Summary
Wix has made significant improvements to its SEO capabilities. This guide shows you how to leverage Wix's built-in tools and best practices to improve your search engine rankings and drive organic traffic.
Understanding Wix SEO Capabilities
Wix has evolved significantly and now offers robust SEO capabilities that rival other platforms. Understanding what Wix provides helps you optimize effectively.
Modern Architecture: Wix migrated to a server-side rendering architecture, making sites fully crawlable by search engines. Google can now index Wix sites just like traditionally coded websites.
Built-in SEO Tools: Wix includes an SEO Wiz that guides you through optimization steps, meta tag editors, 301 redirects, structured data, and XML sitemap generation—all built into the platform.
Mobile-First Indexing: All Wix sites are automatically mobile-responsive. Google uses the mobile version of your site for indexing and ranking, making this critical.
Page Speed: Wix automatically optimizes code and assets. While not as fast as custom-coded sites, Wix performance is competitive with other website builders.
Core Web Vitals: Wix focuses on Core Web Vitals (loading, interactivity, visual stability). These metrics increasingly impact rankings, and Wix provides tools to monitor and improve them.
Limitations to Know: Some advanced SEO features require workarounds. For example, changing URL structures after publishing is limited, and very large sites may face scaling challenges.
Technical SEO Setup
Proper technical configuration creates a foundation for SEO success. Complete these essential setup steps.
Connect a Custom Domain: Never use the free wix.com subdomain for serious sites. Custom domains (yoursite.com) are essential for credibility and SEO. Wix offers domains or you can connect existing ones.
Enable SSL Certificate: Wix includes free SSL for all sites. Ensure HTTPS is enabled in settings. This encrypts data and is a confirmed ranking signal.
Submit Sitemap to Google: Wix automatically generates XML sitemaps. Submit your sitemap to Google Search Console (yoursite.com/sitemap.xml) to help Google discover all pages.
Google Search Console Setup: Verify your site with Google Search Console. This provides invaluable insights into how Google sees your site, indexing issues, and search performance.
Structured Data: Add structured data (schema markup) to help search engines understand your content. Wix supports FAQ schema, Product schema, and more through the SEO settings.
Robots.txt Configuration: Wix automatically manages robots.txt. For advanced users, you can customize it to control which pages search engines crawl.
301 Redirects: If you change page URLs or migrate from another platform, set up 301 redirects in the SEO dashboard to preserve link equity and prevent 404 errors.
Site Speed Optimization: Use Wix's built-in image optimizer, minimize apps and custom code, and leverage Wix's CDN for faster global loading.
On-Page SEO Optimization
On-page optimization tells search engines what your pages are about. These elements directly impact rankings.
Page Titles: Craft unique, descriptive titles for every page (50-60 characters). Include your primary keyword near the beginning. Use pipes (|) to separate brand from description.
Meta Descriptions: Write compelling meta descriptions (150-160 characters) that encourage clicks. Include keywords naturally, but write for humans. Each page needs a unique description.
URL Structure: Create clean, readable URLs with keywords. Use hyphens to separate words. Avoid numbers, dates, and unnecessary parameters. Set URLs before publishing—they're hard to change later.
Header Tags: Use H1 tags for page titles (only one per page). Structure content with H2 and H3 tags for sections and subsections. Include keywords naturally in headers.
Image Optimization: Name image files descriptively (red-running-shoes.jpg not IMG_1234.jpg). Add alt text to all images for accessibility and SEO. Describe what the image shows.
Internal Linking: Link related pages together using descriptive anchor text. This helps search engines understand site structure and distributes link equity throughout your site.
Content Length: Longer, comprehensive content tends to rank better. Aim for 1000+ words for important pages. But quality matters more than quantity—don't add fluff.
Keyword Usage: Use your target keyword in the title, URL, first paragraph, and naturally throughout content. Avoid keyword stuffing. Use related terms and synonyms.
Content Strategy for SEO
Quality content attracts visitors and earns links. Develop a strategic approach to content creation.
Keyword Research: Use tools like Google Keyword Planner, Ubersuggest, or Ahrefs to find keywords your audience searches for. Target a mix of high-volume and long-tail keywords.
Search Intent: Understand what users want when they search. Informational queries need how-to content. Commercial queries need comparison guides. Transactional queries need product pages.
Content Calendar: Plan content in advance. Consistent publishing signals to Google that your site is active and authoritative. Aim for at least one new blog post monthly.
Blog Integration: Wix's blog platform is SEO-friendly. Use it to target keywords, attract organic traffic, and establish expertise. Each post is an opportunity to rank for new terms.
Topic Clusters: Organize content into topic clusters. Create pillar pages covering broad topics, then link to detailed cluster content. This demonstrates topical authority.
User Experience: Write for humans first, search engines second. Use short paragraphs, bullet points, and images to improve readability. Engaged users signal quality to Google.
Multimedia Content: Include videos, infographics, and images. Rich content keeps visitors engaged longer, reducing bounce rates and improving rankings.
Update Old Content: Regularly refresh existing content with new information, statistics, and insights. Updated content often gets a ranking boost.
Advanced SEO Techniques
Take your Wix SEO to the next level with these advanced strategies.
Local SEO: If you serve a local area, optimize for local search. Set up Google Business Profile, include location keywords, add schema markup for local business, and get reviews.
Link Building: Earn backlinks from reputable sites in your industry. Guest post, create shareable resources, and build relationships. Quality backlinks are among the strongest ranking factors.
Social Signals: While not direct ranking factors, social shares increase visibility and can lead to links. Promote content on social media and make sharing easy.
Video SEO: Upload videos to YouTube and embed them on your Wix site. Optimize video titles, descriptions, and tags. Videos increase engagement and time on page.
Wix SEO Apps: Explore apps in the Wix App Market that enhance SEO. Tools for schema markup, SEO audits, and rank tracking can provide additional functionality.
Analytics and Monitoring: Use Google Analytics and Search Console to track performance. Monitor rankings, organic traffic, and conversions. Data-driven decisions improve results.
Core Web Vitals Optimization: Check your Core Web Vitals in Search Console. Improve Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) by optimizing images, First Input Delay (FID) by minimizing JavaScript, and Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS) by setting image dimensions.
Multilingual SEO: If targeting multiple languages, use Wix Multilingual. Create properly hreflang-tagged versions of your site for each language. This prevents duplicate content issues.
Tags
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Wix bad for SEO?
No, this is an outdated myth. Modern Wix sites can rank well in Google. Wix uses server-side rendering, generates clean code, and provides comprehensive SEO tools. Success depends on how you optimize your site, not the platform itself.
How long does it take for a Wix site to rank on Google?
New sites typically take 3-6 months to gain traction in search results. Competitive keywords may take longer. Consistent optimization, quality content, and link building accelerate the process.
Can I change my Wix site URL after publishing?
You can change page slugs, but it is limited. Set up 301 redirects from old to new URLs to preserve SEO value. It is best to plan URL structure before launching your site.
Does Wix automatically optimize my site for SEO?
Wix handles technical basics like sitemaps and mobile responsiveness, but you must optimize content, meta tags, and other on-page elements. The SEO Wiz guides you through essential steps, but success requires your effort.
Should I use Wix SEO Wiz?
Yes, especially if you are new to SEO. The SEO Wiz creates a personalized plan covering essential optimizations. It is a helpful starting point, but go beyond it for competitive niches.
About Web Tarsier
Web Tarsier is a professional web development agency specializing in WordPress, SEO, and digital marketing solutions.