can tell you much.
These tools show you which pages get the most traffic, where visitors come from, and what search terms bring people to your site. They also highlight technical issues that might be holding you back.
### FAQs
Can I customize advanced SEO settings in Squarespace?
Squarespace covers the basics well, but advanced customization options are limited compared to platforms like WordPress. You can handle page titles, meta descriptions, and basic schema markup, but complex technical SEO modifications aren't possible.
Do Squarespace templates help with SEO?
Yes, Squarespace templates are built with clean code and mobile responsiveness, which supports good SEO. The templates handle technical basics like site speed optimization and proper heading structures automatically.
How long should I wait before getting an SEO audit?
Give your site at least 4-6 weeks of live data before an audit. This gives tracking tools enough information to identify patterns and issues worth addressing.
### Jargon Buster
SEO – Search Engine Optimization. Making your website easier for search engines to understand and rank.
Meta Descriptions – Short summaries that appear under your page titles in search results. They help people decide whether to click through to your site.
Keywords – Words and phrases people type into search engines. Your content should include relevant keywords naturally.
Google Analytics – Free tool that tracks website visitors, showing where they come from and what they do on your site.
Google Search Console – Google's tool for monitoring how your site appears in search results and identifying technical issues.
### Wrap-up
Preparing for an SEO audit is mostly about getting organized. Make sure your basic SEO elements are in place, your site works well for visitors, and you're tracking the right data. Most issues that come up in audits are fixable within Squarespace's capabilities.
The key is being systematic about it. Work through each area methodically rather than trying to fix everything at once. Once you've got the foundations solid, an SEO audit can help you identify the specific improvements that'll make the biggest difference.
Ready to take your Squarespace skills further? Join Pixelhaze Academy for in-depth training and ongoing support.