Local SEO for Squarespace: rank higher in your city

Do you ever wonder why some local businesses pop up instantly when someone searches "near me" while others seem invisible? If you're running a Squarespace local business and feeling frustrated that potential customers can't find you online, I'm here for you.

The good news is that getting your Squarespace site to rank higher in local searches isn't as complicated as it sounds. And you absolutely don't need to be a tech wizard to make it happen.

Why local SEO matters for your Squarespace site

It’s kind of obvious, right? When someone in your city searches for what you offer, you want to be right there in front of them. Local SEO for Squarespace is all about making sure Google knows exactly where you are, what you do, and why you're the perfect match for local searchers.

Think about it. When was the last time you scrolled past page one of Google? Exactly. Your potential customers aren't doing that either.

Start with your Google Business Profile (it’s free)

If you haven't set up your Google Business Profile yet (formerly known as Google My Business), stop everything and do this first. Seriously, this is the foundation of your local visibility - and I wrote a blog post that walks your through exactly how to set it up, which you can find here. So now you have no excuse.

Optimise your Squarespace site for local search

Now let's talk about your actual website. Squarespace makes local SEO easier than many other platforms, but you do need to tell it what you want it to do.

Location, location, location. Make sure your city and service area are mentioned naturally throughout your site—especially on your Home, About, and Contact pages. Don't just bury your location in the footer. If you're a bakery in Brighton, say that loud and proud in your page titles and headings.

Get your Squarespace local business details right. In your Squarespace settings, go to Marketing > SEO and fill out your site description with your location. Something like "Award-winning bakery serving fresh sourdough and pastries in Brighton since 2020" tells both Google and your visitors exactly what you're about.

Use local keywords naturally. You want to weave phrases like "Brighton bakery," "best sourdough in Brighton," or "Brighton artisan bread" into your content—but make it sound natural. Write for humans first, search engines second.

Create location-specific content

Here's where things get fun. Create content that shows you're genuinely part of your local community.

Write blog posts about local events you're involved in, local suppliers you work with, or what makes your city special. If you're a wedding photographer in St Albans, write about the best wedding venues in Hertfordshire. If you're a yoga studio in North London, create a guide to wellness in North London.

This isn't just good for SEO — it shows potential clients that you actually know and love your area.

Make your NAP consistent

NAP stands for Name, Address, and Phone number. Sounds simple, but you'd be amazed how many businesses have slightly different information across different platforms, and when Google notices these inconsistencies they will potentially rank your local business lower than others who have used consistent information across all listings. This means same format, same spelling, same everything. So what do you need to do?

Here’s a quick and easy NAP checklist:

☐ Decide on one exact business name (no variations) and use this across all channels (your website, social media profiles, any directory listings)
☐ Decide on one exact address format (think abbreviations, punctuation) and also use it consistently everywhere
☐ Decide on one primary phone number
☐ Think of the above as your canonical NAP. Record it somewhere and use it consistently.
☐ Add your NAP to your homepage and contact page
☐ Include it in your site-wide footer
☐ Make sure your phone number is clickable on mobile
☐ Use the exact same NAP on your Google Business Profile as your website
☐ Make sure your Business Hours are consistent on all channels
☐ Audit your social media profiles and any business directories you're listed on - make sure you’re NAP format is consistent here too

Gather and respond to reviews

Reviews on your Google Business Profile are gold for local SEO. They signal to Google that you're a legitimate, active business that people actually visit (or use, for service-based businesses) and love. Ask happy customers to leave reviews. Make it easy for them by sending a direct link to your Google review page. And when they do leave a review—whether it's glowing or constructive— make sure you respond to it. Engagement matters.

Build local links

When other local businesses, organisations, or directories link to your Squarespace local business site, it tells Google you're a trusted part of the community. Join your local chamber of commerce. Get listed in local business directories. Sponsor a community event. Partner with complementary local businesses. These connections aren't just good for your visibility—they're good for your actual business too.

Use Squarespace's built-in SEO tools

Squarespace has some nice features that make local SEO easier. Make sure you're using them:

Page titles and descriptions. Every page on your site should have a unique title and meta description that includes your location. Squarespace makes this easy to edit in the SEO panel for each page.

Image alt text. When you upload photos, add descriptive alt text that includes relevant keywords. "Freshly baked sourdough at Brighton Bakery" is better than "bread photo."

Mobile optimisation. Good news—Squarespace sites are automatically mobile-friendly, which is crucial since most local searches happen on phones.

Track your progress

You can't improve what you don't measure. Set up Google Search Console for your Squarespace site. This free tool shows you how people are finding you, what they're searching for, and how your local rankings are improving over time. Also check your Google Business Profile insights regularly. You'll see how many people are viewing your profile, how they found you, and what actions they're taking.

The bottom line

Local SEO for Squarespace doesn't have to be overwhelming. It's really about being consistent, being genuine, and making it crystal clear to both Google and your potential customers where you are and what you do.

You've already done the hard work of building a business you're proud of. Now it's time to make sure people in your locality can actually find you online. Get started by taking the steps outlined above. Use the checklist below to make sure you’re on track.

My local SEO checklist for Squarespace:

☐ Claim Google Business Profile
☐ Add local schema markup
☐ Optimise your title tags with location
☐ Create location-specific pages
☐ Get at least 5 Google reviews
☐ Add NAP to your website footer
☐ Create local content (this can be blog posts about local topics)
☐ Join 5 local business directories

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And if you want a website that's not just beautiful but actually built for local search from the ground up? That's exactly what I do. Let's chat about creating a Squarespace site that gets you found by the right people in your city, county or state.

Want help building a Squarespace website that crushes in local search? I specialise in creating stunning, SEO-optimised Squarespace sites for local businesses. Get in touch and let's make your business impossible to miss.