Squarespace SEO vs. Google SEO: Understanding How They Work Together
The Confusion Around Squarespace SEO (And Why It’s Totally Normal)
If you’ve ever Googled “how to improve Squarespace SEO” and ended up more confused than when you started — you’re not alone. Many small business owners think Squarespace SEO and Google SEO are two different things, but here’s the truth: they’re actually part of the same process.
Squarespace gives you the tools to make your site search-friendly — things like page titles, descriptions, headings, and mobile optimization. But Google SEO is how search engines evaluate all those things to decide whether your website deserves to show up on page one.
In other words, Squarespace SEO is the setup, and Google SEO is the outcome. You need both working together to build trust, get visibility, and attract new clients organically.
How Squarespace Helps You Build a Strong SEO Foundation
Squarespace gets a lot of love (and sometimes criticism) in the SEO world, but here’s the good news — the platform has come a long way. With built-in mobile optimization, SSL security, and clean URL structures, you already have a solid foundation to work with.
Here are a few Squarespace features that actually help your SEO from the start:
Automatic SSL certificates (Google loves secure sites).
Responsive design for mobile users.
Built-in sitemap to help search engines crawl your pages.
Structured data options that make your content easier to read.
The challenge isn’t Squarespace — it’s making sure everything is used strategically. That’s where keywords, metadata, and content optimization come in.
What Google SEO Actually Looks For
Google doesn’t rank your website because you use Squarespace or WordPress — it ranks it based on relevance, authority, and experience. This is where Google SEO really takes shape.
Here’s what Google pays attention to:
High-quality content that answers search intent (not just stuffed with keywords).
Site performance — fast loading times and mobile-friendly layouts.
On-page optimization — clear headings, image alt text, and internal linking.
Backlinks and authority — how other sites reference and trust yours.
User experience — people staying on your site, not bouncing right off.
So while Squarespace gives you the space to build, Google decides how much visibility your site earns based on the effort you put into optimizing your content and structure.
How Squarespace SEO and Google SEO Work Together
Think of it this way — Squarespace SEO is your foundation, and Google SEO is your strategy. You need both working in sync.
Squarespace gives you the tools (titles, meta descriptions, clean layouts).
Google rewards optimization (consistent keywords, fresh content, backlinks).
For example, you might have a beautifully designed Squarespace site that loads quickly and has strong visuals — but without keyword strategy or blog content, Google has no reason to keep sending traffic your way.
On the flip side, great SEO strategy on a poorly structured site won’t perform either. Balance is everything.
Common Squarespace SEO Mistakes That Hurt Google Rankings
Here are some of the biggest mistakes I see when auditing client sites:
Missing meta titles and descriptions (or using the same one on every page).
No keyword strategy — writing content that’s pretty but not searchable.
Heavy image files slowing down site speed.
Broken links or missing alt text.
No blog content to help Google index your expertise.
Most of these are easy fixes — but they can make a huge difference in your Google visibility once cleaned up.
How to Improve SEO on Your Squarespace Website
Here’s where strategy meets design. To get your Squarespace site ranking higher on Google, focus on these five steps:
Do keyword research (focus on what your clients are actually searching for).
Optimize page titles and descriptions on every page.
Write valuable blog content regularly to show expertise and freshness.
Use internal links between related pages and blog posts.
Compress and name your images properly (with descriptive, keyword-rich alt text).
You don’t have to overhaul your whole website — just a few smart tweaks can make your Squarespace site far more competitive in search results.
Why Working With a Squarespace SEO Expert Makes a Difference
SEO can feel like a moving target — algorithms change, competitors grow, and what worked a year ago might not anymore. That’s why partnering with someone who understands both Squarespace’s backend and Google’s ranking systems can save you hours of frustration.
An expert can:
Audit your website structure and fix technical issues.
Build an SEO strategy tailored to your business goals.
Track progress and make ongoing optimizations.
Help you get found by the right clients — not just more traffic.
If you’ve invested in a great website, SEO ensures that investment actually pays off.
Ready to Take Your Squarespace SEO to the Next Level?
If you’ve been wondering why your Squarespace site isn’t showing up where you want it to, it might not be your design — it’s your SEO setup.
At The Growth Passport, we help service-based businesses optimize their Squarespace websites to perform beautifully and rank better on Google. From keyword strategy to ongoing SEO care plans, we make the process simple, transparent, and tailored to your goals.
👉 Explore our Squarespace SEO Care Plans to see how we can help your site reach more clients (and finally show up where it should).
