Where Is Metadata on Squarespace?

Metadata on Squarespace plays a pivotal role in enhancing SEO (Search Engine Optimization) and improving the visibility of your website on search engines like Google. Metadata generally consists of the meta title, meta description, and keywords, among other elements. Here's a detailed guide on where and how to locate and manage metadata on Squarespace:

Accessing and Editing Metadata on Squarespace

1. Page-Level Metadata

Each individual page on your Squarespace site can have its own metadata, which helps search engines understand the content of that specific page.

• Steps to Edit Page-level Metadata:
• Login to Squarespace: Go to Squarespace and log in to your account.
• Navigate to Pages: In the Home Menu, click on "Pages."
• Select a Page: Choose the page you wish to add or edit metadata for.
• Settings: Click the gear icon (⚙️) next to the page name to open the page settings.
• SEO Tab: In the Page Settings, navigate to the “SEO” tab.

Here, you can add or edit the following: - SEO Title: This appears as the clickable headline in search engine results. - SEO Description: A short summary that provides more context about the page content, shown underneath the SEO title in search results. - URL Slug: The part of the URL specific to the page which can also impact SEO.

• Considerations:
• SEO Titles: Should be concise (50-60 characters) and include primary keywords.
• Descriptions: Should be between 150-160 characters for optimal display in search results.
• Default SEO Settings: You can set default SEO options during initial site setup, but individual page settings override these.

2. Site-Level Metadata

Global metadata can be applied to your entire site and affects overall visibility to search engines.

• Steps to Edit Site-level Metadata:
• Login to Squarespace: Log in to your Squarespace account.
• Settings: From the Home Menu, click on “Marketing.”
• SEO: Within the Marketing section, select the “SEO” option.

Here, you can manage: - Site Title: This is the default title that can be overridden by individual page SEO titles. - Site Description: A global description that applies to the entire site.

• Considerations:
• Default Values: Always set compelling default values, as they will apply to pages without specific metadata.
• Consistency: Ensure consistency in keywords used across site-level and page-level metadata for better SEO results.

3. Blog Posts Metadata

If your site includes a blog, each post can have its own metadata.

• Steps to Edit Blog Post Metadata:
• Navigate to the Blog: From the Home Menu, click on “Pages” and then select your blog page.
• Select a Post: Click on a blog post you want to edit.
• Options: Click “Options” for blog posts.

• SEO and Social Sharing: Here, you can add SEO title, description, and social sharing images.

• Considerations:

• Post Titles: Make them engaging and keyword-rich.
• Post Descriptions: Summarize the blog post in an enticing way that encourages clicks.

Additional SEO Settings

1. Advanced SEO Settings:

Squarespace also provides advanced SEO settings where you can add site-wide metadata like:

• Social Sharing Settings: Adjust how your site appears when shared on social media platforms.
• Google Search Keywords: Although keywords are not as critical as they once were, they can still be included in the metadata for better context.

Practical Tips

• Use Keywords Wisely: Don’t stuff titles and descriptions with keywords; maintain natural readability.
• Regular Updates: Periodically review and update metadata to match current SEO trends and site content.
• Third-Party Integrations: Consider using tools like Google Analytics and Google Search Console for further insights and tweaks.

Conclusion

Metadata on Squarespace is a crucial aspect of your site’s SEO strategy and can be easily managed at both page and site levels through the platform’s user-friendly interface. By following the above steps and maintaining best practices, you can enhance your site’s search engine visibility, driving more organic traffic to your website.