Running a small business is hard enough without having to worry about Google’s ever-changing algorithms. You just want people to find your website, right? The good news is that SEO (Search Engine Optimization) isn’t as complicated as it sounds. With a few key strategies, you can start climbing the ranks and getting more eyeballs on your business. Let’s break it down in a way that actually makes sense.
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What Is SEO, and Why Does It Matter?
SEO is the process of optimizing your website so it appears higher in search results when people look for services or products like yours. Think of Google as a huge library—SEO is how you make sure your book gets put on the front shelf instead of lost in the back.
When done right, SEO can:
- Increase your website traffic (without paying for ads!)
- Help you attract the right audience—people actually looking for what you offer
- Build trust and credibility with potential customers
Now, let’s go over the basics of how to make SEO work for your small business.
Optimize Your Website for Speed & Mobile
Google prioritizes websites that load fast and look good on mobile devices. If your site takes forever to load, people will bounce—and Google takes note.
Quick ways to improve speed:
- Compress images (use free tools like LiteSpeed Cache).
- Remove unnecessary plugins or themes.
- Use a good hosting provider (Misfit Development includes hosting in our website plans, so our clients never have to worry about slow speeds).
Also, check how your website looks on mobile! Google’s mobile-first indexing means if your site isn’t mobile-friendly, your rankings could suffer.
Consistently Create High-Quality Content
Google loves fresh content, and so do your potential customers. A blog can help drive traffic to your site by answering common questions your audience has.
For example, if you’re a personal trainer, writing a blog post on “Best Workouts for Busy Professionals” can attract people searching for fitness advice—some of whom may become clients.
Tips for great content:
- Write in a friendly, conversational tone (like you’re talking to a friend)
- Answer real questions your customers ask
- Include your keywords naturally—don’t overstuff them
- Keep paragraphs short and easy to skim
Get Local with Google My Business
If you run a local business, setting up your Google My Business (GMB) profile is a game-changer. When someone searches for “coffee shop near me,” Google pulls from GMB listings.
Make sure to:
- Fill out your profile completely (including hours, location, and services)
- Upload high-quality photos
- Encourage happy customers to leave reviews (Google loves reviews!)
Use an SEO Plugin for Easy Wins
If your website runs on WordPress, an SEO plugin can make optimizing your site much easier. At Misfit Development, we use All In One SEO to handle meta descriptions, title tags, and sitemaps automatically.
SEO plugins won’t do all the work for you, but they simplify things like:
- Adding keywords to page titles and descriptions
- Generating a sitemap to help Google crawl your site
- Checking for readability and SEO-friendliness
Use the Right Keywords
Keywords are the words and phrases people type into Google. If you run a bakery in Austin, you want to rank for things like “best bakery in Austin” or “custom cakes near me.”
How to find the right keywords:
- Think like your customers: What would you search for if you needed your service?
- Use free tools like Free Keyword Research Tool
- Check what your competitors are ranking for by searching their websites
Once you’ve got your keywords, sprinkle them naturally throughout your website—on your homepage, service pages, blog posts, and even in your image descriptions.
Build Backlinks (The Right Way)
Backlinks are when other websites link to yours which tells Google your website is trustworthy. The more high-quality sites that link to yours, the better.
How to get backlinks:
- Write guest posts for reputable blogs in your industry
- Get listed in online directories
- Create content so good that others want to share it
Just avoid spammy tactics like buying links, Google will catch on, and it could hurt your rankings.
Start Small, Stay Consistent
SEO doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Start with the basics:
- Make your website fast and mobile-friendly
- Create useful content
- Set up Google My Business
- Use an SEO plugin for easy optimization
- Use the right keywords
- Earn backlinks naturally
SEO is a long game, but every little step you take helps your business become more visible. If you need help optimizing your website, Misfit Development is here to take the guesswork out of it. Let’s get your business ranking where it deserves to be!
Looking for a website that’s already SEO-friendly from day one? Check out Misfit Development’s website plans and let’s build something great together.