If you're a small business owner, you already know how important it is for customers to find you online. But did you know that 75% of people never scroll past the first page of Google search results? That means if your small business SEO is lacking, you’re missing out on potential customers. Now there's no need to worry. There's good news! You don’t need to be a tech wizard to improve your ranking. Here are five simple small business SEO tips you can do right now in under an hour to help your website show up higher in search results.
Think of keywords as the words people type into Google when they’re searching for something. If your website has those words in the right places, you have a better chance of showing up in their search results.
Put yourself in the customers' shoes. How would they find you? Choose 3-5 keywords that best describe your business (e.g., “handmade candles in Austin” or “affordable website design”). Then add these keywords naturally into your website’s homepage, about page, and product/service pages, and make sure your page titles and headings include at least one important keyword.
Quick Fix: Update your homepage title to include your main keyword (e.g., instead of “Welcome to Sarah’s Boutique,” try “Handmade Jewelry | Sarah’s Boutique”).
Google loves websites that load quickly. If your site is slow, visitors will leave, and your ranking will drop. One of the easiest ways to speed things up is by optimizing your images.
Resize large images before uploading them to your site with free tools like TinyPNG or Squoosh to compress images without losing quality. Always add alt text (a short description of the image) to help Google understand what your images are about. Also, add keywords to your alt text!
Quick Fix: Go through your website and replace any large, slow-loading images with optimized versions.
A meta description is the short snippet of text that appears under your website link in search results. It’s what helps convince people to click on your site. If you've forgotten these important SEO areas, you can easily remedy this. Keep meta descriptions short and clear (around 150-160 characters). Use action-oriented language, like “Learn more,” “Get started today,” or “Shop now.” Don't forget to include a keyword and a reason why someone should visit your site.
Quick Fix: Update the meta description for your homepage to make it more compelling and keyword-friendly.
Google ranks websites higher when they are well-organized and easy to navigate. One simple way to help is by using internal links—links that connect different pages on your website.
You can link from your homepage to your most important pages (products, services, contact page). When writing a blog post, link to another related blog post or a product page on your website. Use descriptive anchor text (instead of just saying “click here,” describe what the link is about, like “Check out our latest collection of handmade soaps”).
Quick Fix: Add at least three internal links to an existing blog post or page on your website.
If you haven’t claimed your Google Business Profile yet, do it now—it’s free and can help you rank higher in local searches!
Go to Google Business and claim your business if you haven’t already. Make sure your business name, address, and phone number are correct. Add photos, respond to customer reviews, and update your business hours. This profile is essential if you are looking to tap into your local market.
Quick Fix: Log into your Google Business Profile and add a fresh post or update your business description with a keyword.
Small Business SEO might seem overwhelming, but small, consistent improvements can make a big impact. By implementing these five easy tips, you’re setting your website up for more visibility, more traffic, and ultimately, more customers.
Need help optimizing your site further? Reach out to our website design agency in Dallas TX, and let’s get your business ranking even higher!
