As a Showit website designer, I know the feeling of nailing a design so good it makes you want to throw confetti. But here’s the thing—confetti doesn’t bring clients to your website. That’s why I’m chatting with someone who knows how to get your site seen.
Today, I’m interviewing Caitlin Christensen, the Creative SEO Coach and a certified Showit SEO specialist. Caitlin is here to talk about how to make your website not just a pretty face, but a high-ranking machine. Get ready to learn, laugh, and maybe feel a little smarter about SEO.
Q: Caitlin, how did you become the Creative SEO Coach?
Caitlin: Oh, it’s been quite a journey! Back in university, I actually studied SEO as part of my Bachelor Degree, and I loved it. But at the time, SEO wasn’t exactly the “cool” thing to do, so I leaned into something that felt more glamorous—magazines.
I worked in the magazine industry for years, and while it was creative and exciting, I eventually decided to leave that world and start my own business. At first, I focused on graphic design, then expanded into website design. That’s when I discovered Showit, and I immediately loved it. Compared to other platforms like WordPress, it felt like such a breath of fresh air—creative, intuitive, and just fun to use.
When I started working with Showit, I noticed there was a gap. A lot of users were creating stunning websites, but they weren’t showing up in search results. That’s when I realized I could combine my love for creativity with my SEO background. I tested the idea of specializing in Showit SEO, and it worked—so here I am, helping people make their websites both beautiful and high-performing!
Q: Why is SEO so important for Showit websites?
Caitlin: Imagine you’ve got the most stunning, drool-worthy Showit website—it’s like a dream storefront, perfectly curated to wow anyone who walks by. But here’s the kicker: if nobody can find it, it’s like having that beautiful shop hidden down an alley with no signs pointing the way.
That’s where SEO comes in. Most people still rely on search engines like Google or Bing or now AI Models to find businesses. Whether they’re looking for a photographer, a florist, or a designer, they’re typing in search queries. If your site isn’t optimized, you’re essentially invisible to those people.
For Showit websites in particular, SEO is critical because the platform attracts creatives—photographers, designers, and other service-based businesses—who often focus heavily on visuals. While that’s fantastic for the user experience, search engines don’t just look at how beautiful a website is; they need clear signals to understand what it’s about. That’s where good SEO bridges the gap.
If you want your website to do more than just sit pretty, SEO is what gets it out there, working hard to bring in clients and opportunities. It’s not just about rankings—it’s about making sure the people who are searching for you can actually find you.
Q: What are some of the biggest SEO challenges small businesses typically face?
Caitlin: Oh, where to begin? Small businesses have so much potential with SEO, but there are a few hurdles they often run into. Let’s break it down:
1. Understanding What SEO Even Is
For a lot of small business owners, SEO can feel like trying to learn a foreign language. It’s full of terms like metadata, backlinks, and keywords that might as well be gibberish if you’re new to it. Most people don’t even realize they need SEO until they notice their competitors showing up on Google while they’re nowhere to be found.
The key challenge here is education—just understanding the basics of how SEO works and how it can help your business grow.
2. Competing in a Crowded Space
For small businesses, especially in saturated markets like photography or wedding planning, standing out online can feel like shouting into a crowded room. There are only so many spots on the first page of Google, and everyone wants one.
The solution? Niche down and focus on local SEO. Instead of trying to rank for broad terms like “wedding photographer,” go for something specific like “Luxury Wedding Photographer in Nashville.” It’s less competitive and helps you target the people who are most likely to hire you.
3. Backlinks Are Hard to Get
Backlinks—links from other websites to yours—are one of the most important ranking factors for SEO. Think of them like votes of confidence from other websites saying, “This business is legit.”
But for small businesses, getting those backlinks can be tough. You’re not a big brand that naturally gets press coverage, so you have to be strategic. Signing up for directories, collaborating with other small businesses, or writing guest blogs can help you build those all-important links.
4. Neglecting Technical SEO
Technical SEO is the behind-the-scenes stuff that helps search engines find and understand your website. It’s things like making sure your pages load quickly, your site is mobile-friendly, and there aren’t any broken links or errors.
Small businesses often miss this step because it’s not flashy or obvious, but it’s crucial. If a search engine bot can’t crawl your site properly, it won’t rank your pages—no matter how good your content is.
5. Being Impatient
SEO is not an instant-results kind of thing. It’s like planting a garden—you won’t see blooms overnight, but with the right care and attention, you’ll eventually reap the rewards.
Small businesses often get frustrated and give up too soon, thinking SEO “doesn’t work.” But the truth is, it just takes time. Stick with it, and you’ll see results.
Q: What are your top tips for someone just starting to optimize their Showit website?
Caitlin: Alright, let’s break this down because SEO can feel like this big, intimidating beast. But really, it’s just about understanding a few key areas. To keep SEO basic you can break it down into three parts:
- Off-page SEO,
- On-page SEO,
- And, Technical SEO.
You need all three working together, like the legs of a tripod—if one’s missing, the whole thing topples over. So, let’s dive into each one.
1. Off-Page SEO: Building Trust Through Backlinks
Off-page SEO is all about what’s happening outside of your website, and backlinks are the star of the show. Backlinks are links from other websites pointing to yours. The more high-quality backlinks you have, the more search engines think, “Hey, this site must be worth checking out.”
But it’s not just about the number of backlinks—it’s about the quality. A link from a reputable website in your industry is far more valuable than 100 links from random, low-quality sites.
How to get started with backlinks:
- Join Directories: This is one of the easiest ways to build backlinks, and it’s especially important for small businesses. Think of directories like the modern-day Yellow Pages—they’re where people go to find businesses like yours. If you’re a photographer, sign up for photography directories. If you’re a designer, look for designer directories. There are also directories for women-owned businesses, local businesses, and niche industries.
One directory I highly recommend is my own Creative Designer Directory. It’s specifically for Showit website designers, SEOs, copywriters, and branding experts. Not only does it give you a high-quality backlink, but it’s also a one-time fee—no subscriptions or ongoing costs. It’s built to help creatives like you get found by potential clients easily.
Another good example is I Love Creatives, which is affordable and offers a solid backlink for $50. But always evaluate the cost of a directory—if it’s $400 a year, make sure it’s worth it not just for SEO, but for the potential work it could bring.
- Collaborate: Partner with other businesses in your niche. For example, a florist could link to a wedding photographer’s site, or a designer could link to a branding expert’s portfolio. It’s a win-win for everyone.
- Guest Blogging: Write guest posts for blogs or websites in your industry. It’s a great way to showcase your expertise and build backlinks at the same time.
And remember, never pay for backlinks outright. It might seem tempting, but search engines are smart, and they’ll penalize you for trying to game the system.
2. On-Page SEO: Making Your Website Crystal Clear
On-page SEO is all about what’s happening on your website. This is where you optimize your content, keywords, and structure so both people and search engines can easily understand what your website is about. Think of it as rolling out the welcome mat for both your visitors and the search engine bots that crawl your site.
Some important On-page SEO components are:
1. Start with Keywords: Be Loud and Clear
The first step is figuring out what you want to be found for. Let’s say you’re a wedding photographer in Nashville. You can’t just rely on your stunning photos to speak for themselves—search engines need you to spell it out. Those keywords, like “Nashville wedding photographer” or “Luxury wedding photography in Tennessee,” need to be naturally sprinkled throughout your site.
But here’s the thing: don’t overthink it, and definitely don’t stuff your site with awkward, repetitive keywords. Just write like you’re talking to a client—straightforward, natural, and clear.
2. Headings Matter
Search engines use your headings to understand the structure of your content. Each page should have one H1 (your main headline) and several H2s and H3s to break up the content. Think of it like a book—your H1 is the title (that includes your target keywords), and your H2s and H3s are the chapter headings and subheadings that make it easier to skim.
3. Metadata: The Mini-Billboard of Your Website
Metadata is your chance to stand out in search results. Each page on your site needs a title and a meta description. These are what people see when your site shows up on Google.
For example:
- Title: “Luxury Nashville Wedding Photographer | [Your Business Name]”
- Meta Description: “Capture your big day with timeless, elegant photography in Nashville. Book your consultation today!”
Even though Google sometimes rewrites these snippets, having them filled out can still improve your click-through rates and give search engines better context about your site.
4. Content: Say What You Mean
Here’s a common mistake I see: not enough content. A lot of Showit websites are so beautifully minimal that they barely have any words at all. While that might look great, search engines need context. If you’re a wedding photographer, your site should include sections that explain your services, where you’re located, and why people should hire you.
Remember, your content needs to serve two audiences:
- Humans: Keep it clear, simple, and engaging.
- Bots: Use your keywords strategically to help search engines understand your site.
5. Image Optimization: Because Slow Sites Don’t Rank
Showit users love visuals, but unoptimized images can slow your site down, which search engines hate. Here’s what you need to do:
- Compress Your Images: Use tools like TinyPNG or JPEGmini to reduce file sizes without sacrificing quality.
- Add Alt Text: This is a short description of your image that helps bots (and visually impaired users) understand what’s in it. For example, instead of “IMG_1234.jpg,” use something like “Bride holding bouquet at Nashville sunset wedding.”
Doing your own SEO is very possible, but if you don’t have time to do yourself or don’t want to learn I have a developed a package that fixes your on-page SEO, called the SEO Intensive. It’s specifically designed for Showit users because, let’s be real, small businesses don’t need the same cookie-cutter SEO packages that big companies use.
The SEO Intensive takes one month, and during that time, I dive deep into your website to handle all the things that are holding you back:
- Writing clear, keyword-rich metadata that actually helps you rank.
- Adding enough content to your site to give it the weight search engines look for.
- Optimizing your images so they’re fast-loading but still look amazing.
- Fixing any technical issues that might be confusing search engine bots. Plus lots more.
3. Technical SEO: Making Sure Everything Works
This is the behind-the-scenes stuff that most people don’t think about but is absolutely essential. Technical SEO is what ensures search engines can find, crawl, and understand your website. Think of it like inviting someone to your house: if the front door is locked, the lights are off, and there’s no clear pathway, your guests (or in this case, search engine bots) aren’t getting in.
For Showit websites, technical SEO is generally pretty solid straight out of the box—one of the reasons I love the platform. But that doesn’t mean you can skip it altogether. There are still a few key areas you’ll want to check to make sure your site is running smoothly and not accidentally blocking search engines from understanding or ranking you.
1. Page Speed: Nobody Likes a Slowpoke
Page speed is a huge ranking factor. If your site takes forever to load, people will leave—and search engines know this. A slow website not only frustrates your visitors but also signals to Google that your site isn’t providing the best user experience.
How to improve page speed:
- Compress Your Images: Large, high-resolution images are one of the biggest culprits of slow websites. Use tools like TinyPNG or ShortPixel to shrink your image files without losing quality.
- Minimize Scripts and Plugins: Unnecessary scripts or plugins can bog down your site. Review what you’re using and get rid of anything you don’t actually need.
- Enable Caching: This helps your site load faster for returning visitors by saving some of the data locally on their devices. Showit users can enable caching through their hosting provider.
2. Mobile Optimization: Phones First
Here’s a stat that might blow your mind: the majority of web traffic now comes from mobile devices. If your site isn’t mobile-friendly, you’re losing out on visitors—and Google knows that. In fact, mobile usability is one of their top-ranking factors.
Showit lets you fully customize your mobile layout, which is a massive plus. But just because you can edit it doesn’t mean you should overlook it.
What to check on mobile:
- Layout: Make sure your content isn’t squished or awkwardly spaced on smaller screens.
- Clickable Elements: Buttons and links should be easy to tap without zooming in.
- Speed: Mobile visitors are even less patient than desktop users, so fast loading times are critical.
3. Fix Errors: No Broken Doors or Dead Ends
Search engine bots crawl your site like little explorers, following links and mapping everything out. If they hit a broken link or a page that doesn’t load, it’s like hitting a dead end. Too many errors, and they might just give up.
How to find and fix errors:
- Google Search Console: This free tool is like having a diagnostic report for your website. It’ll show you any broken links, missing pages (404 errors), or indexing issues.
- Check Your Links: Make sure all the links on your site—both internal and external—are working properly. A broken link can frustrate users and confuse bots.
- Redirects: If you’ve recently moved or deleted a page, use 301 redirects to send visitors (and bots) to the new location instead of hitting a 404 error.
4. Structured Data: Speaking Bot Language
Structured data (or schema markup) is like giving bots a cheat sheet for your website. It provides extra information about your content, such as your business hours, reviews, or services, in a format that’s easy for search engines to understand.
For example, if you’re a photographer, you can use structured data to highlight your portfolio or display reviews right in the search results. While Showit doesn’t have built-in schema markup tools, you can add it via your WordPress blog or work with a developer to set it up.
5. Sitemap and Robots.txt: The Roadmap for Bots
Your sitemap is a list of all the important pages on your site, and your robots.txt file tells search engines which parts of your site they can and can’t crawl. Both of these are essential for good technical SEO.
- Sitemap: You can easily generate a sitemap for your Showit site through your WordPress blog. Make sure it’s submitted to Google Search Console and Bing Webmaster Tools so search engines know where to find everything.
- Robots.txt: Most Showit sites have this configured automatically, but double-check to ensure you’re not accidentally blocking important pages.
Why This Matters for Small Businesses
For small businesses, technical SEO might seem like a lot of work, but it’s one of the most important ways to ensure your website can compete with bigger players. If your site is hard to crawl or slow to load, you’re already at a disadvantage.
P.s: The SEO Intensive service also fixes the Technical SEO issues.
Why You Need All Three
Here’s the thing: off-page, on-page, and technical SEO all work together. You can’t just focus on one and ignore the others. For example, if you’re doing great on-page SEO but have no backlinks, it’s like building a beautiful house in the middle of nowhere with no roads leading to it. Similarly, if your technical SEO is a mess, search engines won’t even be able to understand or rank your site, no matter how good your content is.
Think of it as a team effort. When all three are working together, your website becomes a well-oiled machine, ready to climb those search engine rankings and get found by the people who need your services.
Q:Is Showit Good for SEO?
Caitlin: Absolutely! Showit is great for SEO, but it comes with some nuances that are worth understanding. Let me break it down for you.
A lot of people—especially old-school SEO folks—tend to swear by WordPress, claiming it’s the only way to go. But the truth is, search engines like Google don’t care about the platform you’re using. They care about how well your site is optimized, how user-friendly it is, and how valuable the content is.
Showit stands out because it gives you a ton of creative flexibility while still letting you tackle all the SEO essentials. It’s particularly amazing for service-based businesses like photographers, designers, and other creatives who need a site that’s both visually stunning and functional.
Why Showit Is Good for SEO?
- Flexibility for On-Page SEO:
Showit lets you fully customize your layouts, so you can structure your pages exactly how you want while still including all the SEO essentials like headings, metadata, and alt text. If you know what you’re doing (or have an SEO expert on your team 😉), you can optimize your pages just as well as you could on WordPress. - Integration with WordPress for Blogging:
Blogging is a major player in SEO, and Showit nails this by integrating with WordPress for your blog. WordPress is still one of the best platforms for content creation, and having that baked into Showit means you get the best of both worlds: stunning site design and powerful blogging tools. - User-Friendly for Non-Techies:
Unlike some platforms (ahem, WordPress), Showit doesn’t require you to have a degree in web development to get things done. It’s intuitive, drag-and-drop, and doesn’t demand coding skills, which means you can focus on creating a beautiful site without worrying about breaking something. - Mobile Optimization Made Easy:
Mobile optimization is a huge ranking factor, and Showit makes it ridiculously easy to design a mobile-friendly site. You can customize your mobile layout separately from your desktop design, ensuring a seamless experience for visitors on any device.
Where Showit Might Need a Boost
While Showit is great, it’s not perfect. There are a few areas where you’ll need to pay extra attention:
- Image Optimization:
Showit is a visual platform, and high-quality images are a big part of its appeal. But large, uncompressed images can slow down your site, which hurts your rankings. Make sure to optimize your images (compress them and add alt text) to keep your site running smoothly. - Technical SEO Tweaks:
Showit’s out-of-the-box technical SEO is solid, but you’ll still need to ensure things like page speed, sitemap submissions, and robots.txt files are properly set up. Luckily, these are things you or your SEO expert can handle without too much trouble. - Schema Markup:
Structured data (schema) isn’t built into Showit, so if you want to add it, you’ll need to use your WordPress blog or hire a developer to set it up. This isn’t a dealbreaker, but it’s something to be aware of.
How Showit Stacks Up Against Other Platforms
- Compared to WordPress: WordPress is great for SEO, but it can be overwhelming if you’re not tech-savvy. Showit simplifies the process while still giving you access to WordPress for blogging.
- Compared to Squarespace: Squarespace is user-friendly, but it doesn’t offer the same level of design freedom as Showit. Plus, Showit’s WordPress integration gives it a leg up for blogging and content creation.
- Compared to Shopify: Shopify is king for e-commerce, but if you’re a service-based business, Showit’s customization and SEO potential make it a better choice.
The Bottom Line
Showit is absolutely good for SEO, but like any platform, you need to put in the work to make it shine. If you’re willing to optimize your site with strong content, clear metadata, and proper technical setup, you can rank just as well as (or better than) sites on any other platform.
And if all this sounds like a lot, that’s where I come in. My SEO Intensive Service is specifically designed for Showit users, helping you make the most of this incredible platform and giving you a website that looks stunning and gets found.
Q:The Future of SEO: What’s Next and How to Stay Ahead
Caitlin: SEO is changing—quickly. With the rise of AI tools, voice search, and smarter algorithms, the way people search is evolving, and so are the strategies to get found. But here’s the good news: while the tools and tactics may shift, the core goal of SEO remains the same—helping people find what they need online.
Let’s break down what’s coming next in SEO and how you can future-proof your strategy.
1. The Rise of AI: Search Everywhere Optimization
AI is making waves in the search world. Tools like ChatGPT, Google Gemini, and Perplexity are becoming new ways for people to find answers. This means the traditional “Google it” approach isn’t the only game in town anymore.
What does this mean for your SEO? It means thinking beyond just Google. Your content needs to be optimized not only for search engines but also for AI bots that are pulling information from across the web. This shift was called “Search Everywhere Optimization” by Neil Patel, a big name in the marketing world.
How to prepare:
- Focus on creating clear, accurate, and helpful content that answers common questions in your industry.
- Ensure your website is easy to understand—AI tools rely on structured, well-written content to provide accurate answers.
2. Local SEO Isn’t Going Anywhere
For small businesses, local SEO remains one of the most powerful tools to attract customers. While AI bots are great for general knowledge, they haven’t cracked the code for local searches like “best coffee shop near me” or “wedding photographers in Nashville.”
How to prepare:
- Keep your Google Business Profile up to date with accurate business hours, services, and reviews.
- Build backlinks from local directories, blogs, and community sites.
- Focus on location-based keywords in your website content.
3. Voice Search and Conversational Queries
With the rise of voice-activated devices like Alexa and Google Assistant, people are searching in a more conversational tone. Instead of typing “Nashville wedding photographer,” they’re saying, “Who’s the best wedding photographer in Nashville?”
How to prepare:
- Include conversational language and long-tail keywords in your content.
- Write FAQs on your site that mimic the way people naturally ask questions.
- Use schema markup to help search engines understand and display your content in voice search results.
4. Mobile and User Experience Are Still King
Mobile usability and overall user experience are more important than ever. Search engines want to deliver the best possible results, and if your site is slow, clunky, or hard to navigate, you’re not going to rank well.
How to prepare:
- Make sure your site is fully optimized for mobile—Showit makes this easy with customizable mobile layouts.
- Prioritize page speed by compressing images and streamlining your site’s design.
- Test your site regularly to ensure it’s easy to use and navigate.
5. The Continued Importance of High-Quality Content
Content is still the backbone of SEO, but the emphasis is shifting even more toward quality over quantity. Search engines and AI tools are looking for content that’s genuinely helpful, trustworthy, and authoritative.
How to prepare:
- Create in-depth, valuable content that answers your audience’s most pressing questions.
- Showcase your expertise through blog posts, guides, and case studies.
- Keep your content updated and relevant to maintain its authority over time.
6. Privacy and Data Changes
As privacy laws evolve and third-party cookies are phased out, marketers will have less access to detailed user data. This means SEO will become even more important because it’s one of the few organic (and privacy-friendly) ways to reach your audience.
How to prepare:
- Focus on building your email list—it’s a direct line of communication with your audience that you own.
- Use first-party data, like information collected through your website, to better understand your visitors.
Why SEO Is Still the Long Game
The future of SEO might feel a little unpredictable, but one thing is clear: people will always have questions, and businesses will always need to provide answers. Whether it’s through Google, AI, voice search, or something entirely new, the core principles of SEO—creating valuable, user-focused content—will remain the same.
By staying adaptable and focusing on building a strong, evergreen SEO foundation, you can ensure your website thrives no matter how the search landscape changes.
Comments +