Marketing Tips & Tricks

SEO Basics for Small Businesses

July 23, 2025

If the term “SEO” makes you want to quietly back out of the room… you’re not alone. But hang with us! Below, we break this mystical concept down into simple ingredients that every small business can handle, even if you don’t have a tech degree.

Wait...what is SEO again?

SEO = Search Engine Optimization.

Basically, it’s the art (and science) of helping your website show up when people Google search the products or services you offer.

When done right, SEO can:
  • Help new customers discover you
  • Make your website easier (and faster) to use
  • Build trust with Google, so you rank higher in searches

And here’s the truth: Good SEO is a blend of multiple things working together. No matter what your buddy says, it’s not just sprinkling in keywords like it’s 2010 (no, really, don’t do that. The robots have caught on, and they get mad).

Content SEO

The content of your website includes the words and images people see on your site. This also includes SEO keywords, which is what people typically think of when they hear the term “SEO.” 

Small Biz Low-Hanging Fruit:

  • Research keywords (think “What would my ideal customer type into Google to find my business?)
  • Use keywords naturally, i.e. write for humans first, and Google second (don’t keyword-stuff)
  • Make sure your content is clear, helpful, and relevant (not stuffed with keywords)
  • Start a blog to answer common questions or share tips
  • Use social media to link back to your site
  • Stay consistent with content updates (Google loves a freshly updated site)
  • Please, for the love of the internet, do not keyword stuff. We mean it.
    • Example: “As a coffee shop in Holland, MI that serves coffee from all over the world right here in Holland, Michigan, coffee capital of the world” NOPE.
Resources 🍋

Technical SEO

Even if you have just the right keywords in just the right places, but your website is built sloppily and with too much extra code, you risk falling behind your competitors in the search rankings. 

Small Biz Low-Hanging Fruit:

  • Make sure your website loads quickly
  • Compress your images (see how)
  • Keep your site size manageable (not too many extra pages, images, or content)
  • Don’t skip SSL (this means your URL is secure. You manage this wherever you purchase your domain, and it places that little padlock in the browser bar and changes the beginning of your address to https://)
  • Set up title tags and meta descriptions for all your pages
  • Fill out “alt text” for all your images (bonus: this also helps with accessibility!)
  • Get your Google Business Profile in shape by updating hours, photos, and services quarterly or more frequently
Resources 🍋

UX (User Experience) SEO

UX (user experience) is more important than many people think when it comes to SEO. Content SEO can help them find you with the right keywords, and technical SEO can help Google want to place your site higher in its search results. But once they get there, it’s important they have a good experience. You don’t want your visitors to get angry, confused, or, heaven forbid, bored.

Small Biz Low-Hanging Fruit:

  • Use a clean design and simple navigation.
  • Make sure your site is mobile-friendly. (60%+ of web traffic is on phones as of 2025.)
  • Utilize CTAs (Calls to Action, such as “Call now” or “Register” or “Subscribe”) and quick links to guide users on a journey through your site
  • Structure your menu and site layout so humans (not just robots) can find things fast.
  • If you have a search feature, make sure those results are smart and easy to navigate as well.
Resources 🍋
  • Ajax is one of our favorite WordPress search plugins
  • Hotjar and VWO are great tools to watch how users are using your website with heatmaps and more

Put it all together and you get… Authority (The Secret Sauce)

Authority is what happens when Content, Technical, and UX SEO all high-five each other.

AKA when your website is…

  • Filled with relevant and trustworthy information (Content)
  • Fast and secure (Technical)
  • Keeping visitors on your site and engaged (UX)

…you earn Authority. And that, my friends, is the secret magic sauce, meaning you’re more likely to show up higher on search engine results pages (SERPs). 

But hey, look at me while I gently tell you, this isn’t going to happen overnight. SEO is a long game. It’s not a one-time task. It’s like keeping your sourdough starter thriving: small, regular effort leads to big growth over time. Want help cooking up your own SEO recipe? Let’s chat. 🍍🥝🍋

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