A Plain English Guide for Small Business Owners

SEO is a term that gets thrown around so I’m going to explain what you need to know as a Business Owner.

This blog explains exactly what SEO is, how it can help you and if you actually need to think about it.

What is SEO?

SEO stands for Search Engine Optimisation and it is what effects how visible you are search engines such as Google. When someone types something into Google, Google doesn’t just randomly pick which websites to show, it works through millions of pages and decides which ones are most relevant to that particular search. It is the process of making your website one of the results that Google will show.

The better your SEO, the higher up the search results your website appears.

Google has also written their own explanation how Google search works.

How does SEO work?

There are lots of different factors that can impact how well your website performs in search results. These include:

✦ The way your website is built and how quickly it loads

✦ How your text and headings are organised on each page

✦ The words and phrases you use throughout your content

✦ The descriptions attached to your images

✦ How easy your website is to navigate

(and more)

Google looks at all of these and decides how to rank your website depending on the users search.

Does your website need SEO?

Short answer: yes

Longer answer: it depends on how you want people to find you

If your entire client base comes through referrals and word of mouth, you might not feel the absence of SEO immediately. But it is a brilliant marketing tool so why not have it in place from day one when it’s only going to help your business.

Here is what good SEO can do for your business:

✦ Helps potential clients find you when they are actively searching for what you offer

✦ Drives organic traffic to your website without you having to pay for advertising

✦ A long-term strategy that keeps working in the background over time

✦ It puts you ahead of competitors (a surprising number of small businesses still overlook SEO entirely, so having it in place gives you a genuine advantage)

✦ An optimised website is professional and trustworthy

It is not the only marketing strategy you need but it is one of the most cost-effective ones available to a small business. And once it is working, it works for you around the clock.

How long does SEO take to work?

SEO isn’t instant – most websites start to see meaningful results between 3-6 months after optimisation and this can be longer depending on how competitive your industry is as well as a few other factors.

That said, the foundational work should be done from day one. There is no good reason to build a website without it – it can be a powerful marketing tool so why not make the most of it.

SEO Myth Busting

“I need to fill my pages with keywords.” Google will penalise pages that are clearly over-optimised. Keywords matter, but natural, readable copy always wins.

“SEO is a one-time job.” It is ongoing. Google updates its algorithm regularly and your website needs to keep up. That said, getting the basics right from the start sets a solid foundation.

“My website doesn’t need SEO because I’m on social media.” Social media and SEO do different jobs. Social media builds awareness. SEO captures people who are actively searching for what you do. You want both.

How I can help

I include a certain level of SEO into every website that I design. My Bespoke Websites includes a higher level of optimisation and my Website in a Week Projects include a basic level of optimisation. For your ongoing needs, we can discuss this further during our enquiry call.

If you are ready to invest in a website built strategically from the ground up, take a look at my website packages to find out more.