SEO

Why Wix and GoDaddy Sites Struggle With SEO: Uncovering the Challenges

January 10, 2025

You built your site on Wix or GoDaddy, but now you're wondering why it's not ranking or converting. Many small business owners choose these platforms because they make building a website easy. But that simplicity comes with a hidden cost: poor search engine performance and a site that just sits there..

This article will explore why Wix and GoDaddy websites often struggle with SEO. We'll also help you understand what you need for a website that balances user-friendliness with real search engine results.

The Hidden SEO Cost of Simplicity

Wix and GoDaddy have built their businesses on one big promise: anyone can build a website, no coding required. These drag-and-drop editors and pre-made templates make it possible to launch a site in just hours.

But this simplicity comes at a price. What these platforms don't advertise is how their technical limitations can hold back your business from being found online.

Technical SEO Limitations

Speed and Core Web Vitals

Google now uses page speed and user experience metrics (called Core Web Vitals) to determine rankings. This is where Wix and GoDaddy sites often fall short.

According to Seobility, Wix websites score an average of 32 out of 100 for performance, while GoDaddy sites score around 41. These are failing grades in Google's eyes.

Why such poor performance? These platforms load:

  • Extra code that your site doesn't need
  • Too many scripts that slow down loading time
  • Elements that shift around as the page loads (called layout shifts)

All these issues frustrate visitors and send negative signals to search engines.

Poor URL Structure & Code Quality

URLs matter for SEO. They should be clean, descriptive, and include keywords when possible. Here's where problems arise:

Wix often creates dynamic URLs with strange numbers and codes. While they've improved recently, you still get less control than you should.

GoDaddy offers slightly better URL options, but still limits custom control compared to other platforms.

Both platforms generate bloated HTML code. This means your website loads unnecessary scripts on every page, slowing things down and hurting your SEO.

Content Management Constraints

Limited Technical Customization

Good SEO requires control over technical elements. With Wix and GoDaddy, you'll face frustrations like:

  • No way to edit meta tags in bulk (you must update each page individually)
  • Image alt tags require manual edits on every image
  • Canonical tags (which prevent duplicate content issues) are either missing or need manual setup

These limitations make proper SEO much more time-consuming than it should be.

Structured Data Is Lacking

Structured data helps search engines understand your content better. It can even earn you special features in search results, like star ratings or recipe cards.

Wix requires manual setup for structured data, with limited options.

GoDaddy offers almost no real support for structured data, leaving you at a disadvantage compared to competitors.

Platform-Specific Challenges

Wix's Hybrid Model

Wix has made improvements to their SEO in recent years. Their Velo system allows for more customization than before. However, you still can't access:

  • Server settings
  • .htaccess files (important for redirects)
  • Full control over code output

Wix's blog system looks nice, but lacks flexibility for content marketers. You can't easily customize templates or add advanced features that help with reader engagement.

GoDaddy's Outdated Framework

GoDaddy Website Builder hasn't made significant SEO improvements since 2021. Their sites continue to suffer from:

  • Long blocking times (when browsers must wait before rendering content)
  • Layout shifts that annoy users
  • Limited customization options for SEO elements

Marketing Capabilities: Surface-Level Tools

Both platforms offer SEO tools, but they only scratch the surface of what's possible.

Wix provides better tools, including SEMrush integration for keyword research. However, their slow server response times undermine these advantages.

GoDaddy offers an "SEO Wizard" that walks you through basic optimization. But many important features are locked behind premium plans, and even then, the tools lack depth compared to dedicated SEO solutions.

Conclusion: Is It Time to Upgrade?

When you choose Wix or GoDaddy, you make a trade: convenience for visibility. This works fine when you're just starting. But as your business grows, the limitations become more costly.

Think about your goals. If you're serious about growing your business online, platforms like Webflow offer the control and performance you need without requiring deep technical knowledge.

Remember this: a beautiful website that nobody finds is like a store with no address. When growth matters more than convenience, it may be time to consider platforms that give you both ease of use and SEO performance.

Ready to Improve Your Website's SEO?

If you're running a Wix or GoDaddy site and struggling to rank, I offer free SEO audits to identify exactly what's holding your site back.

Contact me today to schedule your no-obligation review and discover how to improve your online visibility—whether that means optimizing your current site or exploring better alternatives. As a service to you, I will provide the results free of charge, and you can implement them however you choose. Of course, I'm also available to discuss how I can personally assist with implementing these improvements if you'd like additional support.

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