🧭 How to Use This Checklist

This checklist is designed to help you prep and maintain your Squarespace website using SEO-friendly and performance-focused practices. Each step includes practical tips, but not every detail, so if you want to dig deeper or follow along with full tutorials, be sure to check out the In-Depth Resources section at the end.

Whether you're setting up a new site or updating an existing one, use this guide to keep your pages fast, accessible, and easier for search engines to understand!

🎯 Step 1: Foundation SEO Setup

Start with core SEO practices to improve accessibility and support search engine indexing.

Optional: Use Squarespace’s built-in AI tool.

• [ ] SEO Titles and Meta Descriptions
  • Where: Page Settings → SEO tab
  • Why: These appear in Google results. Keep under 60 (title) and 155 (description) characters.
  • Tip: Include your main keyword near the start. Make it human-friendly!
  • [ ] Optional: Use the SEO AI Assistant
    • Where: SEO → Improve with AI
    • Why: Generates title and description suggestions
    • Tip: Read everything carefully! Make sure it accurately reflects your content and brand.
• [ ] Customize Page URLs (Slugs)
  • Where: Page Settings → URL Slug
  • Why: Clean URLs help both SEO and user trust. Avoid numbers or irrelevant words.
  • Example: /about instead of /page-5
• [ ] Use Headings Hierarchically
  • How: Use H1 once per page for titles, then H2, H3, H4 for subtopics
  • Why: Search engines understand your structure better; it also helps accessibility.
• [ ] Add Descriptive Alt Text
  • Where: Click image block → Pencil Icon → Image Alt Text
  • Why: Alt text helps visually impaired users and tells Google what the image shows.
  • Best Practice: Write a short, clear description of what the image shows, e.g., "Blue ceramic mug on a white shelf"
  • Tip: Leave alt text empty for purely decorative images.
  • [ ] Optional: Use the SEO AI Assistant
    • Where: SEO → Improve with AI
    • Why: Generates alt text suggestions
    • Tip: Review carefully to ensure it's relevant and helpful.
• [ ] Create 301 Redirects for Moved Pages
  • Where: Settings → Developer Tools → URL Mappings
  • Why: Prevents broken links and preserves SEO equity.
  • Format: /old-url → /new-url 301
• [ ] Index Only What Matters
  • How: Toggle “Hide from search results” for pages like 404, privacy, etc.
  • Why: Keeps Google from indexing low-value or irrelevant pages.

🎯 Step 2: Optimize Images for Speed & SEO

Speed impacts SEO, and images are usually the biggest culprit.

Before Uploading: