Why Isn’t My Squarespace Website Showing Up in Google?
The Backstory: Addressing a Common New Website Challenge
Recently, a client with a fresh Squarespace site and domain was understandably stressed—her website wasn’t showing up in Google search results after launch. We’d connected Google Analytics and Google Search Console, but with a brand-new business name and no web history, her site hadn’t yet made it onto Google’s radar.
If you’re dealing with a similar scenario, here’s why new sites may take a while to appear in search results, along with some tips to speed up the process and optimise your visibility.
Understanding the Basics: Why New Websites Take Time to Appear
New websites and domains need to “prove” their relevance to Google, which takes time. Think of it like opening a shop on a quiet side street—Google’s bots have to find and “evaluate” your site before it can be added to its search catalog. Here’s why this often takes longer than expected:
Indexing and Crawling: Google’s search bots scan and catalog (or “index”) new sites, but this doesn’t happen instantly.
New Domain, No Authority: Without history or links from other reputable sites, new domains have little authority in Google’s eyes.
SEO Setup and Content: Google uses content and keywords to understand your site’s relevance. Without these signals, it’s harder to rank.
Key Terms to Know for New Website Owners
SERP (Search Engine Results Page): The list of links displayed when someone conducts a Google search.
Indexing: The process by which Google adds your site to its catalog.
Crawling: When Google’s bots scan a site to understand and rank it.
Domain Authority: A score that reflects how likely your site is to rank based on its reputation, backlinks, and content relevance.
Troubleshooting Steps for New Squarespace Sites
If your site is missing from Google results, try these troubleshooting steps to ensure Google can find it:
Check Your Site’s Visibility Settings: Ensure your site isn’t set to “private” or “under construction” in Squarespace.
Verify in Google Search Console: Make sure your site is verified in Google Search Console so you can track its indexing status.
Submit Your Sitemap: Squarespace provides a sitemap that you can submit to Google Search Console, which helps bots discover your pages faster.
Optimize Your Page Titles and Descriptions: Use clear, relevant keywords in your page titles and meta descriptions. This helps search engines quickly understand what each page is about.
Be Patient, But Keep Publishing: Even with all steps in place, it can take Google a few weeks to index new sites. While waiting, publish valuable content - like blogs, tips and walkthroughs - that reinforces your business niche.
Going Beyond the Basics: Steps to Boost Your Visibility Faster
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Creating a Google Maps listing for your business, also known as a Google Business Profile, gives you instant visibility in local search results. Here’s how it benefits you:
Boosts Local SEO: Google Maps results often appear above regular search results for local queries. This makes it easier for potential customers to find you.
Drives Traffic to Your Site: A Google Maps listing lets you add links directly to your site, helping bring visitors your way.
Reinforces Your Online Presence: Google views a complete Business Profile as a sign of legitimacy, which can improve your domain’s trustworthiness over time.
To set this up, go to Google My Business and follow the prompts to claim and verify your business. Be sure to add your website link, business hours, and contact info for a complete listing. If you don’t want to use a specific address (i.e. you work from home) you can set a general service area and keep your actual address private).
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Social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube can help generate backlinks to your site while building your audience.
Create Teasers and Previews: Publish short previews of your blog posts, videos, or updates with a link to your site for “more information.” This brings people to your site and improves engagement.
Embed Site Links in Profiles and Bios: Use every opportunity to add your website link to your bio or profile descriptions, making it easy for followers to find your site.
Link to Your Site in Captions and Stories: When possible, add a link to relevant content in your captions and stories to get social traffic directly to your site.
Encourage Social Shares: Ask your followers to share content, building visibility across a broader audience. As more people interact with and share your content, Google takes notice, which can help your site’s authority.
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Backlinks (links from other websites connecting to yours) are valuable for building domain authority. Start by writing guest blog posts for industry-specific sites or submit your website to reputable directories.
Guest Blogging: Reach out to relevant blogs or industry publications where you can share your expertise. Be sure to include a link to your site in your author bio or within the post, where appropriate.
Industry-Specific Directories: Submit your business to directories that cater to your niche. This provides you with backlinks and can help boost your domain’s credibility.
Top Squarespace SEO Tips to Keep Your Site Optimized
To further enhance your Squarespace site’s visibility, here are a few essential SEO tweaks:
Use Alt Text for Images: Alt text helps Google understand the content of images. Add keyword-rich descriptions to your images on Squarespace to help your SEO.
Add Internal Links: Link your content to other pages on your site to help Google discover your content and understand its structure.
Write Unique, Informative Content: Regularly publish helpful blog posts, guides, or service information to keep users engaged and improve your search rankings.
Regularly Monitor Google Search Console: Keep an eye on how your site is performing, fix any errors, and check for any issues with indexing.
The Bottom Line
If your new Squarespace site isn’t showing up in Google, remember it’s completely normal for new sites to take time. While waiting for indexing, you can strengthen your online presence by setting up a Google Maps listing, using social media to drive traffic, and building backlinks through quality content on other platforms. Each step you take helps Google recognize your site as valuable, setting it up for long-term success.
By following these tips, you’ll be giving your site the boost it needs to start climbing in search results, bringing you closer to the customers who need your services the most.
