At Blue Oak Web Design, I talk to a lot of small business owners who feel a bit overwhelmed when the topic of “SEO” comes up. And I get it—it sounds technical, mysterious, and expensive.
But here’s the good news: basic SEO isn’t rocket science, especially if you’re using Squarespace. In fact, you can do a lot to boost your site’s visibility just by tweaking a few simple things.
Let’s break it down—no fluff, no jargon—just practical steps you can take right now to help your site show up better in Google.
Step 1: Set Up Your Site-Wide SEO Settings
Start with the basics:
- Site Title: Use your business name + a keyword or location. Example: Website Design for Small Business | Marin County
- Site Description: Write a short summary of what you do. Think about: who you help, what you offer, and why you’re different. You can find this under Marketing → SEO → Search Appearance in Squarespace.
Step 2: Optimize Each Page (Yes, Every One)
Each page has its own title and meta description. Make them clear and keyword-friendly. Just open your Pages panel, click the gear icon next to your page name to open Page Settings, and select the SEO tab. You can add fields like SEO Title and SEO Description.
- Keep page titles short, clear, and relevant: Custom Website Design for Small Business.
- Write a 1–2 sentence meta description that gives people a reason to click. It should sound like something you’d actually say to a potential client.
Step 3: Add Keywords to Your Images (It’s Easy!)
Images aren’t just pretty—they’re also part of SEO.
- Rename your image files before uploading them (e.g.
marin-web-design.jpg, notIMG_9021.jpg). - Keep your images file size down, while still looking crisp. You can use an optimized .JPG, or even better, a webP format. Create free webP images. (.jpg to webP)
- Add alt text to describe what’s in the photo. This helps both search engines and visually impaired visitors. (Very important, don’t skip this step.)
Step 4: Make Sure Your Site Looks Great on Mobile
Most people are checking you out from their phones—especially if they’re Googling you on the go in Marin.
- Use Squarespace’s preview mode to check mobile (See bonus tip at end of article).
- Keep buttons large and easy to tap.
- Make sure forms and menus are working smoothly.
Step 5: Keep It Fast and Simple
Nobody waits for slow websites anymore. A few quick tips:
- Resize and compress large images before uploading.
- Avoid overloading your site with plugins, animations, or popups.
Step 6: Use Smart Links
Link between your own pages (not just your site navigation menu)—this helps users and search engines. Example: From your homepage body text, link to your services or contact page.
Also, when it makes sense, link out to useful, credible sites (like your Google Business listing).
Step 7: Local SEO—Especially for Marin County
If you’re a local business like me, local SEO is everything.
- Add your business name, address, and phone number (NAP) in the footer.
- Set up a Google Business Profile and keep it updated.
- Use phrases like “Marin County web design” or “Mill Valley small business websites” naturally in your site content.
Step 8: Blog Like a Human
A blog helps Google see that your site is active, useful, and relevant. Plus, it’s a great place to answer questions your clients are already asking.
Step 9: Connect Google Search Console & Analytics
This part is techy—but important:
- Go to Marketing → SEO → Google Search Console to connect your site. This helps Google crawl and index your pages.
- Add Google Analytics to see who’s visiting and what they’re doing. Knowledge is power!
Step 10: Submit Your Sitemap
Squarespace automatically builds your sitemap. Your sitemap is at: yourdomain.com/sitemap.xml . Submit it to Google Search Console by logging in, opening your site property, clicking Sitemaps on the menu, paste your sitemap.xml address–then press Submit.
Bonus Tip (It’s a big one!)
Your website should look great everywhere, on an iPhone, an Android, a laptop, or a tablet, no matter which browser someone’s using. A great way to test your site is with a service called Browserling.
I have used Browserling with great success. Their starting package is $9 a month, and boy is it worth it– especially if you’re trying to sell something. It can be quit shocking to see that what looks perfect on your phone cell/laptop can look very convoluted on someone else’s setup. (I have no affiliation with this service.)
Lost? Contact me. I can help you set up Google Analytics, Google Business Profile and more.