> guides/wix-squarespace-seo.txt
Is Wix (or Squarespace)
Bad for SEO?
Somebody's told you your website is holding you back because it's on Wix. Maybe it is. More often, the problem is what's on it. Here's a fair answer, what the real limits are, and how to move without losing the rankings you've already got if you do decide to switch.
> quick_answer.txt
Quick Answer
No, not for most small business websites. Wix and Squarespace both let you edit page titles, descriptions and URLs, set up 301 redirects, and they produce mobile-friendly pages with a sitemap and SSL. A local business with a well-written ten-page site can rank perfectly well on either.
Where they hold you back is control. You can't choose your hosting, speed tuning is mostly out of your hands, some technical settings are locked, and when you outgrow the platform, you can't take the site with you. Those limits matter more as a site grows, or if you're competing hard nationally.
> reputation.txt
Where the Bad Reputation Came From
Years ago, early Wix sites were built in a way Google struggled to read, and the reputation stuck. Both platforms have changed a lot since. Wix in particular has put real effort into its SEO settings, and you'll find people ranking well on both.
What hasn't changed is that a site builder makes it easy to publish a site that looks nice and says very little. Five pages, a few lines on each, no mention of the town you work in or the services people search for. That site would struggle on any platform. The platform gets the blame because it's the easiest thing to point at.
> compare.csv
What You Can and Can't Do
The SEO settings that come up most, as of November 2026. Features change, so check your own plan.
| Setting | Wix | Squarespace | WordPress |
|---|---|---|---|
| Page titles and descriptions | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Custom page URLs | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 301 redirects | Yes, redirect manager with bulk upload | Yes, typed into URL Mappings | Yes, plugin or server |
| Editing robots.txt | Yes | No, it's generated for you | Yes |
| Structured data | Automatic on some page types, plus your own | Some automatic, more via code injection | Plugins or custom code |
| Choice of hosting and speed tuning | No | No | Yes |
| Multiple languages | Built in | Through a paid add-on | Plugins |
| Taking the site elsewhere | No full export | Partial export only | Full export |
> real_limits.txt
The Real Limits
These are the ones that actually cost people rankings or money. Most small sites never hit them.
Speed
Both run your site on their own servers, with their own code. They're decent, but you can't strip out what you don't need, change hosting or fine-tune how pages load. Pile on apps, video backgrounds and big images and there's not much you can do to claw it back.
Technical Control
Most of the time the defaults are fine. But when you need something specific, like editing robots.txt on Squarespace, changing how certain URLs are structured, or controlling exactly what's in the page code, you hit a wall and there's no way round it.
Blogging at Scale
Both have perfectly usable blogs for a post a month. If content is your main way of winning search traffic, with hundreds of articles, categories and internal linking, WordPress was built for exactly that and gives you far more control over how it's organised.
Multiple Languages
Wix has multilingual built in. Squarespace relies on a third-party add-on that's a separate subscription. If you need a proper bilingual Welsh and English site, it's worth checking how each one handles the language versions before you commit.
Lock-In
This is the big one. Wix doesn't let you export your site to another host. Squarespace exports only some content, in a format meant for WordPress. When you leave either one, you're rebuilding, and the longer you've been there, the bigger that job gets.
Ecommerce Growth
Fine for a small shop. As the catalogue, product feeds and integrations grow, Shopify or WooCommerce usually give you more room, especially for Google Shopping and tracking.
> stay_or_go.txt
Signs It's Time to Move
If two or three of these sound like you, the platform is probably starting to cost you. If none do, fix the content first.
- You've hit a technical setting you can't change, and it's affecting how Google reads the site.
- The site is slow on a phone and you've already cut the apps, videos and oversized images.
- You're competing nationally against sites with serious content and technical SEO behind them.
- You want to publish a lot of content and need proper control over categories, internal links and structure.
- You need features the platform can't do, like a custom quote or booking system, without bolting on apps that slow everything down.
- The monthly fees and paid add-ons now cost more than hosting a site you actually own.
> where_to.txt
WordPress or Custom?
For most businesses moving off a builder, I'd go to WordPress. It's what I build most sites on. You own it, you can host it anywhere, you can update it yourself, and there's nothing in SEO it can't do. My business sites start from £1,500 and include a year's hosting. My web design cost guide breaks down where the money goes.
A custom build makes sense when the website has to do a specific job, like quoting prices, taking bookings or connecting to your own systems. Those start from £3,000. More on my web design page.
The trade-off with leaving a builder is that someone has to look after the site. WordPress needs updates, backups and security, which is what my hosting and care plans are for. If you'd rather never think about any of that, staying on Wix or Squarespace is a fair choice.
> migrate.txt
How to Move Without Losing Rankings
Building the new site is the easy bit. Keeping what the old one has earned is where moves go wrong.
List Every URL
Every page, blog post, product and category on the old site. Crawl it, and pull the sitemap. Builder URLs often have their own patterns, like Wix's /post/ for blog posts or /product-page/ for products, and those won't exist on the new site.
Find What Earns Its Keep
Search Console shows which pages get clicks and impressions, your analytics shows which ones bring enquiries. Those pages keep their content, even if they get a new design.
Map Old to New, One by One
Every old URL gets a new home, ideally the closest matching page, never just the homepage. Set each one up as a 301 redirect, which tells Google the page has moved for good.
Keep the Domain
Same domain name. If it was bought through Wix or Squarespace, transfer it or point it at the new host, and check whether your email runs through it before you touch anything.
Launch and Test
Test the redirects, submit the new sitemap in Search Console, and check the important pages are indexed. Make sure your tracking moved over too, or you'll be guessing.
Watch It for a Few Months
Google says to expect some temporary movement during a move, and for a medium site it can take a few weeks or more to settle. Keep the redirects for at least a year, ideally for good.
> before_you_decide.txt
Before You Decide
Run your site through the free website checker. It checks the SEO basics and your tracking tags in a few seconds, and it'll often show the problem is something you can fix where you are.
If you want a person to look at it, ask for a free 15-minute review. I'll tell you honestly whether the platform is the problem or whether it's what's on it. If staying put is the right answer, that's what I'll say.
> faq.txt
Questions People Ask
The ones I get most about Wix, Squarespace and SEO. If yours isn't here, just ask.
Is Wix or Squarespace better for SEO?
For a small business site, there's not much in it. Wix gives you a bit more technical control, like editing robots.txt and bulk redirects. Squarespace is simpler and tidier out of the box. Your content and your Google Business Profile matter far more than which one you pick.
Will moving from Wix to WordPress improve my rankings?
Not on its own. A move gives you more control and usually a faster site, but rankings come from content, links and getting the technical basics right. If the new site says the same thin things as the old one, expect the same results.
Will I lose my rankings if I change platform?
You shouldn't, if it's done properly. Keep the domain, keep the content of pages that perform, and 301 redirect every old URL to its new home. Expect some movement for a few weeks while Google catches up.
Can I export my Wix site to WordPress?
Not as a whole site. Wix doesn't offer a full export. You can export some data, like blog content and product lists, but the pages and design have to be rebuilt. Squarespace exports some content in a WordPress format, but not everything.
Is Squarespace good for a small business website?
Yes, if you want something tidy that you can update yourself and you don't need much beyond the basics. Write proper pages about what you do and where you do it, and it'll hold its own in local search.
> ls ../web
Where to Go Next
Thinking about a new site, or just want to check the one you've got.
> new_message.txt
Wondering If It's Time to Move?
Send me your website and what's bothering you about it. I'll tell you whether the platform is really the problem, and if you're better off staying put, I'll say so.
"Matt was really responsive throughout the whole process - no questions went unanswered and Matt was really engaged in the whole process."
Lizzie Hill · Abergele Golf Club