Most small businesses get the biggest SEO gains from a few basics: a clear page for each main service, page titles that say what you do and where, a fast website that works on phones, a Google Business Profile, and real reviews. You can do most of it yourself.
What SEO really is
Search engine optimisation is helping Google understand what your business does, where, and for whom, so it can show your website to the right people. Google’s own advice comes down to this: make a useful website for people, and make it easy for Google to read.
The afternoon checklist
Your pages
- Each main service has its own page, or at least its own clear section.
- Each page has a title that says what you do and where, like “Electrician in Hamilton | Smith Electrical”.
- Each page has a short description (the text under the title in Google results) written for people.
- Your headings use the words customers search for.
Your website
- It loads quickly on a phone.
- It has an SSL certificate (the padlock).
- Your name, address and phone are the same everywhere online.
- You’ve connected Google Search Console and sent your sitemap.
Local
- You have a Google Business Profile, verified, with the right category and service area.
- You ask every happy customer for a review.
- Your website links to your profile, and your profile links to your website.
What not to waste money on
- Anyone who guarantees first place on Google. Nobody can.
- Buying links or reviews. Google penalises both.
- Stuffing your town name into every sentence. Write naturally.
- Monthly SEO retainers before the basics are done.
When it’s worth paying for help
If you’re in a competitive industry or a big city, or your website has technical problems you can’t see, a one-off SEO job can make a real difference: research into what your customers actually search for, fixes to the technical issues and work on your key pages.
Every website we build includes basic SEO. Our SEO starter goes further, for new or existing websites, with a fixed price and a short report of what we changed.
Research, technical fixes and your key pages optimised. A one-off job with a fixed price.
Frequently asked questions
How long does SEO take to work?
Usually weeks to a few months. Local searches with little competition can move faster.
Do I need a blog for SEO?
Not always. But a few articles that answer real customer questions can bring in searches your service pages don’t cover.
Does social media help my Google ranking?
Not directly. It can send people to your website and build your reputation, which helps indirectly.
