There are many individuals who express dissatisfaction with the performance of website builders in search engines. Certain individuals claim that it is not feasible to achieve high rankings with them. However, the reality is that they are not significantly distinct from other tools used for building websites; what truly matters is the manner in which they are utilized.
To achieve success, it is necessary to dedicate time and effort. Nevertheless, it is worth mentioning that certain tools have limitations and may not be suitable for SEO-intensive projects. However, we believe that the majority of problems arise from a poorly executed or non-existent SEO strategy.
Starting with a brief introduction, we have created this guide specifically for beginners, concentrating on SEO for website builders like Wix, Webnode, Zyro, Webnode, and Squarespace. Throughout the guide, we will address some fundamental SEO inquiries you may have.
What is SEO (search engine optimization)?
SEO refers to a collection of methods aimed at boosting a website’s position in search engine rankings such as Google or Bing. The main objective is to enhance visibility, with the ultimate goal of securing a top ranking on these search engines. This achievement translates into increased clicks and visitor numbers. Unlike paid traffic through platforms like Google AdWords or Facebook Ads, the visitors generated from SEO (also referred to as organic traffic) are obtained without any cost.
You may be wondering: “Hold on, free? Is there a catch?” Well, you’re correct, there is indeed a catch. Regrettably, you are not the initial participant in the SEO event, as numerous websites are already vying for natural traffic. A significant number of these websites invest considerable time and resources into enhancing their search rankings.
Although it’s not completely free, keep reading to understand how search engines operate and how you can enhance your SEO performance using a website builder.
If you’re looking for a more comprehensive understanding of the foundational aspects of SEO, we recommend watching this video.
So, how do I get to the top, then?
The search engine results are arranged in a hierarchical manner, with higher rankings receiving more clicks and visits. Typically, being ranked at #1 will result in approximately 60% of all clicks. This percentage decreases significantly to 15.8% at #2 and to around 7.9% at #3 (Source).
How does a search engine possibly determine which website to rank as number one?
Search engines aim to provide a collection of smoothly-working sites with relevant, high-quality content in order to satisfy users and ensure their happiness when they search for something.
Let’s now examine the essential elements:
The keyword: The center of the (search) universe
The SEO life-cycle begins with a keyword, which could be likened to the Higgs boson particle of SEO. However, I am not very knowledgeable about science, so please do not take my word for it.
Hey, keywords are the searches users make, like “cars” or “cool cars” or “cool red cars” or “cool red cars with white stripes.” It’s quite accurate, isn’t it?
If there is one thing you remember from this article, it should be this:
To receive visits from search engines, it is necessary to optimize each page for a specific primary keyword (e.g. cool red cars) as Google ranks individual pages rather than entire websites.
In order to maintain the same meaning, the given text can be rephrased as follows: Also, it is possible to include secondary keywords that are relevant to help improve rankings for variations, such as automobiles that are red with white stripes.
To ensure optimal content publication, it is advisable to conduct keyword research using Google’s Keyword Planner. This allows you to determine the primary keyword by scrutinizing the search volumes and competition level of potential keywords.
If you find it confusing, do not panic! There are detailed tutorials available to assist you in this process. For instance, you can watch this video for help.
Getting keyword search volumes has become quite challenging on Google. However, there are alternative tools available to assist in this regard. Consider utilizing tools such as Keyword Tool, Ahrefs, SEMrush, or Ubersuggest.
On-Page vs. Off-Page SEO
The most important aspect for your user and Google in relation to your website is its content. This is referred to as On-Page optimization. It is crucial that your web page provides value to your visitor. To enhance the visibility of your content, consider incorporating video and audio elements alongside your text and images. For a comprehensive list of relevant factors concerning On-Page optimization, refer to this article.
However, this is just one aspect of the situation. At present, search engines lack the intelligence to determine content quality solely by processing it in their supercomputers. Another signal is required for this purpose, and this leads us to Off-Page optimization.
The Google founders discovered long ago that websites with more backlinks from external sites are likely to have better quality compared to sites with fewer links. As a result, search engines have consistently prioritized this metric.
Apart from producing top-notch content, there are limited options for influencing other websites to link to yours on your own page. However, you can engage in activities such as running campaigns, such as guest blog posts or press releases, which fall under the category of Off-Page SEO. It is important to exercise caution as search engines have reservations about certain techniques, particularly those involving purchasing backlinks. For further details in this realm, refer to the Moz article provided.
Competition: choose your keywords wisely
It’s important to be cautious when selecting your keywords and avoid highly competitive environments, as the internet is a fiercely competitive space. If the competition is too strong, it will be challenging to achieve a high ranking, and even if you do, someone will always be attempting to surpass your position.
To maintain your position at the top for an extended period in less competitive environments, it is necessary to put in some effort by thoroughly researching and preparing. This way, you could potentially remain at the top for weeks, months, or even years.
When considering opening a restaurant, would you prefer choosing a street in a small town that already has seven restaurants? Is it a wise business choice to open a new restaurant? Personally, I would rather invest in a fishmonger or a butcher that can supply food to the existing restaurants. The fundamental principles of supply and demand also hold true for search engine rankings.
Website Builders & SEO: set it up for success
After providing an introduction to key aspects of SEO, we can now delve into the topic of whether website builders are capable of effectively performing SEO tasks. Additionally, we will discuss which website builder is considered the most optimal for this purpose.
We will only focus on On-Page SEO aspects as Off-Page optimization is unrelated to the tool used. Moz is a reliable source in this area, thus we have utilized some of their key on-page factors in the following table.
| Element | Comment |
|---|---|
| Page Title | The title that shows in the search engine results. Make sure the targeted keyword appears as close as possible to the beginning of the sentence. |
| Headings | This refers to the headings of the page. Include the targeted keyword in the headers. It is good to be able to have structured, hierarchical headings (e.g. H1, H2, H3, etc.). |
| Body Text | Repeat the main keyword in the body of your page or article, but don’t overdo it as it can make the text sound unnatural. Include relevant synonyms too. |
| URL | Google likes seeing the keyword in the URL. For example, if you target “pizza recipes” try something like this: www.mysite.com/pizza-recepies. |
| Images name & alt attribute | Images are important, search engines can’t read their content, though, so they rely on their name and the alt attribute. For example, if you have an image of a red car, a name such as “red-car.jpeg” is better than one such as “image9884.jpeg”. Additionally, add the relevant keyword to the alt attribute of images . And whilst you are here, make sure your images size are optimized for the web, TinyPNG will make it easy for you. |
| Link structure | You should be able to go from one page of your site to another with less than 4 clicks. The more you link your pages amongst themselves, the easier it is for Google and other site engines to navigate (crawl) through your site. |
| Meta Description | This refers to the short blurb under the ‘Page Title’ that shows in search engines. This element isn’t as important as it used to be, but adding your keyword here is still relevant. |
| Search engine instructions | Sometimes you don’t want pages being indexed (e.g. pages with private content, the ‘contact us’ page, etc.). Therefore, it’s convenient to have a site builder that allows you to discourage search engines from showing a page. |
It is important to note that there are additional technical aspects that we have not discussed, such as optimizing image size and ensuring a positive user experience.
Best Website Builder for SEO – 5 Prominent Names in 2023
If you are planning on starting to sell online, it is extremely important to find the most suitable website builder for SEO. This will enable you to improve your ranking in search engine results pages (SERPs), reach a wider target audience, generate increased revenue, and establish long-lasting brand recognition.
#1. WordPress
What is WordPress?
When considering the top website builder for SEO optimization, we must acknowledge WordPress! There are two versions of WordPress available: WordPress.com and WordPress.org, which are responsible for powering over 25% of all websites. WordPress.org is a free and open-source CMS, making it the most widely used and simplest method for building your own website or blog.
Is WordPress good for SEO?
To start, having a WordPress website that is user-friendly and professional is beneficial for SEO because it can decrease the overall bounce rate. Moreover, WordPress allows users to utilize File Manager plugins to upload, edit, and handle XML, HTML sitemaps, and robots.txt files. Furthermore, by implementing canonical tags and redirects, you have the ability to enhance your site’s SEO score.
WordPress, known as the top website builder for SEO, enables you to alter URLs and generate well-structured permalinks that are favorable to search engines. With the assistance of renowned search engine optimization applications like Yoast SEO, you have the capability to modify meta descriptions on every page of your website. Moreover, you can conveniently include alt tags to the images directly on your WordPress site.
WordPress offers a wide range of free and paid SEO-friendly, responsive, and fast-loading themes, making it one of the most impressive SEO features of the platform. Additionally, changing your WordPress themes can be accomplished in just four simple steps, allowing you to give your website a fresh look.
You can easily optimize the media files on your WordPress website by using plugins to avoid slowing down your site. In addition, it is quick to integrate your WordPress site with top search engine optimization tools like Google Search Console and Google Analytics. Furthermore, utilizing social networking plugins can also assist your SEO endeavors.
WordPress SEO plugins
- All in One SEO.
- Yoast SEO.
- MonsterInsights.
- Rank Math.
- Premium SEO Pack.
- WP Meta SEO.
- W3 Total Cache.
- Rankie.
- SEO 2021 by SQUIRRLY.
- Redirection.
- Schema – All in One Schema Rich Snippets.
- Ahrefs.
- SEMrush Writing Assistant.
- SEOPress.
#2. Wix
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Since its establishment in 2006, Wix has been a dependable host for 4,519,827 functioning websites worldwide. This platform operates in the cloud and provides all the necessary tools for creating and managing an online store. Wix’s user-friendly drag-and-drop interface and comprehensive features make it particularly suitable for newcomers and individuals without coding experience.
Is Wix good for SEO?
Wix has built-in SEO functionality in its dashboard, so there is no need for third-party solutions. It is considered the best free website builder for SEO because it offers a free plan and allows users to customize meta titles, meta descriptions, URL structure, and structured data markup.
Wix immediately generates an XML sitemap and a robots.txt file for your website. SSL encryption is also provided for your Wix websites. Moreover, you have the option to include canonical tags with HTTPS instead of HTTP for all pages on your Wix website.
With an impressive 99% uptime, Wix is a leading website builder known for its fast loading speed. Users of this website builder can enhance their SEO by adding alt attributes to images and creating 301 redirects. Additionally, Wix includes Site Booster in all paid plans, making it possible for your website to be Google friendly.
You can easily create a Wix website for mobile and tablets and customize it to be responsive on any screen. Your images are compressed, resized, and converted to WebP for quicker page loading. This excellent website builder allows you to easily link your website to Google Analytics and Google Search Console.
#3. Squarespace
If you are searching for the top SEO website builder for photographers, Squarespace is an ideal option as it is a widely used CMS that enables the creation of websites, blogs, portfolios, and online stores. It offers toolkits that businesses can utilize to design professional sites without the need for complex coding.
| – No app store
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In recent times, Squarespace has focused on enhancing its eCommerce capabilities, resulting in a significant number of 2,870,314 individuals using it as a platform to launch their online businesses.
Is Squarespace good for SEO?
To begin with, Squarespace allows users to include a user-friendly settings box on each page of their Squarespace website. In addition, this box enables users to modify the website’s URL and add meta titles and descriptions. Squarespace has already handled certain crucial SEO aspects for users, such as ensuring site performance and guaranteeing uptime.
You have the option to generate automatic 301 redirects for your Squarespace website, eliminating the need for manual addition of an XML site. Additionally, Squarespace offers support for Google’s Accelerated Mobile Pages (AMP) and ensures SSL certificates encryption for websites hosted on their platform.
It should be mentioned that all websites created with Squarespace are designed to be mobile-friendly, meaning they will adapt to fit the screen and allow for touch interactions. Additionally, Squarespace offers integration with more than 30 social media platforms, which can contribute to your site being considered trustworthy by Google.
#4. Weebly
Weebly, a freemium website builder, allows users to use it for free, and offers additional features or services at a cost. Weebly is highly regarded as an affordable website builder for SEO, and is employed by over 142,277 eCommerce websites globally.
Weebly can be utilized by users to design an appealing website interface, establish a personal blog, or set up an online store. Moreover, this platform offers a drag-and-drop builder and a range of responsive templates to aid merchants in creating a polished website without the need for technical expertise.
| – Limited drag-and-drop customization
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Is Weebly good for SEO?
There is a free version of Weebly that allows you to use a Weebly subdomain at no cost, for example, YourSite.Weebly.com. The premium versions are also reasonably priced, starting at $6.00 per month, and offer free custom domains.
Just like Squarespace and Wix, Weebly allows you to enhance the ranking of your website in search engine result pages (SERPs) by adding custom tags to headers and footers, as well as other structured data. Weebly ensures that all important elements, like meta titles and descriptions, or web analytics, are managed internally.
Weebly, being the most user-friendly website builder available, allows you to easily add new pages for creating more detailed child pages with abundant keywords. Additionally, the in-page metadata editor enables you to effortlessly modify title tags and meta descriptions for the purpose of SEO.
In addition to enabling you to add a blog to your website, Weebly also permits you to integrate schema. Blogs are a great tool for enhancing the quality of SEO as they establish your expertise in addressing visitors’ inquiries. By incorporating high-quality content on your blog and employing various on-page SEO techniques, you can boost the visibility of your site to visitors and improve your likelihood of achieving a higher ranking in search engines.
Weebly SEO tools
- Moz.
- Google Search Console.
- Google AdWords Keyword Planner.
- Site Booster.
- BuzzSumo.
- POWr FAQ.
- Antiviruses.
- Google Webmaster Tools.
#5. GoDaddy
One of the top SEO websites in the world, Godaddy is the largest domain registrar and hosting provider. It offers a range of services including domain name registration, worldwide domain transfer, hosting, VPS, email service, and SSL security.
Similar to Wix, GoDaddy offers its users an ADI website builder option along with basic eCommerce capabilities, a marketing suite, and other features to facilitate the streamlining of their eCommerce operations.
| – Lack of apps
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Is GoDaddy good for SEO?
GoDaddy offers two effective SEO services, namely GoDaddy Search Engine Optimization and GoDaddy Search Engine Visibility, to improve your ranking. Additionally, you can also explore other impressive SEO offerings from GoDaddy, such as SEO managed services or GoDaddy Insights.
Using GoDaddy, users can simply integrate their sites with Google Search Console and Google Analytics. There is also an SEO Wizard to guide you through steps to optimize your site .
In addition, the dashboard allows users to handle their Google Business Profile. The ultra-fast hosting service provided by GoDaddy ensures that your website achieves an optimal loading speed, leading to improved search results and enhanced user experiences.
GoDaddy offers users the capability to customize SEO titles, meta descriptions, and image alt-tags, along with a free SSL certificate, built-in website optimization tools, and a direct connection to social networks.
GoDaddy SEO tools
- Keyword Tool.
- Ubersuggest.
- Answer The Public.
- Google Search Console.
- GoDaddy Local Business Listings.
- Yoast SEO.
- Ahrefs.
- Moz.
- SEMRush.
- Screaming Frog.
