Showing up on search engines is essential for all businesses, big and small. Whether you’re running a coffee shop, a local consultancy, or an online boutique, search engine optimisation (SEO) can help your small business attract more customers and outshine competitors. The good news? You don’t need a large budget to start seeing results.
Here are 10 essential SEO tips designed specifically for small businesses looking to boost their online presence and attract more customers.
Table of Contents
Claim and optimise your Google Business Profile
One of the fastest ways to improve your small business’ local SEO presence is by claiming and optimising your Google Business Profile (GBP). This free listing shows up on Google Search and Google Maps when users search for local small businesses like yours.
How to optimise Google Business profile:
- Make sure your business name, address, and phone number (NAP) are accurate.
- Choose the right business category.
- Add your business hours, website URL, and services offered.
- Upload high-quality photos and videos of your business, products, or team.
- Encourage reviews from satisfied customers and respond to them regularly.
An optimised Google Business Profile helps you appear in the “local pack”—the top three local results that show up on Google Maps and search, which is a prime spot for visibility.
Focus on local SEO
Most small businesses serve a specific geographic area. Local SEO helps you appear in search results when people nearby search for products or services you offer.
Local SEO tips
- Use location-specific keywords in your website content, such as “nail salon in Manchester” or “marketing consultant in London.”
- Include your location in your meta titles, meta descriptions, and image alt text.
- Create location-specific landing pages if you serve multiple areas.
- Get listed in local online directories like Yelp, TripAdvisor, Yell, and Bing Places.
Being locally visible builds trust and makes it easier for potential customers to contact or visit your small business.
Conduct keyword research
SEO starts with knowing what your customers are searching for. Instead of guessing, use free or low-cost keyword tools to find the terms your audience is using.
Best keyword research tools:
- Google Keyword Planner (free with a Google Ads account)
- Ahrefs
- Semrush
- ChatGPT
Focus on long-tail keywords (phrases with 3–5 words) that have lower competition and high relevance, such as “best running shoes for women” rather than just “running shoes.”
Create high-quality, relevant content
Content is the heart of SEO. By consistently publishing helpful, relevant content, you not only improve your small business’s SEO but also build authority and trust with your audience.
Content ideas for small businesses:
- Blog posts answering frequently asked questions
- Step-by-step guides or tutorials
- Customer case studies and testimonials
- Seasonal or event-based content
- Product or service explainer videos
Make your content readable and accessible with subheadings, bullet points, and images. Include your target keywords naturally and avoid keyword stuffing.
Optimise on-page SEO
On-page SEO refers to optimising individual pages on your website to rank higher. This includes technical and content elements.
On-page SEO best practices:
- Use one H1 heading (your main headline) per page.
- Include keywords in your title tag, meta description, URL, and headers (H2, H3).
- Use alt text to describe images for accessibility and better indexing.
- Internally link to other relevant pages on your site to improve crawlability and user experience.
Example: If you have a blog about “Top Winter Skincare Tips,” internally link it to your skincare product pages where appropriate.
Ensure your site is optimised for mobile
Google uses mobile-first indexing, meaning it primarily uses the mobile version of your content for ranking. If your small business’s website isn’t mobile-friendly, your rankings may be impacted.
Check your site is optimised for mobile:
- Use Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test tool.
- Ensure buttons and menus are easy to navigate on smaller screens.
- Use responsive design so your site adapts to different devices.
- Avoid pop-ups that cover the screen on mobile.
A mobile-optimised site leads to better user experience, which directly affects your SEO performance.
Improve your website speed
Page speed is a confirmed ranking factor. A slow site increases bounce rates and lowers conversions.
How to boost website speed:
- Compress images without losing quality (use tools like TinyPNG).
- Enable browser caching and minify CSS/JavaScript files.
- Use a fast, reliable web host.
- Implement a Content Delivery Network (CDN) like Cloudflare to serve your site faster to users around the globe.
Run a speed test using Google PageSpeed Insights and follow the suggested improvements.
Build high-quality backlinks
Backlinks, links from other websites to yours, signal to search engines that your site is trustworthy and relevant. This is important foundation for any small business.
Strategies to earn backlinks:
- Submit your business to reputable directories.
- Partner with local influencers or bloggers for shout-outs.
- Guest post on industry-related blogs.
- Create share-worthy content like infographics, statistics, or in-depth guides.
Quality trumps quantity. A few backlinks from relevant, authoritative sites can make a big difference.
Track your SEO performance
To understand what SEO strategy is working and where to improve, you need to track your progress.
Essential tools:
- Google Analytics: Tracks traffic, bounce rates, session duration, and user behaviour.
- Google Search Console: Monitors how your site performs in search results, including keyword rankings and indexing issues.
Set monthly goals and track metrics like:
- Growth in organic traffic
- Increases in keyword rankings
- Pages with high/low engagement
This data helps guide future content and optimisation strategies.
Be patient and stay consistent
SEO is not a quick fix; it’s a long-term investment. While PPC delivers quick wins, SEO builds a sustainable stream of organic traffic over time, allowing your small business to gain authority.
Final reminders:
- Focus on evergreen, helpful content.
- Review and update old content regularly.
- Stay up to date with algorithm changes by following SEO blogs and communities.
Consistency, not perfection, is the key to SEO success. The more effort you put into optimising your small business site and providing value, the greater your long-term results will be.
Conclusion
For small businesses, mastering SEO may feel overwhelming at first, but it’s achievable with the right approach. Start small, measure your progress, and keep refining your strategy. The tips above form a strong foundation to help your business rank higher in search engines, attract more visitors, and ultimately convert more customers.
For more information on this story, or for support with your digital marketing. Get in touch with our team of digital specialists. If you’re looking for improved long term SEO strategies, send us an email to team@modo25.com
