To adjust SEO in Squarespace, open Settings → SEO to edit titles, descriptions, slugs, social images, and indexing controls.
If you run a site on Squarespace, small tweaks in the built-in SEO areas can lift clarity, clicks, and crawlability. This guide walks you through the exact panels to open, what each switch does, and a clean order of tasks so you can move from homepage polish to page-by-page fixes without second guessing.
What You Can Tweak Right Away
Here’s a quick map of the most used search-facing settings across a typical site. Use it as a checklist while you work.
| Setting | Where It Lives | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Site Title | Home → Settings → SEO | Shows on the homepage and can appear in search; sets brand context. |
| Site Description | Settings → SEO → Search appearance | Used as a fallback snippet; helps searchers grasp your offer fast. |
| Default Social Image | Settings → Social links → Sharing | Controls link previews that get copied on social and some apps. |
| Page Title & Description | Page → Settings → SEO | Feeds the title link and snippet that invite clicks in search. |
| URL Slug | Page → Settings → General | Gives a clean, readable URL that users and crawlers parse fast. |
| Hide From Search | Page → Settings → SEO | Adds a noindex signal for thank-you pages, test pages, or drafts. |
| 301 Redirects | Settings → URL mappings | Sends old URLs to new ones so ranking signals and users don’t get lost. |
| Image Alt Text | Click image → Edit → Filename/Alt text | Describes visuals for assistive tech and can help image search. |
| Blog Post Fields | Post editor → Options/SEO | Lets each post set its own title, description, and slug. |
| Product/Collection Fields | Commerce item → Marketing/SEO | Surfaces product names, snippets, and clean slugs for shopping intent. |
| Search Console | Settings → Connected accounts | Confirms ownership and shows queries, clicks, and coverage. |
| Sitemap | yourdomain.com/sitemap.xml | Squarespace auto-generates this file for discovery. |
Step-By-Step: Site-Level Controls
Open The SEO Panel
From the Home panel, pick Settings, then SEO. This is where you set the broad signals that your domain sends to search engines and social platforms.
Set A Clear Site Title
Keep it short and brand-forward. Use the primary name people would type when they think of your site. Avoid stuffing extra tags or punctuation. If your theme shows the title in a header, make sure it reads tight on mobile as well.
Write A Punchy Site Description
Use a single, natural sentence that sums up what you do, who it serves, and what a visitor can do next. This line can show as a snippet when the homepage appears in search. Skip fluffy slogans; write in plain language.
Add A Default Social Image
Upload a crisp image with enough contrast for overlaid text. Many themes crop previews, so center the focal point and leave margin space around any logo. This preview improves sharing even if a page lacks its own image.
Changing SEO Options In Squarespace: A Clean Workflow
Now move from the site level to each page. The steps below keep edits tidy and reduce rework later.
Tune Page Titles And Descriptions
Open a page, click the gear icon, and go to SEO. Write a human-readable title that mirrors the content. Use a concise description that tees up the value in plain terms. Avoid repeating the site name unless it adds clarity.
Character Ranges That Work
Search results display based on pixel width, not a fixed count. Aim for short titles that don’t truncate and descriptions that invite a click without trailing off. Write for the reader first; measurement tools are guides, not rules.
Build Friendly URLs (Slugs)
Edit the slug under General. Use lowercase words, separate with hyphens, and keep it short. Remove filler words that don’t change meaning. Once a page goes live and earns links, avoid renaming the slug; if you must, create a 301 mapping from the old path to the new one.
Control Indexing And Noindex
Certain pages don’t belong in search, such as checkout, login, cart, or thank-you screens. In the page SEO panel, toggle the option to hide from search results. That sets a noindex directive so crawlers skip it. See Squarespace’s hide page from search results guide for the exact steps.
Set Per-Page Social Sharing
In each page’s social settings, upload a preview image and write a short share title. This helps links travel well through messaging apps and social feeds, which can bring referral traffic that later drives brand queries.
Collections, Blogs, And Commerce
Many templates use collections for posts, products, events, or galleries. Each item has its own SEO fields. Tidy naming and clean slugs give these sections a lift.
| Content Type | Where To Edit | Tips That Help |
|---|---|---|
| Blog Post | Post → Options/SEO | Write a direct headline; set a custom description; add a featured image. |
| Product | Product → Marketing/SEO | Use clear product names; include model, color, or variant as needed. |
| Event | Event → Settings → SEO | State the event name and date cleanly; keep the slug short. |
| Gallery Item | Image → Edit → Filename/Alt text | Add alt text that states the subject and any specific detail. |
| Portfolio Project | Project → Settings → SEO | Use a simple project title; include a one-line description. |
Images, Video, And Structured Clues
Write Useful Alt Text
Describe what the image shows and why it’s on the page. Skip keyword lists. If the image is decorative only, some blocks allow marking it as such so assistive tech can skip it. For product shots, mention the product name and variant visible in the photo.
Compress And Size Media
Use images sized for your theme’s content width. Compress before uploading to keep pages snappy. For video, host on a platform that serves the right size to each device.
Use A Consistent Heading Ladder
One H1 per page, then step down with H2s and H3s. Headings should state the content that follows. This helps readers skim and gives crawlers a clear outline.
Use Built-In Schema
Squarespace themes include structured data for common blocks such as products, events, and articles. When you fill in fields cleanly—name, price, date, author—those details can surface in rich results when eligible.
Measure Results And Stay Tidy
Connect Google Search Console
Confirm ownership so you can see queries, clicks, and coverage. In Squarespace, go to Settings, open Connected accounts, and link your property. After a day or two, use the performance and pages reports to spot titles that could read clearer or pages that need a better description.
Create Redirects When You Rename Pages
If a slug changes, add a 301 mapping so visitors and crawlers land on the right page. Keep a running list of old paths from any past migrations, and test them with a simple crawl before and after you publish changes.
Fix Indexing Gaps
If a live page doesn’t appear in search after some time, inspect the URL in Search Console. Look for coverage issues, blocked resources, or a stray noindex. Check that the page is linked from your menus or other pages so crawlers can reach it.
Avoid Common Pitfalls
- Repeating the same title across many pages.
- Writing vague descriptions that say nothing concrete.
- Letting slugs balloon into long strings.
- Forgetting to set a redirect after a rename.
- Leaving test pages crawlable.
A Simple Working Order For Busy Teams
Use this flow when time is tight. It batches tasks so you don’t hop panels more than needed:
- Set the site title, site description, and default social image.
- Map your main pages, then edit each page’s title, description, and slug.
- Set per-page social sharing assets.
- Review collection items (posts, products, events) and fill their fields.
- Add redirects for any renamed paths.
- Link Search Console and scan for coverage or enhancement issues.
Use Clean Internal Links
Link related pages together with natural anchor text. Menus, breadcrumbs, and in-text links help visitors find depth and help crawlers queue fresh pages. When you add a new guide or product, give it at least one link from a page that already gets steady traffic.
Mind Page Speed Basics
Keep image dimensions reasonable, compress assets before upload, and trim heavy sections that add little value. Fewer blocks and lighter media make pages feel snappier on phones, which reduces bounces and helps more readers reach your calls to action.
FAQ-Free Bonus Tips That Save Time
Use Consistent Patterns
Decide on a title style, description style, and slug style once, then repeat it. Consistency makes your site easier to scan, and it reduces editing passes later.
Write For Real Visitors
When you draft a title or description, think of the search query you want to earn, then answer it in natural language. Skip hype words. Name the thing, tell what’s inside, and promise a clear next step.
Keep Launch And Staging Separate
If you set noindex for a staging phase, remove it before launch. Run a spot check: search for the homepage by brand, submit main URLs in Search Console, and review the coverage report the next day.
Final Checks Before You Publish
Scan your headers for a single H1. Skim your titles for clarity. Read descriptions out loud; they should sound like something a person would click. Test a few links in an incognito window. Then ship it and watch for data in Search Console over the next week. Clear beats clever every time.
Reference while you work: Google’s SEO starter guide, which outlines best practices for titles and crawl today.