One of the most common questions we hear from new clients is: “Is WordPress the best for SEO and the only way to rank on search engines? We heard it’s the go-to platform.”
We totally understand where this comes from — there’s a lot of sometimes confusing advice floating around about SEO. Many years ago, WordPress was the only option for building websites (without coding the entire thing) and ranking for SEO, so it absolutely was the top choice. However, nowadays, this is outdated advice. And here’s the truth: Google’s algorithm doesn’t prioritize websites based on the platform they’re built on. So, what actually helps your website rank on search engines? And why is WordPress pushed so much for SEO? Let’s have an honest chat.
Let’s Bust the Myth: SEO Isn’t About the Platform
Somewhere along the way many years ago, WordPress became known as the “top choice” for SEO. And while it’s certainly powerful, it’s not the only way — and not always the right way for every business. And, many other platforms have just as much capability these days (and often are even better design-wise).
Think of it this way:
- A hairstylist doesn’t need one specific brand of scissors to give a great haircut
- A plumber doesn’t need one brand of wrench to fix your sink
Tools matter — but the strategy and skill behind them matter more. And when it comes to SEO, what really counts is what your site does and how the content on it supports that — not just what it’s built on.
SEO Isn’t Platform-Dependent — It’s Strategy-Dependent
Here’s what actually helps your website rank on Google:
- Clear, helpful content (think website copy, blog posts, etc)
- Fast loading speed and mobile-friendly design
- Smart use of page titles, headings, and metadata
- Internal linking and simple navigation
- Social Media and Google listing optimization
- Backlinks — links from other websites leading to your site
👉 Quick explainer: For that last point…Backlinks are like digital referrals. When another (high-quality) site links to yours, it tells Google, “This business is credible.” The more strong backlinks you have, the more search engines trust your site — and this has nothing to do with what platform you’re using.
beyond that, a well-rounded marketing strategy is what impacts your growth
Gone are the days of cherry-picked marketing strategies. With competition everywhere and information at everyone’s fingertips, clients see the best ROI when they approach marketing with a big-picture mindset. Every business is different—and we love helping clients fine-tune a marketing approach that fits their goals, target market, location(s), and brand strategy.
Often, this means exploring opportunities like Google ads, organic and/or paid social media, retargeting, direct mail, guerrilla marketing, intentional referral partnerships, standout websites, memorable branding, great flyers—you name it. Dipping your toes into a mix of puzzle pieces can really round out your marketing (and it works).
SEO is just one slice of the pie. It’s important, but focusing only on SEO won’t drive the most impactful growth. That’s why we’re selective about who we refer clients to for additional marketing support. At Saltd Studio, we have high standards for what a true return on marketing investment should look like. Over the years, we’ve worked alongside some incredible SEO experts who genuinely prioritize their clients’ success. Today, we collaborate with SEO companies who work with any website builder and know real results come from a holistic strategy built specifically for each business—not just from the platform they use.
Our Platforms of choice: Why We Love Squarespace and Showit for SEO
We build a lot of sites on Squarespace and Showit, and here’s why they work so well for SEO — especially for small businesses who want strategic, beautiful websites they can actually manage.
Squarespace and Showit Are Both SEO-Friendly With:
- SEO tools built in (meta descriptions, page titles, alt text, etc.)
- Mobile-optimized and fast
- Secure, reliable hosting
- Easy for clients to edit and update
- Clean, crawlable site structure that Google loves
- Stunning, fully custom designs with mobile-specific control
- Uses WordPress for blogging (on Showit)
- Beginner-friendly interface, no coding needed
- Full control over SEO settings per page and image
We’ve seen clients in wellness, education, home services, creative industries, and beyond rank on Google using both platforms — because success comes from strategy and consistency, not just software.
The Bottom Line
So, is WordPress the best for SEO? Is it the frontrunner in this area? No, not really. If you’re using a platform you love — like Squarespace, Showit, Wix, or Shopify — and it fits your business, you’re not missing out on SEO. You don’t need WordPress to show up in search results. You need a website that’s thoughtfully built, regularly updated, supported by great backlinks, and created with smart, strategic content.
Want to be connected with our go-to SEO experts? Reach out and we’ll happily share our list of contacts.
