Want More Traffic to Your Squarespace Site? Start With This SEO Checklist
If you’ve ever thought, “I just need more traffic to my website,” you’re not alone.
It’s one of the most common things I hear from service providers. But, more traffic only helps if your website is set up in a way that people can actually find it.
That’s where SEO comes in.
Now, if you’re brand new to SEO, don’t worry. We’re going to keep this simple and give you a high-level overview of what it is and why it matters.
And if you’re thinking, “Just give me the checklist,” I’ve got you too.
You can jump straight to the checklist here.
Let’s get into it.
What Is SEO?
SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization.
But all that really means is this
It helps your website show up on Google.
When someone types in something like “Squarespace website designer” or “therapist near me,” SEO is what helps your website appear in those search results.
So instead of you always having to go out and find clients, SEO helps clients find you.
Why Does SEO Matter?
To answer this question, think about it like this: you got an HOA notice to pressure wash your shutters… so you did what everyone does.
You Googled it.
Well, your dream clients are doing the exact same thing.
They’re already looking for the services you offer, so SEO helps you show up at the right time, in front of the right people.
It also builds trust.
People trust Google, so when your website shows up there, it gives you instant credibility.
And the best part, it keeps working over time.
Unlike social media posts that disappear after a day or two, SEO can bring people to your website for months or even years.
Why Social Media Alone Isn’t Enough
Listen, I love social media. It’s such a great tool for connecting and building your brand. (If you don’t follow me you should! @emberlynco)
But it shouldn’t be your only strategy.
Social media is rented space, meaning, you don’t control the platform, and the algorithm decides who sees your content.
And even when someone does see your post, they’re usually just scrolling. They’re not always ready to buy.
Google is different.
When someone searches for something, they are actively looking for a solution.
That’s a completely different level of intent.
Your website is your home base, SEO helps people actually find it.
SEO Doesn’t Have to Be Complicated
I think a lot of people avoid SEO because it sounds technical.
But it really doesn’t have to be.
You don’t need to be an expert to get started right now. You don’t need fancy tools. And you definitely don’t need to overhaul your entire website overnight.
Small, simple changes can make a big difference.
So let’s get into the checklist.
Squarespace SEO Checklist
Website Basics
Is your website mobile responsive?
Google looks at the mobile version of your website first.
So if your site doesn’t look good or function well on a phone, it can hurt your rankings.
Open your site on your phone and click through it. Make sure everything is easy to read, easy to tap, and not cut off.
Check your page load time
If your website takes too long to load, people will leave, and Google notices that.
You can check your speed here:https://pagespeed.web.dev/?utm_source=psi&utm_medium=redirect
If your site is slow, here are a few simple things you can do.
Compress your images
Remove anything you don’t need
Reduce the number of animations
URL & Navigation Structure
Use clean URLs with dashes
Your URLs should be easy to read.
Instead of this:
/squarespacewebsitedesign
Use this:
/squarespace-website-design
It helps both people and search engines understand what your page is about.
Only put necessary links in your main navigation
Your main navigation should stay simple.
Think of it like the highlights of your website. These should be the most important pages you want people to visit, like your home page, about page, services, blog, or contact page.
If you put too many links in your main navigation, it can feel cluttered and make it harder for visitors to know where to go next.
For links that are still helpful, but not essential, place those in your footer or naturally within sections of your website pages instead.
This helps keep your website feeling clean, focused, and easier to move through.
Make external links open in a new tab
When you link to something outside of your website, make sure it opens in a new tab.
That way, people don’t leave your site completely.
On-Page SEO Setup
Fill in SEO titles and meta descriptions
Every page on your website should have an SEO title and description.
This is what shows up on Google.
It should clearly explain what the page is about and include your keywords.
Use ONE H1 heading per page
Your H1 is the main title of your page.
You should only have one, and it should be the first heading someone sees.
This helps Google understand what your page is about.
Use H2–H4 headings correctly
Headings are not just for design.
They help organize your content and show what information is most important.
Think of it like an outline.
H1 is the main topic
H2 is a section
H3 and H4 break things down further (Just like in this blog post!)
Content Optimization
Add ALT text to every image
ALT text describes your images.
It helps screen readers and also helps Google understand what’s on your page.
Keep it simple and descriptive.
Make sure each page has at least 300 words
If a page doesn’t have much text, Google sees it as “thin content.”
That makes it harder to rank.
Aim for at least 300 words so your page has enough information to be useful.
Use keywords naturally in your content
Keywords are the words people are typing into Google.
You want to include those words in your website content, but in a way that feels natural.
Don’t overthink it. If it sounds like something your client would search, you’re on the right track.
If you zoom out, all of this comes back to one thing. Visibility.
When your website is set up with these basics in place, you give Google a clear understanding of what you do, who you help, and when to show your site.
And when that happens, your website starts working for you.
Not just sitting there, but actually bringing people in.
Ready to Take It a Step Further?
If you’ve been thinking,
“Okay but… what am I actually supposed to fix?”
I made something for you.
It’s called The Website Conversion Map, and it shows you what’s really going on after someone clicks onto your site.
Because most websites don’t have a traffic problem… they have a conversion problem.
Inside, I’ll walk you through:
Where people are dropping off
How your website should guide them instead
And the simple changes that turn visitors into inquiries
Once you see it, you can’t unsee it—and everything starts to click.
