With millions of hosted websites to its credit, Wix is among the more popular website builders for many reasons.
It’s sleek, it’s effective, and it’s user-friendly, even for those with little to no web-building experience.
However, for a long time, Wix wasn’t considered a great choice for those looking to achieve high SEO rankings.
But there’s excellent news for those who run a Wix site (or plan to).
All of the platform’s previous problems have been resolved, officially making Wix a contender for the same high SERP rankings you could achieve somewhere else.
Here’s what you need to know about Wix SEO to meet your goals this year.
What is Wix?
Wix is a cloud-based website building interface designed to serve web developers of all experience levels.
Those with little to no web experience can fall back on Wix Editor, which features user-friendly options like customizable premade templates and an easy drag-and-drop design interface.
Alternatively, those with more experience can opt for the more advanced Wix ADI or Corvid options.
Wix sites are easy to maintain and update through the main Wix website.
All sites on Wix are also optimized for mobile. An aspiring website owner can even build their initial site with Wix for free, so long as they aren’t opposed to a few on-site ads.
What are the Advantages and Disadvantages of Wix?
Whether you’re looking to hear from die-hard Wix lovers or those who loathe the platform, you don’t have to go far.
Some people adore the Wix interface for all its advantages, but its critics still take issues with certain things, as well. Here’s a closer look at both the pros and cons.
The Pros of Wix
As might be expected, the vast majority of the advantages of Wix are related to the way it makes building, launching, and maintaining a website simple and convenient for modern web users.
The following are just a few examples:
- You don’t need to know even basic coding to build or update your site.
- It’s easy to connect to other popular web management tools like Google Search Console and Google Analytics.
- On-platform tools like Wix SEO Wiz help business owners get started with SEO with little to no experience.
- It’s an especially great option for small business owners who need an affordable, fast way to kick-start a web presence.
The Cons of Wix
On the other hand, there are disadvantages to using Wix that bother some naysayers enough to steer clear.
Here are some examples of things critics don’t like about the site:
- Wix doesn’t support AMPs (accelerated mobile pages), so web developers looking to launch a full-scale AMP site won’t be able to.
- The SEO capabilities included with Wix are basic, so experienced SEO professionals may not be able to optimize their sites the way they want.
- Many features require a paid plan, including built-in analytics and tracking.
In other words, Wix definitely brings a lot of value to the table, especially for small business owners, bloggers, and entrepreneurs looking to quickly launch a website with limited experience.
The sites look nice, are easy to use, and appeal to visitors. However, seasoned pros may find it too unsophisticated for their preferences and long-term goals.
Why Does Wix SEO Matter?
Search engine optimization (SEO) is an essential part of making a success out of your website, no matter where it’s hosted.
After all, it won’t matter how gorgeous your site is or how fantastic your content might be if no one can actually find you in the first place.
And every platform is different, so it’s essential to know the specifics of succeeding on the one you choose.
That said, it’s essential to know that Wix is a viable choice for serious business owners looking to achieve top SERP positions.
However, it’s still important to learn how best to use the tools included with your Wix site, as well as how to customize your ongoing SEO strategy with Wix in mind.
Wix SEO: 7 Tips to Boost Your Rankings
Whether you already have a Wix site you’re looking to improve or plan on building one soon, it’s crucial to prepare your SEO strategy accordingly.
Here are a few must-know tips for helping your site succeed and soar to the top of relevant SERPs.
1. Have a focused content production plan
Ultimately, even the best, most focused SEO campaign in the world can’t make up for content that’s lackluster or scattered, so work on your content strategy first.
Who is your target audience, and what type of information are they out there looking for? What do they need from you, and how does that need intersect with your goals?
Successful websites are filled with great content that’s informative, helpful, thorough, and relevant to the needs of its audience.
Giving your audience what they want, doing it well, and doing it consistently is critical if you’re serious about improving your rankings.
2. Get serious about keyword research
Trying to get a site on Wix or anywhere else to rank without thorough keyword research is like trying to hit a bullseye in the dark.
So every SEO campaign should start with a deep dive into relevant keywords and key phrases for your chosen niche.
A good keyword research tool can help take the guesswork out of the process, especially if you’re just starting out.
Many are even free, like Google Trends, Keyword Sheeter, and Bulk Keyword Generator. Experiment with a few until you find one that fits your needs and preferences.
3. Take advantage of Wix SEO Wiz
One of the biggest reasons Wix is so popular with small businesses and SEO beginners is the way its built-in tools make it so easy to get started in the right direction.
Wix SEO Wiz is one of those tools, as it helps you begin the optimization process in mere minutes.
You’ll find it in your user dashboard by clicking the “Get Found on Google” tab. Then, you’ll be asked a series of questions about business, including basic information like name and general description.
Once you’re done, the tool will spit out a personalized SEO plan to get you started, as well as offer you guidance on some of the tasks involved.
4. Integrate your site with crucial Google tools
Wix sites are also incredibly easy to integrate with both Google Analytics and Google Search Console, so you’ll want to do that next.
Together, these tools will give you valuable insights into how your site performs from an SEO standpoint.
If you’re on a premium Wix plan, you can do this automatically by clicking the “Connect to Google” button, but those starting with a free plan can do it manually instead.
Start by heading to Google Search Console and entering your URL. You’ll be given a custom HTML tag that you’ll then add to your Wix site by navigating to “Advanced SEO” and pasting it in as a header code meta tag.
If you’re using a custom domain, you can also connect with Google Analytics on a free Wix plan.
First, sign up for the service (if you haven’t already), and retrieve your custom tracking code. Then head to Wix and navigate to “Marketing Integrations.” You’ll see an option there to connect to Analytics.
5. Give each page an optimized title tag and meta description
Title tags and meta descriptions are super-important for SEO, as they tell both search engines and people searching for information what a page is all about.
So it’s worth putting some real thought into writing informative title tags and concise but descriptive meta descriptions, as they can make or break a person’s decision to visit you.
You can revise the title tags and meta descriptions for all your Wix pages under the tab marked SEO (Google).
Create one of each for every page on your site, and consider running an on-page SEO checker to double-check for efficiency. SEMRush offers a great option, but you can also search around for others.
6. Optimize your URLs and H tags
Although it may seem like a no-brainer, it’s important to make URL choices that are SEO-friendly on Wix and elsewhere.
You can’t edit every character of your URL on Wix, but you can and should revise the last portion under your SEO tab — the part known as the slug.
Breaking up the content on your pages with great H tags is important, too.
Not only does this help visitors find what they’re looking for on the page, but it helps search engines determine the relevancy of the page for ranking purposes.
7. Add a blog to your site
Whether you’ve created your Wix site for blogging purposes or not, you really want to add a themed blog regardless.
Put together a content creation plan for that blog, set a publishing schedule, and stick to both.
It’s the best way to fill your site with a steady stream of quality content to draw in visitors and rank well with search engines.
Great content inspires organic backlinking and social sharing, as well.
Increase the potential value of each blog post even further by linking out to both internal pages on your site and external authority pages when and where it makes sense.
You can also add visual elements like images, infographics, and interactive content to keep things exciting and improve engagement.
Wrap Up: Keep Your Campaign On-Point with Wix SEO
Getting your Wix site to a point where it’s entirely SEO optimized is only part of the equation when it comes to snagging those high SERP rankings you’re after.
Digital marketing and SEO are constantly changing thanks to algorithm updates, social trends, and more, so it’s crucial to stay in the know.
Get ahead of the curve by checking out our comprehensive write-up of must-know SEO trends for this year.
You’ll learn everything you need to know to achieve your goals this year and maintain your progress moving forward!