How to Give Your Squarespace Site Some Love
Your Squarespace website works hard for you year-round, so why not show it a little love? Like a great relationship, a well-maintained website needs care and attention to thrive. Whether you want to attract more local customers in West Seattle, improve your SEO, or refresh your design, here are some easy ways to keep your site in top shape.
Update Your SEO Settings for Better Local Search Rankings
If it's been a while since you checked your SEO settings, now is the perfect time to make sure everything is optimized. Proper SEO helps your site rank higher in search results, making it easier for potential customers in West Seattle to find you.
Optimize Page Titles and Descriptions: Go to your site's SEO settings and ensure every page has a clear, keyword-friendly title and description. Include terms like "West Seattle" and your business type to improve local visibility.
Check Your Image Alt Text: Squarespace allows you to add alt text to images, which helps with accessibility and SEO. Make sure your key images include descriptive text with relevant keywords.
Review Your URL Structure: Clean and simple URLs are more manageable for search engines to read. If your page slugs are too long or unclear, consider updating them to something more direct, like "/west-seattle-hair-salon" instead of "/services-page-123."
Refresh Your Content with Local Keywords
If your site's content hasn't been updated in a while, now is a great time to refresh it. Search engines prioritize websites that stay active so that small content updates can help with rankings.
Update Your Homepage Text: Add a fresh introduction or a short section about how you serve the West Seattle community.
Sprinkle in Local Keywords: If you're a service-based business, ensure your pages mention "West Seattle" naturally within the text. For example, instead of saying, "We offer custom web design," say, "We offer custom web design for businesses in West Seattle."
Add or Update a Blog Post: Writing about a recent project, a local event, or industry tips can keep your website fresh and relevant.
Check and Fix Broken Links
Broken links are bad for both user experience and SEO. If you've changed any page URLs or moved content around, make sure everything still connects properly.
Test Your Internal Links: Check your site to ensure all links work as expected.
Update Redirects: If you've moved from another platform to Squarespace, make sure old URLs redirect correctly to your new pages.
Fix Outdated External Links: If you link to outside sources, check that they are still valid and haven't changed.
Give Your Design a Little TLC
Even small design updates can make your site feel fresh and modern.
Refresh Your Images: If your homepage photos are outdated, swap them for new, high-quality images that better reflect your brand.
Improve Readability: Make sure your font sizes are easily read on both desktop and mobile.
Update Your Contact Info: If your business hours, email, or phone number have changed, double-check that everything is current.
Speed Up Your Site for a Better User Experience
A slow website can turn visitors away before they even see your content.
Optimize Image Sizes: Large images slow down your site. Use Squarespace's built-in tools or an online image compressor to reduce file sizes.
Remove Unnecessary Plugins and Scripts: If you've added extra integrations you no longer use, removing them can speed things up.
Check Mobile Responsiveness: Look at your site on the phone to ensure everything looks great and loads quickly.
Promote Your Site with Local Engagement
SEO isn't just about what's on your website—it's also about how people find you.
Claim and Optimize Your Google Business Profile: Make sure your business listing is updated with the correct location, hours, and services.
Encourage Customer Reviews: Ask happy clients to leave a review on Google or Yelp to boost your local credibility.
Share Your Site on Social Media: A quick Valentine's Day post linking back to your site can drive more traffic and engagement.
Show Your Site Some Love Year-Round
Your website is often the first impression customers get of your business, so keeping it updated and optimized is always worth the effort.
I offer free consultations for West Seattle businesses, hobbyists, and organizations looking to improve their Squarespace websites. Let's work together to make sure your site gets the love it deserves! Contact me today to get started.
