How to Add Meta Descriptions in Squarespace
Want more clicks to your website from Google? One thing that can help is creating good meta descriptions for your web pages.
But what are meta descriptions? You’ve probably heard the term and know that they’re important to SEO in some way. How do they help your SEO? How do you write them? And, how do you add them to your Squarespace website?
What Are Meta Descriptions?
If you’ve searched for anything on Google, DuckDuckGo, or Bing you’ve already seen a meta description.
The meta description is the little blurb or description that appears under the page title and breadcrumb in the search results. It’s there to give searchers an idea about your pages content so they can decide if they want to click your link.
In Squarespace this is referred to as your SEO description.
Why Are Meta Descriptions Important for SEO?
You might be surprised to know that meta descriptions don’t directly impact your search ranking (your web page’s position in the search results).
They were once a factor, but in 2009 Google stated that it will no longer use meta descriptions as a ranking factor.
So, why are they important to SEO? Do you still need them?
Yes, you still need meta descriptions.
Meta descriptions give you a chance to tell searchers what your page is about, and lets them know if your page is relevant to their search. This directly impacts your CTR or click through rate. This rate is how often your links are being clicked when shown in search results.
And, since Google wants to show the most relevant answers to its search questions, it uses the click through rate in its calculations to decide where your page will rank in search.
Meta Descriptions & Social Media
Search results aren’t the only places that you will see your meta descriptions. Social media sites like Facebook will use your meta descriptions when you share your links.
How to Change Your Meta Description in Squarespace
In Squarespace meta descriptions are called SEO descriptions. You can add an SEO description for every page in Squarespace as well as your blog posts and products. There is also a site wide SEO description that is used for your home page.
Each SEO section will show you a preview of your page title and description in the search results.
Add a Squarespace SEO Site Description
Because your home page is one of the most important pages on your site, make sure to add a site meta description here.
From your Home Menu click on the settings icon
Click Marketing, then click SEO Appearance
In the Home tab, write your meta description under SEO Site Description
Click Save
While in the SEO Appearance section you can also change the format of the page titles and item SEO titles.
Change the Meta Description for Your Squarespace Page
These steps will work for all pages except the home page. They are also the steps for the main page of a collection (blog or store).
From your Home Menu click Website > Pages
In the Pages Menu hover over your page and click the cog icon to access the Page Settings
Click SEO
Write your meta description under SEO Description
Click Save
Adding Squarespace Meta Descriptions to Your Blog Posts
To add your SEO description for the main page the steps are almost the same in Squarespace 7.0 and Squarespace 7.1 (see section above). When we get to the blog posts though, adding a meta description is different in the two versions.
Squarespace 7.0
From your Home Menu click Website > Pages
Click on your Blog to access the posts
Hover over the blog post and click Edit
Click on the SEO tab
Write your meta description in the SEO Description box
Click Save
Squarespace 7.1
From your Home Menu click Website
Click on your Blog to access the posts
Hover over the blog post and click the three dots •••
Click Settings from the dropdown menu
In the Blog Post Settings click SEO
Write your meta description under SEO Description
Click Save
What Happens if I Don’t Add a Meta Description?
If you don’t add an SEO description Squarespace will use the first 2-3 sentences of your page instead. While this could work out for some pages, for other pages it won’t make any sense. Or it won’t be a good representation of what’s actually on the page, so it could lead to a lot of bounces from frustrated visitors.
Why Isn’t My Meta Description Showing in Google?
Even if you add a meta description into all the SEO description fields, there is no guarantee that they will be used. Sometimes Google or other search engines will use different text from your page that it thinks is a better answer to the search questions or a better description of your page. It’s also possible that your description is too long or too short.
There’s no sure way to get Google to show your meta description. You can try to rewrite it or you can decide that Google’s description works and is getting you clicks.
Tips for Writing Your Squarespace Meta Descriptions
Use Your Keywords!
You don’t want to overstuff your SEO description with keywords, but you do want to include terms that your users are searching. Google will bold search terms in its results.
It’s a good idea to use your keywords at the beginning of your description. Google will understand that these words are important.
Keep Your Description to 160 Characters
There aren’t actually any character limits to meta descriptions, but Google and other search engines will cut your description off at 160 characters. Since you don’t want a description that is too short either, a good rule is to keep your SEO description at 150-160 characters.
Make Your Meta Descriptions Unique
Give your each of pages unique meta descriptions. Duplicate descriptions can confuse search engines. This can lower your rank in search and your website pages can end up stealing search traffic from each other (cannibalization).
Write for Your Visitors
I always think this is the most important tip. Think about what your ideal client wants and needs from your page. Answer their questions. Tell them why your page is relevant. Give them a good description of your page. You want visitors to click and stay on your site.
