SEO feels complicated. Three-letter acronyms, algorithm updates, technical jargon, it's enough to make any business owner's head spin
But here's the thing. SEO doesn't have to be overwhelming. At its core, it's about making your website easier for people (and search engines) to find. That's it
Whether you're running a small shop or managing a growing company, understanding SEO basics can make a real difference in how many customers find you online. Let's break down the 10 things you absolutely need to know
1. Keywords Are Your Foundation
Keywords are the words and phrases your potential customers type into Google. If you sell handmade candles, your customers might search "best soy candles" or "natural scented candles for relaxation"
Your job is to figure out what those phrases are and use them naturally throughout your website. This includes your page titles, headings, and body content
A few tips:
- Think about what questions your customers ask you regularly
- Use free tools like Google's Keyword Planner to research search volume
- Focus on specific phrases rather than super broad terms
Don't stuff keywords everywhere though. Write for humans first, search engines second
2. Your Website Needs to Be Mobile-Friendly
Over 60% of all searches happen on mobile devices. If your site looks terrible on a phone, visitors bounce immediately. And Google notices
A mobile-friendly website means:
- Text is readable without zooming
- Buttons are easy to tap
- Pages load quickly
- Navigation is simple
If your website was built years ago and never updated for mobile, it's time for a refresh. A professional web design can make sure your site works beautifully on every device
3. Page Titles and Meta Descriptions Matter
When you search for something on Google, you see a list of blue links with short descriptions underneath. Those are title tags and meta descriptions
They're your first impression. A compelling title and description can be the difference between someone clicking your link or scrolling past
Best practices:
- Keep titles under 60 characters
- Keep meta descriptions under 155 characters
- Include your main keyword naturally
- Make it sound interesting enough to click
Think of it like a mini-advertisement for each page on your site
4. Content Should Answer Real Questions
What do your customers ask you all the time? Those exact questions are what they're typing into Google
Create content that answers them directly. If you're a plumber and people always ask "why is my water heater making noise," write a blog post about it. If you're a wedding photographer and brides want to know "how many hours of coverage do I need," address it on your site
This approach does two things:
- It helps you rank for those specific searches
- It positions you as a helpful expert in your field
Quality content isn't about word count. It's about usefulness
5. Site Speed Affects Your Rankings
Slow websites frustrate visitors. Google knows this, so they factor page speed into rankings
A few common speed killers:
- Oversized images that weren't compressed
- Too many plugins or scripts running
- Cheap hosting with poor performance
- Outdated code that needs cleaning up
You can test your site speed with Google's PageSpeed Insights tool. If your score is low, it's worth investing in improvements. Good web hosting is often the first place to start
6. Technical SEO Keeps Things Running Smoothly
Technical SEO sounds intimidating but it's really about making sure search engines can properly read and index your website
Key technical elements include:
- XML sitemap: A file that lists all your pages so Google can find them
- Robots.txt: Tells search engines which pages to crawl or ignore
- SSL certificate: The "https" that shows your site is secure
- No broken links: 404 errors hurt user experience and SEO
- Clean URL structure: URLs should be readable, not a jumble of numbers
Most business owners don't need to handle this themselves. A good digital marketing strategy includes technical SEO as part of the package
7. Google Business Profile Is Non-Negotiable
If you serve customers in a physical area, claiming your Google Business Profile is essential. It's free and it directly impacts whether you show up in Google Maps and local search results
Make sure to:
- Fill out every single section completely
- Add high-quality photos of your business
- Keep your hours updated
- Respond to reviews (yes, all of them)
- Post updates regularly
Your profile is often the first thing people see. Make it count
8. Backlinks Build Authority
When other websites link to your site, Google sees it as a vote of confidence. The more quality links you have pointing to your site, the more authoritative you appear
Ways to earn backlinks:
- Create genuinely useful content that people want to share
- Partner with complementary businesses
- Get listed in relevant industry directories
- Sponsor community events or organizations
- Write guest posts for reputable blogs in your niche
Avoid buying links or participating in link schemes. Google can detect these tactics and will penalize your site
9. Consistency Across the Web Matters
Your business name, address, and phone number (NAP) should be identical everywhere online. Every directory listing, every social media profile, every mention
Why? Inconsistency confuses search engines. If Google sees different phone numbers or addresses in different places, it doesn't know which one to trust. That uncertainty can hurt your rankings
Do an audit of all your online listings. Make sure everything matches exactly: same abbreviations, same formatting, same everything
10. SEO Is a Long Game
Here's the honest truth. SEO takes time
You won't publish a blog post today and rank #1 tomorrow. Building authority, earning backlinks, creating content: it all compounds over time. Most businesses start seeing meaningful results after 3-6 months of consistent effort
The good news? Those results tend to stick around. Unlike paid ads that stop working the moment you stop paying, SEO builds lasting visibility
Track your progress with tools like Google Search Console and Google Analytics. Watch which keywords you're ranking for, how much traffic you're getting, and where it's coming from
Ready to Improve Your SEO?
SEO isn't magic. It's a combination of good technical foundations, quality content, and consistent effort over time
If all of this feels like a lot to manage on top of running your business, you're not alone. Many business owners partner with experts who can handle the heavy lifting while they focus on what they do best
At WorldWise, we help businesses build websites that look great and actually get found online. Our marketing services cover everything from SEO strategy to content creation
Want to see where your website stands? Get in touch and let's talk about how to get more customers finding you through search