Optimizing Small Business Websites: Simple SEO Best Practices

While the technical parts of website optimization should be left to a credible SEO partner, small business websites can achieve good search engine rankings by following some basic SEO best practices – mainly from a content perspective.

Think About Search And Targeting A Specific Audience

First thing first, keywords are vital to search engines. You need to list words or phrases that visitors would search for in order to land on your website – some may be too common to compete for with bigger brands but a detailed list around your services, location and customer needs should be the basis of your keywords.

Conduct A Site Inspection And Fix What Is Broken

• Check all pages and content for grammar and broken links.
• The best time to install Google analytics is when you first launch. The second best time is now.
• Google analytics is great for giving insight and depth into what site visitors actually do on your site.
• Make sure that the site loads in seconds…like preferably under 5 seconds
• Earmark outdated information either for deletion or updates
• Update your blog or frequently asked questions with common issues and topics raised by customers
• Have good, relevant and, preferably your own pictures

Content Is A Big Deal

There is a lot the sameness on the internet when it comes to content – rehashed, rephrased but the same message on closer inspection. Content overload is a real thing, yet there are some glaring gaps in some subjects and niche fields. How do you create valuable content? Nothing is more search engine friendly than relevant and valuable web content. Each post should aim at problem solving; provide answers, gives new perspectives, forecasting trends etc.

Aim For Timeless Content

Often referred to as ‘stock’, timeless content is generally content that your audience finds useful even in a few years. Checklists, how to guides and problems solving type posts generally work well as stock content.

Develop A Content Calendar

Every section or page on your site requires updating regularly. Develop a calendar to bookmark updates. Develop and new Leverage on industry news and updates by posting content on topics that your audience is already talking about.

Diversify The Content

Most of us digest visual content quicker than plain text. E.g. watching a 10-minute video versus reading 1000 word post. Make web content easy to scan and digest key messages by creating multimedia. That means anything from live event coverage and video interviews, to insightful infographics, checklists and how-to guides.

Great Content Goes Viral – Make It Easy Spread The Word

How readers consume and share your content affects web rankings so making sharing easy a norm is important. Some easy ways is to embed “tweet this” call to actions over block quotes in an article; add visuals to the text and open up the comments section.

Setup A Free Business Listing On Google

If you have a physical location, you need to get a business listing on Google to target search queries around your business and location – providing opening times, directions and other useful information. Do not leave it at that though. Add images, regular updates and more. Oh and it is free.