Squarespace is popular with photographers, designers and small studios because it looks beautiful out of the box. But beautiful is not the same as findable. When we worked on Heather Elizabeth Photography, a newborn and family photographer in Cheshire, the job was technical SEO, Google indexing and site updates. Here is what we look at on every Squarespace site.
1. Check what Google has actually indexed
Run a site: search and connect Google Search Console (Squarespace has a built-in integration). Look for pages that are excluded or missing.
2. Fix hidden and duplicate pages
Squarespace sites often contain demo pages, duplicated collection pages and “not linked” pages that still get crawled. Remove or hide what you do not need and make sure the pages you want are enabled.
3. Write proper SEO titles and descriptions
Every page and gallery has SEO settings. Use them. A photographer’s gallery titled “Gallery 2” tells Google nothing; “Newborn Photography Cheshire” does.
4. Name and describe your images
For image-heavy sites, file names and alt text matter. Use descriptive names before uploading and add alt text that explains the photo.
5. Add real text to image-led pages
Galleries with no words give Google very little to rank. Add a short introduction, what the session includes, where you work and how to book.
6. Keep URLs clean and redirect old ones
Use URL mappings in Squarespace for 301 redirects when you rename pages, so you keep any rankings you already had.
7. Local SEO for service businesses
Include your area naturally in page content, keep your Google Business Profile complete and ask happy clients for reviews.
8. Watch speed on mobile
Huge unoptimised photos slow galleries down. Export images at sensible sizes before upload.
9. Resubmit and monitor
After changes, submit the sitemap and request indexing for key pages, then keep an eye on the Page indexing report.
Many of these steps also apply to Wix; see our Wix SEO checklist. If you would like help, our Wix and Squarespace SEO service covers audit, fixes and indexing.
FAQ
Is Squarespace good for SEO?
Yes for most small businesses, provided pages have proper titles, content and indexing settings.
Why is my Squarespace site not on Google?
Common causes are a new domain with no Search Console setup, hidden pages, password protection left on, or very thin content. Our guide to websites not showing on Google covers them all.
