Is Wix bad for SEO? Time for some myth busting!

Let’s get clear on something straight away: Wix used to be a bit pants when it came to SEO.

Back in the day (circa 2015), if you built a website on Wix, you were basically telling Google, “Don’t worry about me, I’m not that fussed about showing up in search results.” It was built on Flash, had clunky URLs, and offered next to no control over meta tags or structured data. You could build a pretty site, but as far as Google was concerned, it was like turning up to a black-tie dinner in speedos.

It's why I ignored Wix back then and stuck to WordPress.

But that was nearly a decade ago, and Wix has had one hell of a make-over since then.

So, is Wix bad for SEO now?Nope. Not even a little bit.

In this post I’ll share why, bust a few myths along the way, and share how to make your Wix site work hard for you in the search rankings.

Don’t just take my word for it – ask Google

Google’s own Search Advocate, John Mueller, has gone on record multiple times to say that Wix is fine for SEO.

In 2022, someone on Twitter asked John, “Is Wix still terrible for SEO?” His response?

There you have it. Straight from the horse’s mouth.

Wix even worked directly with Google to make improvements to its infrastructure. So, if you’re still clinging to an old-school opinion that Wix can’t rank well – it’s time to let that go. It’s like saying Nokia still makes the best phones. (yeah, they’re indestructible and snake was fun. But come on.)

So what’s changed?

A lot, actually. Here are some of the major improvements that have made Wix a solid choice for SEO:

> Fully customisable meta titles and descriptions

No more generic page titles. You can tweak your title tags, write compelling descriptions, and make your content stand out in search results.

> Clean URLs with redirects

Wix now gives you pretty URLs (no more /page-1 weirdness) and lets you manage redirects, so you don’t lose SEO momentum when you update your pages.

> Mobile optimisation

All Wix sites are mobile-friendly out of the box. Considering Google now indexes mobile-first, this is absolutely non-negotiable.

> Structured data (aka Schema markup)

Wix allows you to add custom Schema to your pages, which helps Google understand what your content is about. That’s how you get rich results like FAQs and star ratings.

> Built-in SEO tools

The Wix SEO Setup Checklist walks you through the basics, and the SEO Panel lets you control indexing, canonical tags, and more.

> Fast loading speeds

Wix has made big strides in improving core web vitals - those metrics Google uses to measure user experience, like loading time and interactivity.

OK, but can a Wix site actually rank?

Absolutely. We’ve built plenty of Wix sites that rank on page one for competitive search terms. You just need to follow best practices – which, spoiler alert, are the same regardless of platform.

You could build the fanciest site on WordPress or Webflow and still tank in search results if your content is a bit shit and your tech setup is a mess. On the flip side, you can build a solid, search-friendly site on Wix if you know what you’re doing.

7 quick tips to make Wix work for your SEO

Want to make sure your Wix site isn’t just pretty? Here’s what to focus on:

1. Sort your site structure

Keep your navigation simple, logical, and shallow. That means that ideally, every important page should be no more than 2–3 clicks from the homepage. Use subpages wisely and create a proper blog category/tag structure if you're publishing regularly.

2. Write for humans, optimise for Google

Create original content that answers real questions your clients are asking. Use your target keywords naturally, especially in headers, titles, and page descriptions. Don’t stuff them in like it’s 2003 – because, yes, I still see plenty of that!

3. Get your meta data in order

Wix makes it easy to set custom titles and meta descriptions - so do it! Don’t get put off by a little extra work. Make them click-worthy and relevant, and keep them within the character limits. And if you’re not sure where to start here, check out our Beginner’s guide to meta tags post.

4. Use headings properly

Don't use bold text when you mean a header. Use H1 for each main page title, then H2s and H3s to break up your content. Just like you used to do when writing an essay at school! This helps Google understand your content hierarchy.

5. Add alt text to your images

Descriptive alt text isn’t just good for SEO - it makes your site more accessible. And that’s important for everyone.

6. Connect to Google Search Console

Wix lets you connect in a couple of clicks. Once you do, you’ll get real data about how your site’s performing, what keywords you're ranking for, and where you can improve.

7. Publish blog content consistently

Google loves fresh content. Blogging regularly on Wix using the built-in blog feature is a fab way to build authority, attract backlinks, and get found for more keywords.

When Wix might not be the right choice

I love to be honest and let’s face it - no platform is perfect. Wix is brilliant for small businesses, creatives, coaches, and service providers who want control without having to faff about with code or updates.

Although you can control the code too and really customise Wix too if you want – just thought you should know!

But if you’re running a massive e-commerce site with hundreds of product pages, or you’ve got a heavily customised technical SEO strategy (think AMP pages, edge caching, or multilingual subdomains), Wix might not be your best bet. You’re probably better off with a more custom setup like Shopify or WordPress with WooCommerce.

But for 90% of SMEs? Wix does the job - and does it bloody well.

Convinced? We are.

Wix has done the work. It’s no longer the SEO underdog - it’s a proper contender.

So, if someone tells you, “Oh, Wix is bad for SEO,” you can confidently tell them to jog on. Or, y’know, politely suggest they check the date on the article they’re quoting.

Like any platform, Wix is only as good as the effort you put in. But if you use the tools it gives you and follow SEO best practices, there’s no reason you can’t rank well and grow your traffic.

We’re proof of that at Web Goddess: we jumped from WordPress to Wix 18 months ago. Our visibility is greater now than it was then – and all without the hassle of WP updates and bugs.

And if you need a hand making your Wix site work harder? You know where we are.

Want help getting your Wix site seen on Google?

Book a free chat with Web Goddess and we’ll show you how to level up your Wix SEO game – or check out the other resources on our site to help get you moving.

Web Goddess is a certified Wix Studio Expert so we’d like to think we know what we’re doing 😉