Short answer: most DIY website problems come down to a handful of fixable issues: no tap-to-call phone number, a messy mobile layout, generic page titles like "Home", one page trying to cover every service, oversized images, and a site Google hasn't been told about. Work through the checklist below in order. If you're still fighting the template after that, it may be time to rebuild.

The Short Answer

  1. Put your phone, address and a clear call to action on every page.
  2. Fix the mobile layout first.
  3. Rewrite every page title and meta description.
  4. Give each main service its own page with a clear heading.
  5. Compress images and remove heavy extras.
  6. Connect Google Search Console and submit your sitemap.
  7. Make your site match your Google Business Profile.

1. Can Visitors Contact You in One Tap?

Add your phone number (as a click-to-call link), address and service area to the header or footer of every page. Then give each page one main button: "Call for a free estimate", "Book now" or "Request a quote". Both Wix and Squarespace let you add phone links and buttons in their editors.

2. Does It Work on a Phone?

Google uses the mobile version of your site for indexing and ranking. Open every page on your phone and check for:

  1. Text that's too small, or overlapping elements.
  2. Buttons too close together to tap.
  3. Popups that cover the page.
  4. Sections that look fine on desktop but are hidden or broken on mobile.

Builders often have a separate mobile view. Edit it directly rather than assuming it mirrors desktop.

3. Are Your Page Titles Doing Any Work?

Many DIY sites still have titles like "Home" or "Services". In your builder's SEO settings for each page, write:

  1. A title of about 60 characters or less with the service and city: "Dog Grooming in South Minneapolis | Paws on Lake".
  2. A meta description of about 155 characters or less that summarizes the page and invites the click.
  3. A clean URL, like /dog-grooming/ rather than /copy-of-services-2/.

4. Does Each Service Have Its Own Page?

One "Services" page listing everything rarely ranks for anything. Create a page per main service, each with:

  1. One H1 heading that names the service.
  2. A direct answer near the top: what it is, who it's for, where you offer it.
  3. Prices or what affects the price, timing, and a short FAQ.
  4. A clear call to action.

Keep the main menu simple. Our website navigation guide shows how.

5. Why Is My Site Slow?

Run your homepage through PageSpeed Insights. The usual DIY culprits:

  1. Huge images. Resize photos before uploading. A hero image rarely needs to be wider than about 2,000 pixels.
  2. Video backgrounds and big sliders.
  3. Too many apps, widgets and embeds, like chat bubbles, social feeds and review carousels.
  4. Custom fonts. Stick to one or two.

Google's Core Web Vitals targets are a useful yardstick: main content loading within 2.5 seconds, and a layout that doesn't jump around.

6. Is Google Indexing Your Site?

Verify your site in Google Search Console (both Wix and Squarespace support this) and submit your sitemap. Then check:

  1. The Pages report, for pages that aren't indexed and why.
  2. The Performance report, for the searches that bring people to your site.
  3. That old test pages, duplicate pages or "copy of" pages are removed or hidden from search.

7. Does Your Site Match Your Google Profile?

Your business name, address and phone number should be identical on your site and your Google Business Profile, and the profile should link to your site. Use the same service names in both places. Full steps are in How to Set Up and Optimize Your Google Business Profile, and the rest of the SEO basics are in our small business SEO guide.

Should I Fix It or Rebuild?

Fix it if the design still represents your business, the structure is basically sound, and the problems are content, titles and images.

Consider rebuilding if:

  1. You've outgrown the template and every change is a fight.
  2. The site is slow even after cleanup.
  3. You need features the platform can't do well.
  4. Your brand has changed and the site no longer fits.
  5. You'd rather spend your evenings running the business.

If you go the rebuild route, compare options in Professional Website or DIY Builder: Which Should You Pick? If speed matters, our Website in a Week package is built for it.

See what a professionally built small business site can look like in our Design Showcase.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can a Wix or Squarespace site rank on Google? A: Yes. Both give you control over titles, descriptions and URLs. Content, structure, speed and local signals matter more than the platform.

Q: Will I lose my Google rankings if I switch platforms? A: Not if the move is done carefully. Keep your important URLs, or redirect old URLs to the new pages permanently, and resubmit your sitemap.

Q: Can SS Labs fix my DIY site instead of rebuilding? A: Sometimes. We'll review it with you and recommend the cheaper option when it makes sense. Changes are quoted hourly.

Get a Free DIY Site Review

Stuck on a DIY site that isn't bringing in customers? SS Labs is a Minneapolis web design studio, and we'll walk through your site on a free 30-minute consultation, then tell you honestly whether to fix it or rebuild.

Call: 507-339-5547

Email: Benjamin@StrategicSolutionsLabs.com

Book online: request your free 30-minute consultation. We reply within 24 hours.