Tutorial in English

Step-by-step SEO tutorial with Giorgia Riola, Italian expat and multilingual web designer and business strategist in Basel. Learn how to optimize keywords, titles, descriptions, and images in Squarespace. Practical training for freelancers, creatives, and small business owners who want their website to be visible on Google and AI search tools.

Tutorial in Italian

Improving SEO on Your Squarespace Website

In this video, I share simple but powerful tips to help you improve your website’s visibility on Google using Squarespace’s built-in SEO tools.
No coding or advanced tech required, just a clear process, a bit of strategy, and the willingness to take small but consistent steps.

SEO can feel overwhelming, but here’s my philosophy: strategy should always come before tactics. When you understand your keywords, optimize your pages, and write for humans (not just search engines), your website becomes so much more than an online brochure. It becomes your digital home, attracting clients 24/7.

This video is part of my mission to make website building less intimidating and more empowering.


I’ve been in your shoes, and I know how difficult it may seem. That’s why I created The Website Blueprint Kit, a step-by-step PDF guide with prompts and templates to help you plan your website with clarity and confidence before you ever touch a template.


👉 Download your copy here
👉 Or book a free 20-min consultation here to receive a special discount on the Kit

If you enjoyed this video, check out my other resources on web design strategy, branding, and SEO for freelancers and small businesses. And don’t hesitate to reach out, I’d love to hear your feedback or questions!

Want to go deeper? Scroll below for the full step-by-step SEO guide we just covered in this video.

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Step-By-Step Guide - SEO Optimization for Squarespace

Objective:
This guide walks you through the key steps to optimize SEO on your Squarespace website so your business becomes more visible on Google (and even on AI-powered searches). Whether you’re a freelancer, creative, or small business owner, these best practices will help your site work for you 24/7.

1. Define Your SEO Keywords

  • Start by listing the words and phrases your ideal clients would type into Google (e.g. Squarespace web design Basel, freelance branding Switzerland).

  • Make sure your page content answers those searches. Your goal is to match what people are looking for with what you offer.

Book a FREE SEO Consultation

2. Access Your SEO Settings in Squarespace

  • Go to Pages in your site editor.

  • Choose a page (e.g. “Work With Me”) and click the ⚙️ gear icon.

  • Open the SEO tab.

    Note: your homepage SEO is handled automatically by search engines, so you’ll optimize all other pages individually.

3. Edit SEO Titles and Descriptions

  • In the SEO panel, write a title (short, keyword-rich) and a description (1–2 sentences).

  • Include your chosen keywords, but write naturally for humans first.

  • Think of this as your site’s Google preview — make it clear, professional, and inviting to click.

4. Avoid Keyword Stuffing

  • Don’t repeat the same keyword unnaturally. Google can penalize that.

  • Instead, write in plain, human language. Clarity > Repetition.

Screenshot of Squarespace “Pages” settings showing how to access SEO options, part of the trainings fro Giorgia Riola, web designer and strategist from Basel, Switzerland

5. Add a Social Sharing Image

  • Still in the SEO panel, upload a social image.

  • This is the preview people see when your site is shared on WhatsApp, LinkedIn, or Facebook.

  • Use a professional, on-brand photo with your title + logo if possible.

Adding a social preview image in Squarespace SEO settings to improve sharing visibility - from web designer and strategist from Basel, Switzerland

6. Use AI Tools Wisely

  • Squarespace offers AI-generated SEO suggestions. These can help you avoid the blank page effect.

  • But: AI doesn’t know your audience or your keywords. Always refine the text to reflect your strategy.

Squarespace AI SEO tool suggesting search title and description for a website page.Part of tutorial from Giorgia Riola strategist from Basel, Switzerland

7. Rename Image Files Correctly

  • In Assets, rename your images:

    • Lowercase letters only

    • Hyphens between words (no spaces)

    • Example: giorgia-riola-squarespace-designer.jpg

This makes your site cleaner and helps search engines understand your images.

quarespace Assets library showing best practices for renaming images for SEO. From the training of Giorgia Riola Strategist in Basel, Switzerland

8. Add Alt Text to Images

  • For each image, add a short, descriptive alt text.

  • Include:

    • Your name / brand

    • Your role (e.g. Squarespace web designer in Basel)

    • The context of the photo

  • This improves both SEO and accessibility for screen readers.

9. Quick Recap

  • Open SEO settings for each page → update title + description

  • Upload a social preview image

  • Add keyword-rich alt text to every image

  • Keep everything natural, clear, and human

  • Rename image files properly

Cautionary Notes

  • Avoid keyword stuffing → it hurts readability and ranking.

  • Don’t overcomplicate → SEO is about small, consistent improvements.

Tips for Efficiency

  • Create your keyword list first to speed up the process.

  • Use a consistent naming convention for images from the start.

  • Set a reminder to review SEO quarterly — trends and your services evolve.

Watch the full video tutorial here →

Need more help?
Contact me or consult the official Squarespace website

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