Quick-Start Guide to Website SEO
Built for Squarespace, Helpful for Any Website
Whether you're optimizing your site yourself or partnering with a pro, this guide gives you the essential concepts, tools, and actions to set your site up for long-term visibility and growth.
What is SEO?
SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is the practice of improving your website so it shows up higher on search engines like Google. Higher rankings = more clicks = more potential customers.
Think of SEO like planting seeds in a garden: done right, it grows traffic organically over time.
SEO Terms You Should Know
Keyword - A word or phrase people type into Google (e.g., "business coach for women").
Ranking - Where your page shows up in Google search results.
Meta Title - The blue headline that appears on Google.
Meta Description - The short description below the headline on Google.
Alt Text - Describes images to search engines (important for accessibility too).
Backlink - When another website links to yours — it boosts your site’s credibility.
Domain Authority - A score (0–100) estimating how strong your website is in Google's eyes.
Internal Link - A link on your site that leads to another page on your site.
Technical SEO - The backend stuff: site speed, mobile-friendliness, security (SSL), etc.
Squarespace-Specific Settings to Update
Even if you’re not tech-savvy, Squarespace makes it relatively easy to handle the basics:
Site-Wide SEO Settings
Page Titles + Descriptions: Go to
Marketing > SEOin your dashboard.Enable SSL: Go to
Settings > Advanced > SSL– make sure HTTPS is on.Site Map: Automatically generated at
yoursite.com/sitemap.xml.
Page-Level SEO
On each page: Go to
Settings > SEOto edit:Meta Title
Meta Description
URL slug
Images
Always add Alt Text when uploading media (especially for logos, product photos, and blog images).
The 5-Part SEO Starter Checklist
Here’s what you can do today to start building strong SEO foundations:
1. Pick 3-5 Core Keywords
Think about what your ideal client is typing into Google.
Use tools like Ubersuggest, Google Keyword Planner, or Answer the Public.
Example: Instead of “branding expert,” go with “branding expert for female entrepreneurs.”
2. Optimize Each Page for 1 Keyword
For each core page (Home, About, Services, Contact, etc.):
Include your keyword in:
Page title
URL slug (like
/business-coaching)1–2 times in your on-page text
Alt text for relevant images
Meta title and description
3. Add Internal Links
Link to other relevant pages or blog posts within your site.
Example: From your homepage, link to your Services page with “Explore our business coaching services.”
4. Make Sure Your Site is Mobile-Friendly
Squarespace templates are responsive by default, but always double-check on your phone or use Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test.
5. Submit Your Site to Google Search Console
Go to Google Search Console
Add your domain
Submit your sitemap (find it at
yoursite.com/sitemap.xml)Monitor indexing and performance over time
Blog + Content Strategy Tips
Regular blog posts = fresh content = SEO gold.
Write articles that answer your audience’s questions
Use keywords naturally (don’t force it!)
Aim for 500–1000+ words per post
Include links to other relevant content on your site
Need ideas? Start with:
“How to choose the right [your service]”
“Top mistakes [your ideal client] make when…”
“X ways to [solve a pain point] fast”
Bonus Tips for Going Pro
Want to go further (or speak the same language as your SEO specialist)? Ask about:
Structured data / schema markup
Local SEO (if you serve a specific location)
SEO audits to find broken links, missing meta tags, etc.
Backlink outreach or PR strategies
Summary
SEO is about making your site visible, helpful, and trustworthy to both people and search engines.
Do This First:
✅ Research and use clear keywords
✅ Update page titles, meta descriptions, and image alt text
✅ Write helpful content that answers real questions
✅ Link between your own pages
✅ Submit to Google
RISEmpowerment Bonus: Ready to Delegate?
Hiring an SEO specialist? Great! Here’s what to ask them:
What’s your approach to on-page vs. off-page SEO?
Will you audit my site and help with keywords?
Can you show examples of real ranking results?
How often will I receive reports or updates?
Want help organizing your SEO plan or auditing your Squarespace site?
Reach out to RISEmpowerment for a strategy session or done-for-you support that gets results without the tech overwhelm.
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