Why Doesn't My Squarespace Domain Appear in Search Results?

There are many reasons why your Squarespace domain might not appear in the search results. This can be a particular problem. If you don’t have a presence on Google or another search engine, then the amount of traffic that you have to your website will be limited. If you’re looking to earn revenue from your website, this can really hamper your website’s progress.

How much Traffic Should you Generate from Search Engines?

The first thing to consider is that you should be getting between 70 and 80% of your traffic generated by your SEO. If you are not getting this level of traffic from organic search, then there is something wrong with your website.

So if you’re a small business that has about 10 visitors per day but only about 2 from organic search, then you know you are underperforming. You should be getting at least 50-60 people per day from search engines.

What can Impact the Performance of SEO

There are many aspects that can hinder the success of your website on search engines. Here is a quick list of some of the potential problems that you might face.

Not Enough Keywords

The first problem is that you don’t have the right keywords on your website. Keywords are very important for your website, it tells Google what your website is about. If you sell something like boys' shoes, then this should be a keyword that you are using on your website. This should be included in a page’s title, a few times throughout the copy of the page, and within the meta description of the page. You should also include images that have the title, alt text, and description that includes the keyword.

No Inbound Links

Another problem is that you have no recommendations for your website. This is done through inbound links, which is another website linking to yours. This is easy to do by getting your website noticed by others and asking for them to link to your website from relevant content on their website.

For instance, if you write a blog post about how to fit a new tap and then find a website that has written a blog post about the best taps to fit, you can ask the writer to link to your website. You should be looking to add at least 10 if not 20 new inbound links every month.

Blogging

Blogging is one of the top ways to improve traffic to a website. Research has shown that those brands that blog at least 15 times a month will receive lots more traffic, generate leads, and build sales.

Blogs should be at least 1250 words long and include lots of content like images and video.

Understanding the Indexing Process

Before diving into specific issues, it's crucial to grasp the basics of the search engine indexing process. Search engines like Google use bots to crawl the web, discovering and indexing new and updated content.

However, if your Squarespace domain is new or has recently undergone significant changes, it might not be indexed immediately. The time it takes for a search engine to index your site can vary, impacting when and how it appears in search results.

Technical Issues Affecting Domain Visibility

Incorrect Domain Configuration

One common oversight is incorrect domain configuration. Ensuring your domain is properly set up and pointed to your Squarespace site is fundamental. A misconfiguration can lead to search engines either not finding your site at all or indexing it under a domain name you didn't intend.

Site Not Set to Public

Squarespace sites can be set to "Private" for various reasons, such as during development or for exclusive content. However, a private setting will prevent search engines from crawling and indexing your site, making it invisible in search results.

Always check to ensure your site's visibility is set to "Public" once it's ready to be viewed by the wider audience.

Robots.txt File Restrictions

The robots.txt file tells search engine bots which pages or sections of your site to crawl and which to ignore. An incorrect setup in this file can inadvertently block search engines from accessing your entire site or essential parts of it, significantly affecting your site's search visibility.

When facing Squarespace Troubleshooting and Issues, it's also important to consider content quality and site structure:

Duplicate Content

Search engines penalize sites with substantial duplicate content, as this can be seen as an attempt to manipulate search rankings. Ensure each page on your Squarespace site offers unique, valuable content to avoid being flagged for duplication.

Thin Content

Pages with very little informative content are often deemed "thin" by search engines and may not rank well. Expanding pages with low word count by adding more relevant and detailed information can improve both user experience and search rankings.

Enhancing Site Structure for Better Indexing

Improving Navigation and URL Structure

A well-organized site with clear navigation helps search engines understand your website's structure, leading to better indexing. Utilizing descriptive, keyword-relevant URLs for each page also contributes to this clarity, assisting both users and search engines.

Mobile Responsiveness

With the increasing emphasis on mobile search, having a mobile-responsive site is non-negotiable. Squarespace designs are inherently mobile-friendly, but customizations can sometimes interfere with this responsiveness. Regularly test your site on various devices to ensure a seamless mobile user experience.

Navigating Squarespace SEO Challenges

Ensuring your Squarespace domain appears in search results involves a multifaceted approach, addressing both technical settings and content quality. Regularly reviewing and optimizing these areas can dramatically improve your site's visibility and performance in search engines.

Remember, SEO is an ongoing process, and keeping up with best practices is key to achieving and maintaining search visibility.

Conclusion: Why Doesn't My Squarespace Domain Appear in Search Results?

There are many reasons why your brand's Squarespace website might not appear in search results on Google. Above are some of the reasons why you aren’t listed and offer some quick ways you can quickly improve your ranking to be found.