SEO for Squarespace and Wix sites: what to fix first

Short answer: Squarespace and Wix handle the technical basics for you: a secure site, a sitemap and some structured data. What they can't do is the part that wins customers: a page for each service, a title and description that say what you do and where, content about the areas you serve, and a Google Business Profile and reviews that work with your site. Fix those and a Squarespace or Wix site can rank as well as a custom one.

Plenty of small businesses build their own site on Squarespace or Wix and then wonder why nobody finds it. The platform usually isn't the problem. The missing pieces are, and most of them take an afternoon to fix.

What the platform already does for you

• A sitemap. Both build one automatically at yoursite.com/sitemap.xml and keep it updated as you add pages, according to Squarespace's help center and Wix's.
• Some structured data. Squarespace adds structured data for things like blog posts, products and local businesses. Wix adds local business markup to your homepage once you enter your business name and location.
• Places to edit SEO settings: page titles, SEO descriptions and page addresses (URLs) on each page.

So you can skip most technical worries. What's left is content and local signals, which no platform can write for you.

Fix 1: Give every service its own page

Many Squarespace and Wix sites have a single "Services" page listing everything. Google then has nothing specific to show for each service. A dedicated page for each service was the #1 factor for regular local search results in Whitespark's 2026 Local Search Ranking Factors survey.

Both platforms make adding pages easy. For each main service, create a page that explains what it is, who it's for, what affects the price, and how to book, with your own photos.

Fix 2: Write real page titles and descriptions

Templates often leave titles like "Home" or "Services | My Site". Change each page's SEO title to say what the page is about and where, for example "Teeth Whitening in Austin, TX | Smile Studio". Write a short, unique SEO description for each page. Squarespace's own guidance is to give every page a unique description.

Fix 3: Say where you work

Content about the areas you serve was the #2 factor for regular local results in Whitespark's survey. Mention your city and the neighborhoods or towns you serve on your main pages. If you serve several areas, add a page for each of your most important ones, with something specific about your work there. Don't copy the same page with only the town name changed.

Fix 4: Check your site isn't hidden

Look for settings that block search engines. Squarespace sites can be password-protected or have pages hidden from search, and new Wix sites need to be published and connected to your domain before Google can find them. Also confirm the site is connected to your own domain, not only a platform address like yourname.wixsite.com or yourname.squarespace.com.

Our free website check runs 22 checks on your home page, including whether search engines and AI tools are allowed to read it.

Fix 5: Make calling or booking easy on a phone

Preview your site in mobile view. Your phone number should be a tap-to-call link near the top, and the booking or contact form should be easy to reach. Most local customers will see your site on a phone first.

Fix 6: Connect your site and your Google Business Profile

Your Google Business Profile decides most of what happens on Google Maps. Your primary category was the #1 map factor in Whitespark's survey. Link your profile to your website, make sure your business name, address and phone match exactly on both, and ask every happy customer for a review. Our guide to getting more Google reviews has the exact messages to send.

Fix 7: Keep images light and labeled

Large photos slow pages down on a phone. Resize big images before uploading, and add alt text that describes each image ("finished kitchen remodel in Plano"). It helps people using screen readers and helps your images show in search.

When to move off Squarespace or Wix

Usually you don't need to. Consider a move only if your site has grown into many service and area pages that are hard to manage, you need features the platform can't do, or the site has become slow because of heavy add-ons. If you're unsure, fix the basics above first and see how far they get you. Our guide on whether a redesign can help your business covers the signs.

Frequently asked questions