Image Optimization for Squarespace 7.1
(aka: stop letting your images act like mysterious strangers on the internet)
Your website can be gorgeous, but if your images are rolling in like anonymous witnesses in a crime documentary—no names, no context, no alibi—Google has nothing to work with. And when Google has nothing to work with, your visibility plummets….fast.
This is where image optimization comes in.
And yes, before you ask, Squarespace 7.1 absolutely does play along.
1. Rename your image files before uploading
Your laptop might think IMG_9837.jpg is acceptable. Google does not.
Think of file names like introductions. If you handed someone your business card and it just said “Person_007_FINAL_FINAL2.jpg,” they’d look at you like you need help. Same energy.
Why bother?
A file name like
IMG_1234.JPGtells Google zilch about what’s going on in the image.A thoughtful name gives both Google and real visitors context (especially if the image fails to load).
By doing this before upload, you make sure the raw source uses the good name—not some generic behind-the-scenes link.
How to rename
On your computer: right-click → rename (or rename in export if you’re in Lightroom/Photoshop).
Hyphens between words. No underscores. No weird emojis.
Keep it concise—5-7 words max is a good rule of thumb.
Naming formula
Think: “what’s happening in this photo?” + “who/where/why” if it matters. Sprinkle in your page’s target keyword if natural.
Bad: DSC_0045.jpg | cat_in_basket_at_window.jpg
Better: polydactyl-cat-in-wicker-basket.jpg
Best: if you’re on a blog post about “home studio photo shoot tips”: female-entrepreneur-home-studio-photo-shoot.jpg
Where on Squarespace 7.1
Before you upload: rename your file. When you drag it into a Image Block, Gallery or Section background, you're good to go. This pre-upload step is essential because the file path the platform stores matters for SEO.
2. Alt text: tell Google what’s happening (without writing a novel)
Alt text is basically whispering to the search engines: “Hey bestie, here’s what this picture is.”
And because robots don’t have eyes (shocking, I know), they rely on your descriptions to understand what the heck is going on in your photos.
Why it matters
Accessibility: People using screen-readers depend on this.
SEO: Helps Google understand what’s in the image.
User experience: If image fails to load, alt text can show (depending on browser).
Note: It’s NOT the place to stuff keywords like a parrot repeating “SEO coach live event SEO coach live event”. Keyword-stuffing may hurt you. (Yep, I burrowed through Google’s docs to confirm.)
How to write it
Keep it concise: “Coach reviewing notes at desk with coffee mug” is perfect.
Include a keyword if it accurately fits. Don’t keyword-stuff like you’re trying to get out of SEO jail.
Google hates that. I hate that. Your future clients hate that.Don’t use weird grammar, punctuation is optional, readability matters more than SEO trick.
Where on Squarespace 7.1
When you add/edit an Image Block:
Select the image → Settings → click on “Filename & Alt Text” (or similar depending on block).
Enter your alt text in the “Alt Text” field.
Check that the file name (from step 1) is something descriptive.
3. Resize & compress (Squarespace helps, but you still need to care)
Squarespace does do some auto-magic behind the scenes, but she’s not a miracle worker. If you upload a 47MB photo of you sipping rosé in Napa, your site will crawl so slowly people will think it’s powered by a hamster on a wheel.
Smart moves:
Export your hero/header images at ~2000-3000px wide (for full-screen use).
For gallery thumbnails or smaller visuals: ~800-1200px width is enough.
I personally use TinyPNG before upload to reduce file size without losing quality.
Always check your site speed after adding big images—because no one sticks around waiting for a slow page to load.
Why this matters for SEO
Page speed + mobile responsiveness = ranking factors. Slow images = poor experience = worse signal to Google. Squarespace handles the heavy work, but a little prep goes a long way.
4. Prioritize pages + images for optimization
You don’t need to rename every single image in one marathon session. This is not your punishment for a past life.
Start with the heavy-hitters:
Focus on:
Home page
Services page
About page
Landing pages/freebie pages (e.g., your mini-course or “ChatGPT for Blogging” page)
Blog posts with high traffic
Once those are optimized, you can gradually tackle the rest.
Quick-reference checklist
File name uses hyphens, is descriptive, < 7 words
Alt Text is 5-15 words, human readable + accurate
Export size matches the use case (hero vs thumbnail)
Image uploaded to Squarespace 7.1, alt text filled in settings
Upped image in key pages first (home, services, etc)
Final word from your resident Squarespace strategist
Your images should be pulling their SEO weight—not lounging around like decorative freeloaders. The second you get them renamed, resized, and explained (hi, Alt Text), your site becomes clearer, faster, and more discoverable.
A better user experience.
A better shot at ranking.
And a better reflection of your brand—a bold, confident coach/creative who knows her stuff and shows up with intention.
Does your website need an SEO Strategy? Book a call with me here.
