The short answer: Squarespace is good enough to rank well. Most Squarespace sites underperform because the settings Squarespace leaves to you were never filled in: page titles, descriptions, headings, image sizes, redirects and Google Search Console. Work through the list below in order.
What Squarespace does for you, and what it doesn't
| Squarespace handles automatically | You still need to do |
|---|---|
XML sitemap at /sitemap.xml | Submit it to Google and Bing |
| SSL (https) on connected domains | Choose one primary domain and make sure others redirect to it |
| Self-referencing canonical tags | Write a unique SEO title and description for every page |
| Basic structured data from your business info | Fill in business info and add extra schema where useful |
| Mobile-friendly templates | Compress images before upload and keep pages light |
Two limits to know: you can't edit robots.txt or the sitemap directly, and Squarespace doesn't compress images on upload. Neither stops a Squarespace site from ranking. You just work around them.
The 15 fixes
1. Connect Google Search Console (and Bing)
Connect Search Console from your Squarespace settings, or verify your domain with a DNS record. Then submit yourdomain.com/sitemap.xml. Import the site into Bing Webmaster Tools from Search Console in one click. Bing also feeds ChatGPT search and Microsoft Copilot.
2. Write your homepage SEO title and description
In the SEO panel, set a homepage title that says what you do and where, for example "Wedding Photographer in Bath | Jane Smith Photography". Keep it under about 60 characters and the description under about 155.
3. Give every page its own SEO title and description
Open each page's settings and use the SEO tab. By default, many pages reuse the page name, so you get titles like "Services" that match no real search. Rewrite each one around the main thing a customer would type.
4. Clean up URL slugs
Use short, readable slugs such as /wedding-photography, not /new-page-3 or /services-1. If you change a slug on a page that's already live, add a redirect (fix 9).
5. Use one Heading 1 per page
Each page should have one clear Heading 1 that matches the page topic, then Heading 2s and 3s for sections. Many templates use large text styles that look like headings but aren't, or several Heading 1s on one page. Check the text block formatting.
6. Fill in your business information
Add your business name, address or service area, phone and hours in the business information settings. Squarespace uses these for its built-in structured data, and they should match your Google Business Profile exactly.
7. Compress images and add alt text
Resize images to around 1,500–2,500 pixels wide and compress them before uploading (TinyPNG or Squoosh are free). Aim for under about 500 KB each. Add short, descriptive alt text to every meaningful image, for example "bride and groom outside Bath Abbey", not "IMG_4471".
8. Hide pages that shouldn't rank
Thank-you pages, test pages, password pages and near-duplicates dilute your site. Use the page setting that hides a page from search engines, and remove old demo content from your template.
9. Add URL mappings for anything you've moved
Squarespace's URL Mappings tool (in the developer or advanced settings) creates 301 redirects, one per line:
/old-services -> /wedding-photography 301 /blog/old-post -> /blog/new-post 301
If you moved to Squarespace from another platform, map your old URLs too. This is the most common cause of lost rankings after a redesign.
10. Set one primary domain
Choose either www or the plain domain as primary, and make sure other connected domains point to it. Don't share the built-in .squarespace.com address publicly.
11. Keep pages light and fast
- Use no more than two font families.
- Avoid autoplay video backgrounds on key pages.
- Remove old code injection snippets and widgets you no longer use.
- Keep long galleries on their own pages, not the homepage.
Test with PageSpeed Insights on mobile, and fix the biggest issue first.
12. Add extra schema with code injection
Squarespace's built-in structured data is basic. On plans that include code injection (Core, Plus and Advanced, or legacy Business and Commerce), you can add LocalBusiness, Service or FAQPage schema to a page's header. Test it in Google's Rich Results Test. Don't add your own canonical tags here, as Squarespace already sets one.
13. Check your AI crawler setting
Squarespace offers a setting to block known AI crawlers. If it's on, AI search tools such as ChatGPT search may not be able to read your site. If you want to appear in AI answers, check your crawler settings and leave AI search crawlers allowed. More on this in How to get your business recommended by ChatGPT.
14. Link your pages together
Link from your homepage to each service, from each service to related blog posts, and from blog posts back to the service. Use descriptive link text ("our wedding photography packages"), not "click here".
15. Match your Google Business Profile
For local businesses, your Google Business Profile often brings more enquiries than the website itself. Use the same name, phone and address as your site, link to the right page, and ask happy customers for reviews.
Is Squarespace bad for SEO?
No. Plenty of Squarespace sites rank on page one. WordPress gives more control for very large sites, complex stores or heavy technical SEO. For most service businesses, portfolios and small shops, a well-set-up Squarespace site is more than enough. The fixes above matter far more than the platform.
Questions people ask
Does Squarespace do SEO automatically?
It handles the technical basics, such as the sitemap, SSL, canonical tags and mobile layouts. You still need to write titles, descriptions and headings, optimise images, add redirects and connect Search Console.
Can I edit robots.txt on Squarespace?
No. Squarespace generates robots.txt and the sitemap automatically and doesn't let you edit them. You can hide individual pages from search in each page's settings.
How do I add redirects in Squarespace?
Use URL Mappings in your site's developer or advanced settings. Add one line per redirect in the format /old-url -> /new-url 301.
Which Squarespace plan do I need for SEO?
All plans include the core SEO settings. To add custom schema or tracking code with code injection, you need Core, Plus or Advanced, or a legacy Business or Commerce plan.