If you’re running a small business, you know that one of the most important things you can do is get found online. That’s where search engine optimization (SEO) comes in. By utilizing a few key SEO strategies, you can ensure that your website is appearing as high as possible in search engine results pages (SERPs), which means more people are likely to find and visit your site.
Not sure where to start? Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered. Keep reading for a helpful overview of some essential SEO strategies for small business owners.
1. Research Keywords
One of the cornerstone elements of good SEO is using the right keywords. These are the words and phrases that potential customers use when they search for businesses like yours. It’s important to conduct keyword research to ensure that you’re using the most effective keywords for your business—keywords that will help you attract your target audience and convert them into customers.
There are a number of different tools you can use to research keywords, including Google Ads Keyword Planner and Moz Keyword Explorer. Once you’ve identified some potential keywords, take some time to integrate them into your website content—including your website copy, product descriptions, blog posts, and more. But beware: don’t engage in keyword stuffing, which is the act of filling your content with so many keywords that it becomes difficult to read. This not only turns off potential customers but can also get you penalized by Google. Instead, focus on using keywords thoughtfully and sparingly throughout your content.
2. Optimize Your Website Content
It’s not enough to simply find the right keywords for your website content—you also need to make sure that your content is high-quality and informative if you want it to rank well in SERPs. That’s why it’s important to have well-written website copy that clearly outlines what your business does, as well as blog posts, product descriptions, and anything else on your site. Not a strong writer? No problem—there are plenty of freelance writers who would be happy to help create content for your site.
3. Optimize Your Website for Mobile
Did you know that more than 60% of all internet searches are now performed on mobile devices? That number is only going to continue to grow in the years to come—which is why it’s essential to make sure that your website is optimized for mobile. A mobile-friendly website will not only help improve your SEO but will also provide a better experience for the users who visit your site from their smartphones or tablets. Not sure if your site is already mobile-friendly? You can use Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test tool to find out.
4. Build Backlinks
In order for your website to rank well in SERPs, search engines need to trust that it’s an authority on the subject—and one way they determine this is by looking at how many other websites are linking back to yours (i.e., backlinks). The more backlinks you have from high-quality websites, the better chance you have of ranking well in SERPs—so start building those backlinks! There are a number of ways you can do this, such as guest blogging or submitting articles to directories and other websites in your industry.
Following these four basic SEO strategies will help get your small business started on the right foot when it comes to getting found online by potential customers—which is essential if you want to drive traffic (and sales!) through your website. Keep in mind that SEO is an ongoing process; there are always new things you can do to optimize and improve your website, so don’t hesitate to experiment and try new tactics as you go along!
