Squarespace SEO: a step-by-step guide

Last updated 12 October 2026 · By the XKey team

What does Squarespace do for you?

Squarespace makes your sitemap, sets up the secure https:// address, and makes every template mobile-friendly. Its templates are clean, which helps both speed and how Google reads the page.

The trade-off is fewer controls. There are no SEO plugins, and adding your own code (such as full LocalBusiness markup) needs Code Injection, which is only on the higher plans.

Which fixes matter most, and where are they?

Work down this list in order. Each step says exactly where the setting is in Squarespace. Run the free SEO check on your home page first: the report spots that your site runs on Squarespace and shows these steps under anything that needs fixing.

1. Make sure Google is allowed to index your pages. Page settings → SEO: turn off “Hide page from search engines”, and make sure the site isn't password-protected.
2. Use the secure https:// address. Settings → SSL: choose Secure.
3. Write a title for every page. Pages panel → gear icon on the page → SEO tab: fill in the SEO title.
4. Write a description for every page. Pages panel → gear icon on the page → SEO tab: fill in the SEO description.
5. Give each page one main heading. Select the main heading text and choose Heading 1 from the text style menu; use Heading 2 for the rest.
6. Describe your images. Edit each image block and fill in its alt text (image description) field.
7. Send Google your sitemap. Squarespace makes /sitemap.xml for you. Submit it in Google Search Console.
8. Tell Google your business details. Fill in Settings → Business information. For full markup, paste our schema generator's code into Settings → Advanced → Code Injection → Header (Core plan and above).
9. Set how your pages look when shared. Page settings (gear icon) → Social Image: upload a 1200 × 630 image.
10. Let AI search read your site. Settings → Crawlers: turn off blocking of AI crawlers if you want AI search to read your site.
11. Add a site icon. Settings → Browser icon (favicon).

What are the most common Squarespace mistakes?

• Huge images – upload photos around 2,500 pixels wide at most, not straight off the camera.
• Blank SEO descriptions on blog posts and products – each needs its own.
• Leaving demo pages from the template live and indexed – delete or hide them.
• Text inside banner images – put it in real text blocks so search engines can read it.

What should I do after the basics?

Verify your site in Google Search Console from Squarespace's own settings, then keep a blog or news page going – Squarespace makes posting easy, and fresh, useful pages give Google and AI assistants more to show.

Frequently asked questions

Is Squarespace good for SEO?

Yes, for most small businesses. The basics are covered; the difference comes from filling in your titles and descriptions and writing useful pages.

Can I edit robots.txt on Squarespace?

Not directly. Squarespace manages it, but the Crawlers settings let you choose whether AI crawlers can read your site.

Squarespace or Wix for SEO?

Both are fine. Pick the one you find easier to keep updated – fresh, useful content beats the choice of builder.