Examined: Is Squarespace Good For website positioning In 2021?

That is the second publish in our collection the place we take a look at the on-page website positioning of the world’s hottest CMS techniques.

Partly 1 we lifted the hood on Wix (conclusion: it’s getting higher for website positioning). This day out we’re specializing in Wix’s most important competitor within the “click on and go” small enterprise web site world; Squarespace, a CMS which at present powers 1.6% of internet sites globally.

Learn on to find:

• how properly setup for on-page website positioning Squarespace is out the field,
• how one can configure your Squarespace web site to rank increased in Google,
• the technical website positioning points we discovered on the platform

Let’s get began with a abstract.

In Abstract: Is Squarespace good for website positioning?

Like Wix, Squarespace’s most important attraction for small enterprise house owners is its fast and straightforward, “level and click on” method of organising an internet site. No technical data required, simply click on by the setup wizard and you’ll be on-line in a matter of hours.

It’s not likely a CMS designed to be tinkered with. It’s designed to get your corporation up and operating on the net. Quick. And it does that very properly.

However for these of us who wish to tinker — in search of the flexibility to optimize each factor of an internet site — that’s a giant downside.

So let’s get this out the best way:

If you happen to’re severe about website positioning optimization, Squarespace might be not a good selection.

You possibly can management some website positioning fundamentals. However there are both large gaping holes, or (we really feel pointless) hurdles to leap if you wish to get extra superior.

And every part that you simply can’t do to optimize your Squarespace web site is one thing {that a} competitor on a unique CMS may be capable of do to achieve a bonus.

website positioning is battle. And also you don’t wish to go using into battle on a horse, when your opponent is advancing in the direction of you in a tank.

We’re going to cowl intimately how Squarespace handles management of the website positioning fundamentals.

However first, right here’s a abstract of our findings.

How we examined Squarespace for website positioning optimization

We arrange a small web site on a Squarespace marketing strategy.

We selected a preferred theme and loaded the location with demo content material.

And we additionally examined two of the most well-liked themes listed right here.

The assessments included handbook assessment, operating the Squarespace websites by our personal website positioning audit instrument, and testing utilizing third celebration instruments similar to Google’s PageSpeed Insights and GTMetrix.

Squarespace website positioning: The great, the unhealthy, and the ugly

Earlier than reviewing Squarespace’s management of on-page website positioning components, let’s run by a few of the website positioning highlights (and lowlights) of the platform.

We’ll kick issues off with a optimistic.

Good: Squarespace’s HTML code is (comparatively) clear

It’s definitely not an website positioning deal breaker. However we imagine there’s a bonus to having clear, bloat free code on the entrance finish of your web site.

Visible web page builders can generate some critically ugly code. Wix is especially unhealthy for this.

Nevertheless we have been happy to see that the HTML code Squarespace generates is comparatively clear.

There’s nonetheless a little bit of “DIVception” (DIVs inside DIVs for no explicit purpose) with regards to format. However for content material, a paragraph is a paragraph, and a heading is a heading.

We may do with out the duplicated inline type for every tag. However no less than there’s no bizarre wrapping every paragraph in a div, and the textual content inside it in a span like this sizzling mess from Wix….

Squarespace’s HTML code isn’t good. But it surely’s undoubtedly not the worst we’ve seen.

Good: Easy integration with Google Search Console

Google Search Console can provide you useful perception into:

• the key phrases driving site visitors to your web site
• any points Google discovered whereas crawling it

However for non technical customers, organising and verifying Google Search Console generally is a little tough. Squarespace makes it simple.

Simply head over to Analytics > Search Key phrases, click on the button to attach with Google, permit entry, and also you’re accomplished.

Right here’s the total (extremely easy) course of.

Dangerous: Lack of management over superior website positioning options

Wish to edit your sitemap?

Can’t do it on Squarespace.

How about your robots.txt file?

Nope.

For many small enterprise websites this won’t be a problem. However we’d definitely like the choice.

And usually we discovered the platform to be missing with regards to management of any (even semi) superior on-page website positioning components.

Ugly: Squarespace websites are more likely to fail Core Internet Vitals

Google’s “Web page Expertise” replace may need been delayed, however it’s within the publish.

To recap, Web page Expertise assesses a number of UX and security measures (HTTPS, cellular pleasant, protected to browse) and measures pace and format stability by three “Core Internet Vitals” metrics.

You possibly can learn our full rundown on Core Internet Vitals right here.

And the unhealthy information is that — whereas ticking the UX and safety packing containers — our take a look at web site (and the favored themes we examined) all failed Core Internet Vitals large type.

Whereas Cumulative Structure Shift could also be fixable, the pace points are more likely to be tougher to beat as they’re primarily brought on by blanket loading of core scripts and types, even when not utilised.

Certainly unused javascripts accounted for over 3 seconds of whole load time.

Backside line:

Out the field, Squarespace websites are sluggish and more likely to fail Core Internet Vitals. We imagine that can have an more and more destructive impression on rankings over the approaching months and years.

On-Web page website positioning Fundamentals: How does Squarespace measure up?

Now let’s flip our consideration to regulate of a few of the basic on-page website positioning components.

Does Squarespace cowl all of them?

No. There are large gaps. And on high of that, sure on-page website positioning duties are tougher to do than they need to be.

Right here’s our abstract once more.

Be aware: having management of an website positioning rating issue isn’t equal to its optimization. website positioning audit instruments like Seobility provide recommendation on find out how to correctly optimize every factor, and discover errors in optimization which can be holding again your web site. See our website positioning audit information for extra data on find out how to totally optimize your web site.

website positioning Titles and Meta Descriptions

Management in Squarespace: sure

A web page’s title continues to be one of the essential on-page rating components. And a properly written meta description may also help you get extra click-throughs (though Google gained’t all the time use it).

Squarespace allows you to add and amend the website positioning titles and meta descriptions for every web page in your web site.

Simply click on the gear icon subsequent to the web page you wish to edit, then choose website positioning.

You possibly can edit your web page’s title and outline, and preview the way it will look in search.

Tip: for extra superior previewing (together with cellular preview), take a look at our free SERP Snippet Generator instrument.

All good to date. However we do have a minor(ish) grumble.

Squarespace allows you to arrange templated title codecs in your pages. Beneath you possibly can see we have now this set to “web page title (%p) — web site title (%s)” which is the default.

Advertising and marketing > website positioning > Search Look > Pages

That is helpful. And usually together with your model in your titles is a good suggestion.

So what’s the issue?

Effectively, you possibly can’t overwrite this title format on particular person pages. And if there’s a web page the place you wish to go for an extended, key phrase wealthy title, and take away your model identify to keep away from truncation…

…properly, you gained’t be capable of do it.

Which is slightly annoying.

Be taught extra about website positioning Titles and Meta Descriptions

Web page slug / URL

Management in Squarespace: sure

We advocate creating brief, descriptive, 2-3 phrase slugs, together with the first key phrase (or phrase) for every web page. Use hyphens to separate phrases.

You possibly can set the web page slug for every web page in your Squarespace web site within the “Basic” tab below settings.

Essential: should you change the slug for a web page, you’ll must arrange a 301 redirect to level the previous URL to the brand new one. This information from Squarespace covers find out how to do it.

Be taught extra about URL slugs/permalinks

Canonical URLs

Management in Squarespace: no

On smaller websites you most likely gained’t want to fret about this.

However when you have a collection of comparable pages in your web site — i.e. focusing on the identical key phrases, or with very small variations in content material — there could also be occasions whenever you’ll wish to set a canonical (grasp) URL.

This helps to keep away from duplicate content material points.

Sadly, whereas Squarespace will set a canonical URL for every web page in your web site mechanically, there’s no approach to edit it. Which form of makes it a bit pointless….

¯_(ツ)_/¯

Be taught extra about canonical URLs

Index management (robots meta tag)

Management in Squarespace: partial

The robots meta tag instructs Google to both index (1), or to not index (2) a web page:

1. <meta identify=”robots” content material=”index, observe”> – index this web page please Google
2. <meta identify=”robots” content material=”noindex, observe”> – ignore this web page please Google (however observe the hyperlinks on it)

You don’t really want the primary one as (assuming your web page meets their high quality requirements) indexing is Google’s default motion. But it surely doesn’t do any hurt to have it in place.

Squarespace allows you to add a noindex robots tag to an everyday web page by checking the “Disguise Web page from Search Outcomes” field.

However they don’t allow you to noindex particular person weblog pages…

For some purpose they’ve taken an “all or nothing” method within the weblog. Your solely choice is to noindex every part.

Not precisely excellent.

Be taught extra about index management

Heading Tags (h1, h2, h3 and many others)

Management in Squarespace: partial

Heading tags (h1, h2, h3 and many others) assist Google perceive the construction, and matter(s) of your web page.

They need to be correctly nested.

For instance, an h1 tag would usually be the principle matter (stage 1), an h2 could possibly be a subtopic (stage 2), and an h3 could possibly be a sub-sub matter (stage 3) and many others:

<h1>Pets</h1> (matter of the web page)

<h2>Goldfish</h2> (subtopic)

<h3>Caring in your goldfish</h3> (subtopic of goldfish)

<h4>Clear your fish’s tank often</h4> (subtopic of caring in your goldfish)

<h2>Cats</h2> (subtopic)

<h3>Caring in your cat</h3> (subtopic of cats)

Squarespace permits you to set heading tags from h1-h4.

Whereas this could cowl most content material, there are undoubtedly occasions whenever you may wish to go right down to h5, and presumably even h6.

So the platform setting this tough restrict could stop you from totally optimizing your content material.

Be taught extra about heading tags

Structured knowledge (aka schema)

Management in Squarespace: form of

Structured knowledge (also referred to as schema) may also help Google perceive:

• the kind of content material on a web page (i.e. recipe, assessment, product, article),
• the entity behind the web site (i.e. group),
• and may also be used to point out extra search options (wealthy snippets)

If you happen to’re not acquainted with structured knowledge and its impression on website positioning, we advocate studying our wealthy snippets information.

You possibly can add customized schema markup to an everyday web page on a Squarespace web site. However you’re going to should do it utilizing their “code injection” performance, which you’ll discover below “Superior” in web page settings.

Be aware: you’ll must generate the schema markup your self. We advocate this free instrument.

Somewhat unintuitive, however no less than it’s potential.

The unhealthy information nevertheless is there’s no code injection choice for weblog pages. Which implies you gained’t be capable of add customized schema (for instance FAQ or HowTo schema) to a weblog publish.

Be taught extra about structured knowledge and wealthy snippets

Picture website positioning

Management in Squarespace: sure

The three most essential parts of picture website positioning are:

• Alt textual content (description of the picture for display readers and engines like google)
• File dimension (smaller = quicker = higher)
• File identify (we advocate utilizing descriptive file names)

Let’s begin with a optimistic.

If you happen to neglect to make use of a descriptive filename, Squarespace will allow you to change it. Which is a pleasant contact.

Relating to optimizing your photographs although, you gained’t get a lot assist. Whereas Squarespace will mechanically create varied sizes for you, they gained’t compress or optimize your photographs.

And as for including alt textual content…

Effectively, you can do it. However they’ve made it a ridiculously convoluted course of.

It’s not fairly so unhealthy for inline photographs. They’ll use the caption (which you’ll cover) because the alt textual content.

For every other sort of picture, you’ll must seek the advice of this information.

Wouldn’t an alt textual content subject have made issues a bit of simpler @squarespace?

Be taught extra about picture website positioning

HTTPS

Does Squarespace run over HTTPS? sure

HTTPS has been a confirmed Google rating sign since 2014.

And in 2021 there’s actually no excuse for any web site to nonetheless be operating over HTTP. However any website positioning advantages, it’s unsecure.

So we’re happy to say that each Squarespace web site (whether or not on a customized area or not) runs on HTTPS.

Be taught extra about HTTPS

Robots.txt file

Management in Squarespace: no

A robots.txt file permits you to cease search engine bots from accessing sure areas of your web site.

For instance, you may need a bit with consumer generated content material that you simply don’t need crawled or listed by Google.

Sadly whereas Squarespace will create a default robots.txt file in your web site, there’s at present no approach to edit it. We want to see them add this performance sooner or later.

Be taught extra about Robots.txt

XML Sitemaps

Generated by Squarespace: sure

An XML sitemap helps Google discover (and index) all of the pages in your web site.

Squarespace mechanically units up and maintains an XML sitemap in your web site (pages, weblog posts and many others), nevertheless, there isn’t any approach to edit it.

Be taught extra about XML Sitemaps

Is Squarespace cellular pleasant?

One phrase reply: sure

When designing your Squarespace web site, there’s a great probability you’ll be specializing in the way it appears to be like on desktop.

However cellular site visitors overtook desktop site visitors in 2017. And Google now prioritizes the cellular model of your web site for crawling and indexing.

The excellent news is that Squarespace websites are totally responsive, and (pace points however) work properly on cellular.

Simply be certain that to preview how your web site appears to be like on each desktop and cellular. And keep in mind it’s the cellular model of your web site that Google will index and rank. So when you have a function that shows on desktop however not cellular, then Google gained’t take it into consideration for rankings.

You possibly can change to cellular view by clicking the telephone icon within the Squarespace editor.

If Google does discover any points with the cellular model of your web site, they’ll let you understand in Search Console.

So hold a watch out.

In conclusion: Squarespace isn’t beneficial for web site house owners who want to totally optimize their web site

We don’t like to speak negatively a few platform.

However on the finish of the day, technical website positioning evaluation (and naturally suggestions for enhancements) is what our instrument is all about. So it could be remiss of us to advocate a CMS platform the place you’re unable to completely website positioning optimize your web site.

There are simply too many holes. And sure optimization duties (like including alt textual content to photographs) appear unnecessarily arduous to finish.

However with that being stated:

If you happen to’re on Squarespace already, whilst you won’t be capable of totally optimize right now, there’s nonetheless lots you are able to do to enhance your rankings.

So our recommendation could be to:

• run a full website positioning audit (you possibly can observe this information),
• allocate time to fixing points and optimizing your web site (the place potential),
• focus in on creating top quality content material that helps your customers and totally solutions their search queries,
• construct your web site’s authority by incomes top quality backlinks (take a look at our beneficial hyperlink constructing techniques right here)

Over the approaching weeks we’ll be reviewing the on-page website positioning of three extra in style CMS techniques. We’ll then be evaluating the website positioning execs and cons of every CMS in a roundup publish, the place we’ll additionally reveal the very best CMS for website positioning in 2021. Join our e mail checklist under to observe this collection, and for masses extra contemporary website positioning ideas, tutorials, and guides straight to your inbox.

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