How To Add SEO Keywords To Squarespace | Quick Wins Guide

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To add SEO keywords in Squarespace, use clear titles, SEO descriptions, slugs, headings, and image alt text that match real search terms.

Here’s a practical, page-by-page plan to weave search terms into your Squarespace site without stuffing or awkward phrasing. You’ll learn where these terms belong, how to place them in version 7.1, and what to tweak so search results show a clean, clickable snippet.

What “Keywords” Really Mean On A Squarespace Site

People type phrases into Google. Your site needs matching language in places search engines read often. In Squarespace, that means the page title, the SEO title field, the meta description field, the URL slug, headings in the content, and image alt text. You don’t need a separate meta “keywords” tag; Google ignores it.

Where To Place Terms Early For Maximum Lift

Start with the assets that show up in search results or shape how a page is indexed. The items below are fast wins and safe across most templates.

Location How To Add In Squarespace Practical Tip
SEO Title Page → Settings → SEO → SEO Title Lead with the main term, then a short brand hint.
SEO Description Page → Settings → SEO → SEO Description Write a 1–2 sentence pitch that includes a related term and a benefit.
URL Slug Page → Settings → General → URL Slug Keep it short, lowercase, hyphenated, and human-readable.
On-Page Heading Edit page → add an H1/H2 block where needed Use the primary term in one heading; vary wording in others.
Image Alt Text Edit image block → Edit → Filename/Alt Text Describe the image plainly; work in a term only if natural.
Site Title (Home) Home page → Settings → SEO → Edit Website SEO Settings Blend brand + main topic so your home result reads clean.

Adding Search Terms In Squarespace Pages: Step-By-Step

The steps below reflect version 7.1. If you’re on 7.0, labels may differ slightly, but the flow stays close.

Set A Clear SEO Title

Open the page, click the gear icon, then open the SEO tab. Enter a concise SEO title that starts with the page’s main term and ends with a short brand hint. Keep it readable on small screens. Avoid brackets, pipes, or emoji overload. Keep each page’s title unique.

Write A Persuasive SEO Description

In the same SEO tab, write 1–2 tight sentences that describe the value of the page. Work in one core phrase and one related phrase, then add a natural call to action. Aim for about 50–160 characters that look good on mobile. This text helps click-throughs when Google chooses to use it.

Clean Up The URL Slug

Go to Settings → General → URL Slug. Use a short, hyphenated slug that mirrors the page’s topic. Strip filler words. Avoid dates unless the content is time-bound. If you change a live slug, add a redirect so backlinks still send traffic.

Use Headings To Map Topics

Within the page content, add one heading that includes the primary phrase, then vary wording in other headings. Keep headings descriptive so readers can skim and decide where to click. Don’t cram synonyms. One clean mention per heading is enough.

Add Descriptive Image Alt Text

Open each image block, edit the image, and add alt text that tells what’s in the picture. If a phrase fits naturally, include it once. Skip stuffing a list of terms. For galleries, add alt text per image where the block allows it. If a template pulls captions instead of alt text, write concise captions that still read well on the page.

Home, Collections, And Blog Posts

Different page types need slight tweaks. Keep your naming consistent so the whole site tells one story.

Home Page

Use an SEO title that combines brand and core topic. The home SEO description should pitch your value in one short line. Add a clear H1 on the hero section that mirrors the topic users expect from your brand name.

Collections And Product Pages

For a collection, write the SEO title around the category term, then mention brand. For products, put the product name first, then a short modifier customers type often. Keep product slugs tidy. Use image alt text that describes the product, color, and model in plain language.

Blog Posts

Blog post titles should read like headlines, not raw keyword lists. Add a matching SEO title in the SEO tab. Keep the slug short, avoid stop words, and match the post angle. In the post body, use one H2 with a close variant of the target term, and add related phrases where they fit the story.

What To Do About Meta “Keywords”

You can skip the old meta “keywords” tag. Google doesn’t use it for ranking. Spend time on titles, descriptions, slugs, headings, copy, and images instead. That’s where gains come from.

Snippet Control: How To Nudge What Google Shows

Search engines sometimes rewrite titles and descriptions. You can’t force an exact snippet, but you can raise the odds by staying relevant and consistent. Keep the page’s first paragraph aligned with your title and description so the crawler finds matching language. Avoid repeating the same title across multiple pages. Make every description unique.

Smart Keyword Mapping For A Small Site

Before writing, map topics to pages. One page per core phrase prevents overlap. Add 2–4 related terms that naturally belong to that page. Use them across headings and copy where they help clarity. This avoids internal competition and keeps your site structure tidy.

Keyword Map You Can Start With

Page Primary Term Secondary Terms
Home Brand + core service City/sector, value prop
Service A Main service phrase Pricing, turnaround, location
Service B Related service phrase Use case, audience, add-on
About Brand + niche Experience, location, specialty
Blog Category Topic cluster phrase How-to, comparisons, tips

Exact Click Paths Inside Squarespace 7.1

SEO Title And Description On Any Standard Page

  1. In the Pages panel, hover the page and click the gear icon.
  2. Open the SEO tab.
  3. Fill the SEO Title and SEO Description fields.
  4. Click Save.

Edit The URL Slug

  1. Open the same page’s Settings.
  2. Go to the General tab.
  3. Enter a short hyphenated slug in the URL Slug field.
  4. Save changes. Add a redirect if you changed a live URL.

Add Or Refine Headings

  1. Open the page editor.
  2. Insert a Heading block or edit an existing one.
  3. Use H2/H3 for structure; include the primary term in one heading.
  4. Keep other headings varied to avoid repetition.

Write Image Alt Text

  1. Click an image block, then Edit.
  2. Add a short description in the Filename/Alt Text field.
  3. Save. Repeat for key images on the page.

Copywriting That Feeds Rankings Without Stuffing

Write for people first. Keep sentences short and clear. Use the primary phrase near the start of the opening paragraph. Add related phrases where they fit naturally. If a line sounds robotic, rewrite it. Read the page aloud; if it flows, you’re on the right track.

Image And Media Touches That Help

Name files in plain English before uploading (e.g., blue-linen-duvet.jpg). Add alt text that matches what’s shown. If a gallery block doesn’t expose per-image alt text, use captions or swap to a block that does. Compress large images to keep pages quick on mobile.

Quality Checks Before You Publish

  • One page targets one main idea. No overlap with other pages.
  • SEO title is unique, readable, and starts with the main term.
  • SEO description is compelling and in the right length range.
  • Slug is short and descriptive.
  • One heading includes the primary phrase; others vary wording.
  • Images have useful alt text. No stuffing.
  • First paragraph matches the promise made in the title.

Small Tweaks That Move The Needle

Scan your site menu. If labels are vague, rename them to reflect real topics. Link between related pages with descriptive anchor text. On long pages, add a short intro that uses the primary phrase and sets context for the rest of the content.

When To Refresh A Page

Update pages when offerings change, when you add new proof (images, specs, pricing), or when you see mismatched search snippets. Tighten the SEO title, rewrite the description, and align the first paragraph with those edits. Publish, then give it time to recrawl.

Two Authoritative Notes You Should Know

Google doesn’t use the meta “keywords” tag, so you can ignore it. Spend your energy on titles, descriptions, headings, and body copy. Squarespace’s SEO fields help you set those in one place, and the platform’s guides outline clear length ranges and placement tips.

Quick Troubleshooting Guide

Google Shows A Different Title

Check for duplicates across your site. Shorten the title and place the main term first. Make sure the on-page H1 and opening paragraph reinforce the same idea.

Meta Description Isn’t Used

That can happen when the query doesn’t match your description. Align the first paragraph with the key terms your visitors use. Keep the description unique per page.

Pages Aren’t Crawling Fast

Link to new pages from your main navigation or an indexed hub page. Avoid orphan pages. Keep slugs neat and avoid query strings on core content pages.

Bring It All Together

Pick one page. Set a clean SEO title, write a concise description, fix the slug, add one heading with the primary phrase, and update alt text on the first two images. Publish and repeat for the next page. Steady edits add up, and your snippets start to look better in search.

Helpful references: Squarespace SEO descriptions and Google’s note on the meta-keywords tag.