When a client approached me to build and optimize their website, they wanted a beautiful, professional site but also expected it to rank well on Google. After discussing options, we chose Squarespace for its design flexibility and ease of use. As an SEO specialist, I was curious how well does Squarespace perform in terms of SEO in a real world client project?
In this review, I’ll share my personal experience working on a client’s Squarespace website, the SEO challenges I faced, what actually worked, and what limitations you should be aware of before choosing Squarespace for your business.
Why We Picked Squarespace for the Client’s Website
The client wanted:
- A visually attractive site with modern design
- A platform that was easy for them to update content later
- Basic SEO features without needing ongoing technical management
Squarespace seemed to tick these boxes: it offered stunning templates, built-in hosting, SSL security, and some SEO tools without complicated setup. The idea was to get the client online fast with a polished site that could grow organically through SEO.
What Worked Well with Squarespace SEO on This Project
1. Easy Optimization of Titles and Meta Descriptions
Squarespace’s page settings made it simple for me to customize page titles and meta descriptions for every important page and blog post. This was a big plus because good titles and descriptions are fundamental for SEO.
The client could also update these themselves later without breaking anything, which gave them confidence.
2. Mobile-Responsive Design Out of the Box
Google prioritizes mobile-friendly websites. All Squarespace templates I worked with were fully responsive, which saved time on custom mobile design.
3. Built-in XML Sitemap and HTTPS
Squarespace automatically generated an XML sitemap and ensured HTTPS was enabled for secure browsing — both essential SEO factors that often trip up beginners.
This meant fewer technical SEO worries during the launch phase.
4. Decent Site Speed on a Clean Template
While Squarespace is not the fastest platform compared to lightweight WordPress setups, the template we chose was reasonably fast. I made sure images were optimized before uploading to maintain good page loading times.
The SEO Challenges I Encountered on Squarespace
1. Limited URL Structure Control
The biggest challenge was that Squarespace controls URL structures tightly. For example:
- Blog posts included dates in URLs by default — not ideal for evergreen SEO content.
- Pages and subpages had URL formats that I could not fully customize.
This limited my ability to create perfectly clean, keyword-optimized URLs, which is an important ranking factor.
2. Difficulty Handling 301 Redirects at Scale
The client had some existing URLs from an old site that needed redirecting. Squarespace offers a URL mapping tool, but it was not as intuitive or flexible as dedicated WordPress redirect plugins.
Managing many redirects became a manual, error-prone process that required careful attention.
3. No Plugin Support for Advanced SEO Features
Squarespace doesn’t support third-party SEO plugins. That meant I couldn’t add:
- Advanced schema markup (for rich snippets)
- Automatic SEO audits or internal link suggestions
- More detailed control over robot.txt or .htaccess files
For a client who wants to scale SEO aggressively, these missing tools are a limitation.
4. Limited Blog Customization
The blogging features on Squarespace are straightforward but basic. I couldn’t implement some custom SEO elements like content silos or advanced keyword targeting within categories and tags.
How I Improved the Client’s Squarespace SEO Score (Practical Steps)
Despite these challenges, I focused on realistic, high-impact SEO activities that worked within Squarespace’s ecosystem:
Step 1: Keyword Research and On-Page Optimization
I researched keywords relevant to the client’s business and carefully optimized titles, meta descriptions, and page copy.
Squarespace’s SEO panel made it easy for the client to maintain this on their own later.
Step 2: Creating High-Quality, User-Friendly Content
I advised the client to prioritize content quality, focusing on solving user problems and answering common questions. This helped build organic traffic without relying on technical tricks.
Step 3: Image Optimization and Alt Text
Before uploading, all images were compressed and properly named with relevant alt text to improve accessibility and SEO.
Step 4: Setting Up URL Redirects
I manually created URL mappings for old URLs to prevent broken links and preserve SEO value.
Step 5: Linking to Google Search Console and Analytics
I connected the site to Google Search Console and Analytics to monitor traffic, track keywords, and identify any crawl errors.
Results from My Client’s Squarespace SEO Efforts
- The site started ranking on Google for several target keywords within 3-4 months.
- Organic traffic steadily increased month over month.
- The client was able to manage content updates themselves without SEO errors.
- However, some highly competitive keywords remained out of reach due to the platform’s SEO constraints.
Who Should Use Squarespace SEO?
Based on my experience, Squarespace SEO is a good fit if you:
- Need a simple, elegant website with basic SEO
- Prefer a hands off platform with minimal technical setup
- Have a small to medium sized website or portfolio
- Value ease of content management over advanced SEO customization
But if you:
- Need full control over URLs, redirects, and advanced SEO features
- Plan to scale SEO aggressively with many pages
- Require custom plugins or schema markup
- Want full flexibility for blog structures and categories
Then WordPress or other platforms might serve you better.
My View
From my experience optimizing a client’s Squarespace site, I can say it’s a solid platform for basic SEO and beautiful design but has its limits for advanced SEO strategies.
If your business needs fast setup and can work within these limits, Squarespace will serve you well. But if SEO growth is your top priority, plan accordingly and consider other options.