SEO with Wix: Optimizing Wix Websites for Search Engines

/ SEO, Uncategorized

Wix is a popular website builder that allows users to create beautiful, professional-looking websites without any coding knowledge. But when it comes to SEO, Wix has sometimes gotten a bad rap. In this article, we’ll explore the truth about Wix and SEO, and provide tips for optimizing your Wix site for search engines.

Does Wix Limit SEO?

One common misconception about Wix is that it limits your ability to optimize your site for SEO. In reality, Wix provides a range of SEO features and settings that allow you to control important on-page elements like:

  • Page titles and meta descriptions
  • Header tags (H1, H2, etc.)
  • Image alt
  • Custom URLs
  • Canonical tags
  • 301 redirects
  • XML sitemaps
  • Schema markup

While Wix may not offer quite as much SEO customization as a platform like WordPress, it does give you control over the most critical on-page SEO factors. As long as you take the time to optimize these elements for each page of your site, you can achieve strong SEO results with Wix.

Does Wix Have SEO Plugins?

Unlike WordPress, Wix does not have a plugin system for extending site functionality. This means there are no SEO-specific plugins for Wix.

However, Wix does offer a number of built-in SEO tools and features, including:

  • Wix SEO Wiz: This is a step-by-step guide that walks you through optimizing your Wix site for search engines. It covers topics like site titles, meta descriptions, header tags, and keyword usage.
  • Site Inspection Tool: This tool crawls your Wix site and identifies technical SEO issues like broken links, missing alt text, and duplicate content.
  • SEO Patterns: This feature allows you to set default meta tag patterns for specific sections of your site, like blog posts or product pages. This can save time on manual meta tag optimization.
  • Google Search Console Integration: Wix allows you to easily connect your site to Google Search Console, which provides valuable data and insights about your site’s search performance.

While these built-in tools may not be as extensive as some WordPress SEO plugins, they cover the core SEO bases and make it easy to optimize your Wix site without any technical expertise.

Is Wix or Squarespace Better for SEO?

Another common comparison is between Wix and Squarespace in terms of SEO capabilities. Both platforms offer SEO features and can be optimized for search, but there are a few key differences:

  • Customization: Squarespace offers slightly more customization options for SEO, particularly when it comes to modifying page titles and meta descriptions. With Wix, you have a bit less granular control over these elements.
  • URL Structures: Squarespace generates cleaner, more search-friendly URL structures out of the box. Wix URLs can sometimes include extra characters or parameters that are less ideal for SEO.
  • Site Speed: In general, Squarespace sites tend to load slightly faster than Wix sites. Site speed is an important ranking factor, so this could give Squarespace a slight edge.
  • Sitemaps: Squarespace automatically generates a sitemap for your site, while with Wix you need to manually create and submit your sitemap to search engines.

That said, the differences between Wix and Squarespace for SEO are relatively minor. Both platforms can be effectively optimized for search, and the most important factor will be the quality and relevance of your actual site content.

How Do I Do SEO on Wix?

To optimize your Wix site for SEO, follow these key steps:

  1. Do your keyword research: Use tools like Google Keyword Planner to identify the keywords and phrases your target audience is searching for. These will inform your on-page optimization and content strategy.
  2. Optimize your page titles and descriptions: For each page on your site, write a unique, keyword-rich title tag and meta description. Keep titles under 60 characters and descriptions under 155 characters.
  3. Use header tags appropriately: Use H1 tags for your main page titles, and H2-H6 tags to structure your page content hierarchically. Include relevant keywords in your header tags where appropriate.
  4. Optimize your images: Include descriptive, keyword-rich file names and alt text for all images on your site. This helps search engines understand your visual content.
  5. Set up your site hierarchy: Organize your site pages into a clear, logical hierarchy. Use your site navigation to help search engines understand the structure and importance of your pages.
  6. Create quality content: Ultimately, the most important SEO factor is the quality and relevance of your site content. Focus on creating unique, valuable content that meets the needs of your target audience.
  7. Build quality backlinks: Reach out to other sites and influencers in your niche to secure high-quality backlinks to your content. This helps build your site’s authority and improves your chances of ranking.
  8. Use Wix’s SEO features: Take advantage of Wix’s built-in SEO features like the SEO Wiz, Site Inspection tool, and Google Search Console integration to find and fix any technical SEO issues.

By following these SEO best practices, you can optimize your Wix site to rank higher in search results and drive more organic traffic.

Does Wix SEO Cost Money?

Wix’s core SEO features are included with all Wix plans, even the free version. This means you can optimize your page titles, meta descriptions, header tags, and other on-page elements without paying extra.

However, Wix does offer some advanced SEO and marketing features as part of its higher-tier paid plans, such as:

  • Site Booster: This is an app that helps submit your site to directories and search engines to increase visibility.
  • Visitor Analytics: This provides more detailed insights about your site traffic and visitor behavior.
  • Professional Site Review: This is a one-on-one consultation with a Wix SEO expert who will review your site and provide personalized recommendations.

While these extra features can be helpful, they’re not essential for SEO success. You can effectively optimize your Wix site using the platform’s core SEO features and following general SEO best practices.

In summary, while Wix may have had a reputation for being less than ideal for SEO in the past, the platform has made significant strides in recent years. By taking advantage of Wix’s built-in SEO features and following on-page optimization best practices, you can absolutely achieve strong organic search rankings and traffic with a Wix site.

The most important factor, as with any website platform, is creating high-quality, relevant, and keyword-optimized content that meets the needs of your target audience. By focusing on your content and user experience first and foremost, and using Wix’s SEO tools to ensure your technical bases are covered, you can build a search-engine-friendly website that drives business results.