WebCitz started working with this client in 2022
- Client: Bio Sharing Network
- Platform: Squarespace
- Industry: Medical / Dental
- Services: Digital Marketing
The Challenge
Bio-Sharing, an organization focused on resource sharing and collaborative bio-research data, engaged WebCitz in 2022 to improve their organic search visibility for several high-value industry phrases. The primary challenge was not just content-related, but deeply technical. Before WebCitz was brought on, structural changes had been made to the Squarespace site that disrupted the indexing of vital PDF resources. Because Squarespace utilizes a specific CDN (Content Delivery Network) architecture for file hosting, many previously indexed documents were “lost” to search engines, causing a significant drop in site authority and traffic.
The WebCitz Solution
WebCitz launched a six-month intensive SEO campaign designed to stabilize the site and recover lost rankings:
- Technical SEO Audit: We performed a deep-dive audit to identify the extent of the indexing issues. We discovered that the platform’s CDN URLs for critical PDF documents had shifted, leading to broken links and “crawling” errors that penalized the site’s overall health.
- Squarespace CDN Troubleshooting: Our team spent months attempting to reconcile the broken file paths within the limitations of the Squarespace environment. We worked to implement redirects and re-index the new file locations to regain the traffic that those documents previously generated.
- Keyword Research & Mapping: We identified the most important phrases for Bio-Sharing’s specific niche and optimized their on-page content to align with these terms. We focused on improving the site’s relevance for terms related to bio-resource coordination and data sharing.
- Backlink Analysis: We audited the existing backlink profile to ensure that external sites pointing to those older PDF URLs were identified, helping the client understand where their “link juice” was being lost due to the platform’s structural changes.
The Result
The Bio-Sharing project serves as a clear example of the limitations of “drag-and-drop” site builders for complex, document-driven SEO. While WebCitz applied significant expertise to navigate the Squarespace CDN issues, the project highlighted the importance of having full server-level control for technical SEO success. Our six-month campaign provided the client with an honest, expert assessment of their technical debt and a roadmap for how platform limitations can impact long-term search visibility.
