SEO expert Favour Obasi-ike, MBA, MS delivers an in-depth comparison of Shopify SEO and Squarespace SEO CMS platforms, focusing on their SEO and CRO capabilities and website development features. This discussion covers critical technical insights about theme management, URL structure optimization, metadata configuration, and platform-specific best practices.
Show Notes
SEO expert Favour Obasi-ike, MBA, MS delivers an in-depth comparison of Shopify SEO and Squarespace SEO CMS platforms, focusing on their SEO and CRO capabilities and website development features. This discussion covers critical technical insights about theme management, URL structure optimization, metadata configuration, and platform-specific best practices.
Favour shares actionable strategies for improving website visibility, including the importance of regular theme updates, proper sitemap configuration, and effective use of SEO metadata. The session also touches on comparisons with WordPress, Wix, and other CMS platforms, providing business owners with practical guidance for choosing and optimizing their e-commerce and content-driven websites in 2026.
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Episode Key Learning Topics
1. Shopify Platform Deep Dive
- Shopify as a closed-source e-commerce CMS platform
- Theme Liquid customization and custom code implementation
- Importance of regular theme updates for algorithm visibility
- Pre-installed sitemap functionality and automated SEO features
- App ecosystem vs WordPress plugins
- Multi-currency and multi-language capabilities
- Schema.org integration for product pages
2. Squarespace Platform Overview
- User-friendly, content-driven platform positioning
- Comparison with Shopify for product-based vs content-based websites
- Quick setup and on-the-go management capabilities
- Integration capabilities and limitations
- Best use cases for small businesses and content creators
3. SEO Metadata Optimization
- Proper configuration of SEO meta titles and descriptions
- Open Graph (OG) tags for social media sharing
- URL structure best practices and character optimization
- The importance of unique metadata vs duplicated content
- How to edit SEO metadata in Shopify product pages
4. URL Structure Strategy
- Strategic URL naming conventions for products
- Using numbers strategically in URLs (e.g., "red-roses-12-piece" vs "12-piece-red-roses")
- Pattern disruption for user attention and click-through optimization
- Shorter, more concentrated URLs for better visual scanning
- Pre-purchase click optimization through URL clarity
5. Technical SEO Fundamentals
- Sitemap management across different platforms
- Google Search Console setup and sitemap submission
- The difference between Google Analytics and Google Search Console
- NAP (Name, Address, Phone) consistency for local SEO
- Robots.txt configuration and indexing control
6. Wix Platform Insights
- Hidden robots.txt settings affecting blog tag indexing
- How to enable tag indexing in Wix SEO settings
- 10-year evolution of the Wix platform
- Common indexing issues and solutions
7. WordPress vs Closed-Source Platforms
- Open-source flexibility vs closed-source constraints
- Plugin management and sitemap conflicts
- The analogy of "square footage" for platform capabilities
- When to choose WordPress over Shopify/Squarespace
8. Content Strategy & Page Management
- The power of compounding through content updates
- Updating old blog posts alongside publishing new ones
- Footer copyright year updates as ranking signals
- On-page SEO details that AI and search engines scan
- Creating and maintaining a content calendar
9. Website Maintenance Best Practices
- Regular theme updates and their impact on visibility
- Checking and updating footer copyright years
- Monitoring broken links and slow page speeds
- Platform-specific maintenance requirements (Shopify, Squarespace, WordPress, Webflow, Wix)
10. Free Website Audit Offer
- Favour's offer for surface-level website audits
- Deep dive capabilities for root problem identification
- Multi-platform support (Shopify, Squarespace, WordPress, Webflow, Wix, Magento, Tilda, Duda)
- Email newsletter with SEO, marketing, and AI insights
Episode Timestamps
00:00 - Introduction: Shopify SEO vs Squarespace SEO comparison
00:53 - Welcome and housekeeping (saving replays, accessing resources)
02:36 - Shopify platform overview and e-commerce focus
03:01 - Why Shopify stands out (price-friendly, brand-aware, aesthetically pleasing)
03:43 - Shopify themes and purchasing considerations
05:43 - Critical question: When did you last update your theme?
06:40 - How theme updates affect algorithm visibility
07:00 - Closed-source vs open-source platforms explained
07:08 - Theme Liquid customization in Shopify
08:00 - Shopify as your hosting platform
08:10 - Apps in Shopify vs plugins in WordPress
08:21 - Squarespace positioning and user-friendliness
09:00 - Platform comparison analogy: Square footage (500 to 20,000 sq ft)
09:33 - When aesthetics and ease-of-use matter most
14:00 - Detailed Shopify theme management discussion
18:00 - SEO metadata and URL structure fundamentals
22:00 - The importance of page quantity and content strategy
28:00 - Sitemap management and Google Search Console setup
28:15 - Why Shopify pre-installs sitemaps (no conflicts)
29:00 - WordPress sitemap conflicts and plugin management
29:32 - The sitemap as "the brain of a website"
30:00 - Content compounding strategy: updating old posts
31:06 - Wix robots.txt issue: blog tags set to "no index" by default
32:00 - How to fix Wix tag indexing in SEO settings
33:00 - Tags as hashtags and their importance for visibility
34:05 - Critical action item: Update your footer copyright year to 2026
35:00 - Why footer year matters for AI and search engine scanning
36:01 - Shopify advantages for multi-language and multi-currency
37:03 - Google Search Console vs Google Analytics confusion
37:20 - The "reverse gear" moment in SEO audits
42:00 - Deep dive into URL structure optimization
45:00 - Strategic use of numbers in product URLs
48:00 - Open Graph (OG) tags explained
52:00 - Schema.org and structured data importance
58:00 - Product page SEO metadata workflow in Shopify
58:15 - How titles auto-generate URLs and the edit button
59:00 - Example: "6-piece red rose bouquet" URL structure
59:23 - Optimizing URL readability and pattern disruption
60:00 - Pre-purchase click optimization through URL clarity
61:00 - Character count optimization for URLs
63:00 - Shopify vs Squarespace integration comparison
63:16 - Schema.org as the "golden standard" for web documentation
63:48 - NAP (Name, Address, Phone) consistency explained
64:00 - "Dress how you want to be addressed" philosophy
68:00 - Free website audit offer details
70:00 - Platforms supported for audits
72:00 - Newsletter signup for SEO, marketing, and AI insights
74:00 - Surface-level vs deep-dive audit explanation
75:00 - Closing remarks and call to action
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: What's the main difference between Shopify and Squarespace?
A: Shopify is primarily an e-commerce platform optimized for product stores with extensive selling features (multi-currency, multi-language, robust app ecosystem), while Squarespace is more content-driven and user-friendly, ideal for portfolios, blogs, and smaller businesses that need quick setup without extensive product management.
Q2: Why is updating my website theme important for SEO?
A: Regular theme updates signal to search engine algorithms that your website has an updated setup and infrastructure. An outdated theme (e.g., last updated in August 2025 when we're in 2026) can cost you visibility because the algorithm may perceive your site as less maintained and current.
Q3: What is Theme Liquid in Shopify?
A: Theme Liquid is Shopify's templating language that allows you to customize code within the closed-source platform. It's where you would add custom elements like pop-ups, tracking codes, or other modifications that aren't available through standard theme settings.
Q4: Do I need to create a sitemap for my Shopify store?
A: No. Shopify automatically generates and maintains your sitemap as soon as you publish pages, products, collections, and posts. This is a major advantage over WordPress, where you need to install and configure sitemap plugins and ensure there are no conflicts.
Q5: What's the difference between Google Search Console and Google Analytics?
A: Google Search Console is for submitting your sitemap and monitoring how search engines crawl and index your site, while Google Analytics tracks visitor behavior and traffic sources. Both are important, but they serve different purposes. You must submit your sitemap to Search Console for proper SEO.
Q6: How do I fix the Wix tag indexing problem?
A: Go to your Wix dashboard, click Settings (bottom left corner), navigate to SEO Settings, find the Blog Tags section, and disable the "no index" robots.txt setting that's enabled by default. This allows your blog tags to be indexed by search engines.
Q7: Why should I update my footer copyright year?
A: The footer copyright year (e.g., "© 2026") is on-page text that AI and search engines scan. An outdated year (like "© 2023") signals that your site may not be actively maintained, even if you've updated content elsewhere. It's a simple but important ranking signal.
Q8: How should I structure product URLs for better SEO?
A: Use strategic placement of descriptive words and numbers. For example, "red-roses-12-piece" is better than "12-piece-red-roses" because users scanning search results will see "red roses" first, then the number variants (6, 12, 36), creating pattern disruption that draws attention and improves pre-purchase clicks.
Q9: What is Open Graph (OG) and why does it matter?
A: Open Graph tags control how your content appears when shared on social media, messaging apps, and other platforms. When you send a link via WhatsApp or iMessage and see a preview with title and image, that's Open Graph data. Properly configured OG tags ensure your content looks professional when shared.
Q10: Should I choose Shopify, Squarespace, or WordPress for my business?
A: Choose Shopify if you're running a product-based e-commerce store and need robust selling features. Choose Squarespace if you need a quick, aesthetically pleasing site for content, portfolios, or small-scale selling. Choose WordPress if you need maximum customization, flexibility, and control (open-source), but be prepared for more technical management.
Q11: What is NAP and why is it important?
A: NAP stands for Name, Address, Phone number. For websites, "address" includes your domain (www address). Consistent NAP information across your website and online directories is crucial for local SEO and helps search engines verify your business legitimacy.
Q12: Can I get a free website audit from Favour?
A: Yes! Favour offers surface-level website audits to help identify issues like broken links, slow pages, and basic SEO problems. The audit supports multiple platforms including Shopify, Squarespace, WordPress, Webflow, Wix, Magento, Tilda, and Duda. Links are available in the episode description or through the newsletter signup.
About the Podcast Host
Favour Obasi-ike, MBA, MS is an SEO and digital marketing expert who specializes in helping business owners optimize their websites for search visibility and conversion. Favour offers website audits, SEO consulting, and maintains a detailed email newsletter covering SEO, marketing, and AI insights. Visit our quick links above to get access.
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