Jump To:
When I perform an SEO audit, I always ask my clients to share their top three online competitors.
Why? The idea is that we can peek behind the curtain at the keywords driving traffic to competitor websites and use that to inform our own keyword opportunities.
It’s a great idea… in theory.
Instead, here’s what I find almost every time: the competitors they provide often have little to no Google search presence or little to no monetizable traffic (–>they’re ranking for stuff that’s not going to drive sales).
While these businesses may be formidable competitors on social, they’re not actually competitors when it comes to SEO because their websites aren’t optimized and are not ranking for anything relevant.
This is a HUGE opportunity for you.
Most of your competition isn’t optimizing their websites, which means even small, strategic actions can put you ahead of your perceived competitors.
And the best part? You don’t necessarily need tech skills to make it happen.
In this post, I’ll share eight beginner-friendly SEO tips for myvery small business owners- – that is, my solopreneurs, my boot-strapping startups, my one-woman operations.
Because I know you don’t have oodles of time to spend or a team to offload your marketing.
These are simple steps you can take right now, even if you’re managing your own website without a team, to strengthen your online presence and start showing up in Google search results.
1. Think (And Speak) Like Your Ideal Client
If your website doesn’t use the same words your clients do, they’re not going to find you.
Most small business owners write about their services from their own perspective instead of thinking about how their clients describe their needs.
For example, if you’re a physical therapist, you might say you specialize in helping clients “achieve a pain-free lifestyle”, but if your clients are searching for things like “help with back pain” they might not find you.
This disconnect can cost you potential traffic (and clients).
How do you avoid this language mismatch?
Perform keyword research.
➡️ Make sure you spend time talking with people from your audience.
➡️ Hang out in Facebook groups or online forums where your ideal clients are asking questions.
➡️ Check out the words your competitors are using.
Action Step: Use clear, voice-of-customer language on your website. Your goal isn’t to sound fancy; it’s to be found by people who need your help.
Pro tip: Make sure you clearly state what you do, who you help and how you help them on your home page. Don’t assume it’s there already!
2. Use Keywords Strategically
Once you’ve identified the words your clients are searching for, the next step is placing them in the right spots on your website.
Using keywords effectively helps Google understand what your page is about and increases the chance of ranking higher in search results.
Focus on these areas:
- Page Titles: Include a keyword in the SEO title that shows up in search results. Make sure it clearly reflects the page content.
- Meta Description: This like the movie-trailer that will or will not inspire someone to click on your blue link on the search engine results page. Include a keyword naturally here.
- H1 Headlines: Add keywords to at least one main headline on each page, like an H1 or H2 tag.
- Image File Name: Add hyphen-separated keywords to the image file name.
Action Step: Start with your homepage. Look at these four areas and make sure your primary keyword is included in each one. If it’s not, update the text to reflect the keywords your clients are searching for.
3. Create Client-Focused Content
Content is the backbone of your SEO strategy.
It’s how you show up for the questions your clients are asking online.
The key is to create content that answers their questions, solves their problems, and builds trust, all while naturally incorporating the voice-of-customer keywords you’ve identified.
Think about the challenges your clients face.
For example, if you’re a physical therapist, potential clients might be searching for “how to relieve lower back pain at home” or “stretches for neck pain.”
Writing a blog post or creating a service page that addresses these needs positions you as the expert.
Maybe the person landing on that content didn’t know about your or your service before, but now you’ve provided them with a solution and you’ll be top of mind next time they need something similar.
Action Step: Brainstorm five questions or challenges your clients frequently mention. Turn each one into a blog post, service page, or FAQ section on your site. Focus on providing clear, actionable answers.
4. Build Your Brand Online
Believe it or not, your website is just one part of your SEO. To strengthen your online presence and show Google that you’re a credible, authoritative resource, you need to build authority beyond your own website.
Do this by earning brand mentions and links back to your website (also called backlinks) from other relevant, authoritative websites.
These mentions and links signals trust and authority to search engines.
You can earn these backlinks by contributing guest blogs, collaborating with colleagues, or guesting on podcasts.
Action Step: Reach out to one person in your network or industry to pitch a collaboration. Whether it’s writing a guest blog, co-hosting a webinar, or recording a podcast episode, these connections can expand your online reach.
5. Claim Your Google Business Profile
If you serve clients locally (or if you could serve clients locally!), claiming and optimizing your Google Business Profile (GBP) is one of the simplest ways to improve your visibility online.
It’s also one of your greatest SEO assets as a small business.
When someone searches for a service you offer, your GBP can help you show up in the local results, complete with your contact information, hours, reviews, and location.
A fully optimized profile makes it easy for potential clients to find and trust you. Skipping this step is like handing leads to your competitors who have taken the time to set it up.
Action Step: Visit Google Business Profile Manager and claim your profile if you haven’t already. Fill out every section, including your business description, hours, services, and photos. Use keywords naturally in your description to help your profile rank.
6. Collect Reviews
Online reviews do double duty.
They make your business look trustworthy to potential clients and to search engines. The more great reviews you have, the easier it is for people to choose you and for Google to rank you higher in search results.
Here’s the truth: People trust other people’s experiences more than your marketing copy.
Reviews show potential clients that you deliver results, and they make your business stand out from competitors.
Action Step: Set up a simple system for asking for reviews. Send a quick email or text after a service with a direct link to your Google Business Profile.
The easier you make it, the more likely people are to follow through.
7. Make Your Website User-Friendly
User experience is one of the four pillars of SEO, along with technical SEO, keywords and content, and brand authority. For small businesses, user experience is an area where you can make a real impact.
Big businesses often get away with clunky sites full of ads and popups because they have strong brand recognition and tons of content supporting their SEO.
Small businesses can’t rely on those advantages, so it’s even more important to make your website easy and enjoyable to use.
If your site is slow, hard to navigate, or confusing, visitors are likely to leave. That hurts your SEO and costs you potential clients.
A website that is quick to load, mobile-friendly, and simple to navigate helps keep people in your content longer and tells Google your site is worth ranking.
Action Step:
- Check your website’s usability by visiting it from a phone and testing how easy it is to browse.
- Use free tools like Google’s PageSpeed Insights to check loading speeds.
- Simplify your menu, fix broken links, and remove any distracting elements to make the experience as smooth as possible.
Pro tip: Resize large image files, write clear labels for your navigation, and test your site on a friend’s phone to see how user-friendly it feels to someone new.
8. Keep Your Website Updated
Search engines reward websites that stay up to date.
This doesn’t mean you need a constant flow of brand-new content, but it does mean you can’t let your website get stale.
Regular updates, whether it’s new blog posts, recent testimonials, or updating old pages, show Google that your business is alive and well.
Action Item: Make it a habit to update your site regularly. Add new testimonials, put together a case study, write a blog post that answers a recent client question or update older pages.
Outrank Your Competition With Actionable SEO
SEO doesn’t have to be complicated to work. By focusing on these beginner-friendly strategies, you can make real progress without getting bogged down in technical details.
Most of your competitors aren’t taking these simple steps.
By optimizing your website with the right keywords, creating great content, and updated your website regularly, you’re already ahead of the game.
Ready to get found on Google?
Sign up for my newsletter to get SEO Simplified, a step-by-step keyword research guide designed to help you find the exact words your ideal clients are searching for.
With the right keywords, you’ll know exactly how to optimize your website and drive the kind of traffic that turns into business.
