If you’re buying a Showit template because you want a site that looks like it owns the room, SEO is what makes sure people can actually find it.

Bookmark this post and use this checklist to set up your template the right way, so your design doesn’t just make a scene, it brings in clicks, inquiries, and sales.

Before you touch settings: pick your “SEO targets”

• Choose 1 primary keyword per page (what you want that page to rank for).
• Choose 1–2 supporting phrases (close variations).
• Match the keyword to the page’s job:
  • Homepage: brand + what you do + who it’s for
  • Services page: the service + location (optional) + niche
  • Template product page: “Showit template for [niche]”
  • Blog post: a specific question/problem

Pro Tip: Don’t try to rank your homepage for everything. Your pages and blog posts usually do the heavy lifting.

Quick myth-buster:

“Should I convert my Showit pages to WordPress Pages for Improved SEO?”

You’ll hear this one a lot, so here’s the clean, careful answer: converting a Showit page into a WordPress page doesn’t automatically improve SEO.

WordPress is a popular option, so it shows up in a lot of page-one results, but popularity isn’t the same thing as a ranking advantage. Search engines primarily reward pages that:

• satisfy search intent with helpful, relevant content
• earn credible backlinks over time
• load fast and provide a good user experience

In some cases, a fully native Showit page can even perform better than a “converted” page simply because it’s lighter and has fewer resources to load.

If you want to go deeper on what Google actually values, skim Google’s SEO Starter Guide and then come back to this checklist to implement the basics: https://developers.google.com/search/docs/fundamentals/seo-starter-guide

Next step (keep the momentum): browse Showit website templates here: https://riverandstonedesign.com/shop

The SEO Checklist

1. Page-level SEO settings (the non-negotiables)

Title tag (SEO title)

• Include your primary keyword near the front.
• Add a benefit or differentiator.
• Keep it readable (avoid keyword stuffing).

Quick formula: Primary keyword + Benefit/Outcome | Brand

Meta description

• Write for clicks: problem + promise + proof + next step.
• Make it specific to the page (no duplicates).

Quick formula: What it is + who it’s for + outcome + CTA

URL slug

• Short, descriptive, keyword-aligned.
• Use hyphens.
• Avoid dates unless the content truly expires.

Good: /showit-template-coach Not great: /page12-new-final-v3

One page = one intent

• Each page should answer one main search intent.
• If a page is trying to do 3 jobs, split it into 2–3 pages.

2. Headings + layout rules (so Google can “read” your design)

Use one clear H1

• Only one H1 per page.
• Make it the page’s main topic (not just a clever tagline).

Example H1 (template product page):Showit Website Template for Coaches Who Sell High-Ticket Offers

Use H2s to structure sections

• Treat H2s like signposts.
• Your H2s should describe the section content (not “The Vibe”).

Great H2 ideas for a template page:

• What’s Included
• Who This Template Is For
• Pages + Layouts
• How Customizable It Is
• FAQs

Don’t hide key text in images

• If your “headline” is an image, Google can’t reliably interpret it.
• Keep key messaging as real text whenever possible.

3. Images SEO (speed + accessibility + rankings)

File names

• Rename files before uploading.
• Use descriptive words + hyphens.

Good: showit-template-coach-homepage.jpg Not great: IMG_4920.jpg

Image size + compression

• Export images at the size they’ll display (don’t upload huge originals).
• Compress before uploading.

Rule of thumb: If a page feels heavy, images are usually the reason.

Alt text

• Write alt text for meaningful images.
• Skip or keep alt text minimal for purely decorative images.

Alt text examples:

• Good: “Showit template homepage layout with bold headline and call-to-action button”
• Not great: “website design, showit, template, pretty”

4. Indexing Basics (make sure Google can actually find your pages)

Confirm your site is indexable

• Make sure you’re not accidentally set to noindex.
• Avoid password-protecting key pages you want to rank.

Submit your sitemap

• Add your site to Google Search Console: https://search.google.com/search-console/welcome
• Submit your sitemap so Google discovers pages faster.

Next step: if you’re still choosing a design, start here: https://riverandstonedesign.com/shop

Watch for duplicate/placeholder pages

Template buyers often forget to remove:

• Demo pages you didn’t customize
• Duplicate “About” pages from the template
• Old launch pages

If Google sees duplicates, it can dilute your relevance.

5. Internal linking (how you guide Google and buyers)

Link your pages like a funnel

• Homepage → Template shop/category pages
• Category page → Individual template pages
• Template page → Setup guide + FAQ + related templates
• Blog posts → Template pages (where relevant)

Use descriptive anchor text

Good: “Showit templates for coaches” Not great: “click here”

Want to see what a strategic template structure looks like in action? Start in the shop: https://riverandstonedesign.com/shop

6. Product-Page SEO (the money page checklist)

If you’re selling products, your product pages are your SEO assets.

• Put the keyword in:
  • Title tag
  • H1
  • First Paragraph
  • One H2 (if natural)
  • URL slug
• Include a short, specific intro above the fold (not just visuals).
• Add FAQ content (it’s great for long-tail searches).
• Add unique copy per product (avoid repeating the same paragraphs across products).
• Browse my Showit templates (and see how each product page is structured): https://riverandstonedesign.com/shop

7. Launch Checklist (before you hit publish)

• Titles + meta descriptions written for your key pages
• URLs clean and intentional
• One H1 per page
• Text-based headlines (not image-only)
• Images renamed + compressed
• Alt text added where it matters
• No demo/duplicate pages left live
• Google Search Console set up + sitemap submitted
• Internal links added (especially to your template shop)

Make Your Website Easy to Find

Don’t try to SEO your entire website in one sitting. Pick one page first (your homepage or a product page), run this checklist top to bottom, and then repeat it across the rest of your site.

If you want a shortcut, start with a strategic Showit template that’s built to look bold and guide visitors to the next step. Shop my SEO-first Showit templates here: https://riverandstonedesign.com/shop