The 7 most effective SEO tips for small businesses

By seoBusiness

05 Aug 2024

seoBusiness SEO tips

SEO – search engine optimisation – remains one of the most cost-efficient and effective marketing tools available to small businesses today.

Good SEO will increase your visibility among potential customers that don’t know about you yet, and increase your credibility in the eyes of those who do.

There are a whole range of techniques that will improve your website’s search engine rankings, and here we have highlighted those that are both achievable and will make the biggest positive impact.

Why SEO is so important

When shopping for a product or service, most consumers will go online at some point during their buying process. That might be at the very beginning (to find out what’s available), to do further research (checking specifications, viewing photos and video or reading reviews) or finalising the transaction (submitting an enquiry, placing an order or making a payment.)

In turn, most of these online processes will involve a search at some point (around 7 in 10 online experiences began on a search engine). And this almost always involves Google, which handles more than 90% of the world’s search queries.

When all of this is taken into account, it’s clear how big a role search engines play in consumer behaviour. And for small businesses, this means if you’re not visible on search engines, you’re invisible to a huge proportion of your target market.

And there’s no reason that should be the case, because search engine optimisation is accessible to all – it’s one of the few arenas where big businesses line up alongside small businesses on a level playing field competing for views and clicks.

These are the most effective SEO tips that can grow your business.

1) Set up your Google business profile

Here’s an easy win to start with. In a bid to be ever more useful to its users (and, let’s be honest, to keep an ever larger amount of traffic on its own pages) Google is continually looking for new ways to display relevant information without searchers ever needing to click away to other websites.

One way Google achieves this is through its business directory. Search for a business which has created a profile, and you will see its contact details, opening times, photos, reviews, maps and directions right there in your search results and through Google Maps.

You may think that having all of this information on your own website is enough, but it will significantly increase your visibility – and look more professional – if you add it into Google’s databases, too.

2) Do your keyword research

Making your business visible on search engines is not just about appearing when somebody inputs your name.

It’s just as important to be visible by people who don’t know about you yet. Many more people will search for, for example, “luxury bathrooms in Preston” than will search your specific company name.

So get into the mindset of a likely customer, think about what they might be looking for, and make sure you include those keywords throughout your site.

Different keywords will attract a different level of competition from your rivals. The more frequently that users enter a particular keyword, the more sought-after it will be, and the harder you will have to work to achieve a high ranking – but, also, the more rewarding it will be if you achieve that top spot.

You’ll need to find the right balance: keywords that draw a large audience, but aren’t so hotly fought over that it doesn’t take all your time and break your budget to make your mark.

3) Make your website user-friendly

Keywords are important, but they’re not all that matters to Google, which also grades websites on how user-friendly they are.

Google doesn’t want to send users to websites that are slow to load, or that are filled with errors, or that pretend to be one thing but are really another.

To combat this, Google is continually implementing new tests to separate the good websites from the bad.

We’ve written more about what Google looks for – including a free way to check how your website performs – here: https://www.seobusiness.co.uk/blog/latest-news/google-updates-core-web-vitals-heres-what-that-means-and-what-you-need-to-do-next/

4) Keep your content fresh

One metric that Google deems important is how often a website is updated. Similarly, new content also brings users back to your website more frequently, too.

The easiest way to keep your content fresh is to add a news section or a blog. News can be about your business, about your products or about your industry. Your blog can be used to share useful information – such as hints and tips about your products and services, or insight into industries or topics that your potential customers will find interesting.

Long-form content usually out-performs short-form content, but it’s more important to ensure that it’s consistent and high quality.

The more that a reader gets out of a post (a really useful piece of advice, for example) the more likely they are to remember it, share it and come back for more. Google will see this, and it’ll help boost your rankings.

5) Make sure others are linking to your website

Another metric Google notes is which third-party sites contain links to yours. For example, if a popular, respected website offers a link to your company’s webpage, that’s seen as a recommendation, and you’ll go up in Google’s estimation.

The more links you have pointing to your site, and the more reputable those sites are, the more credibility you’ll earn in Google’s eyes.

You can ask your peers to provide links to your website, and you can return the favour for them. This could be suppliers, stockists, customers or trade bodies, for example.

Joining a directory can also help, such as your local chamber of commerce, or an industry group, or a general business directory. As well as boosting your Google score, you’ll also attract the eyes of a wider audience, which will boost your traffic too.

Conversely, links from disreputable websites can hurt your rankings. So don’t be tempted to spam links to your website from anyone that’ll let you. If you’re appearing on plenty of websites cynically designed purely to boost SEO rankings, Google will get suspicious that you’re trying to game the system and mark you down.

6) Identify faults with diagnostic tools

While some bad SEO practices (out of date content, lack of keywords) will be obvious on first look, what’s going on behind the scenes is every bit as important to your ranking.

A deep dive using specialist analytical tools will be able assess your site and suggest improvements.

There are plenty of free tools which will be able to highlight errors in your code, poor performance or missed opportunities, as well as benchmarking you against similar websites to help put everything in context.

It’s not often fun being told what you’re doing badly, but it is the first step in being able to take corrective action.

7) Track everything with Google Analytics

As with any other business goal, your SEO efforts should be tracked, reviewed and tweaked on a regular basis.

Google Analytics is a free tool that puts a wealth of information into your hands. Installing the code on your website gives you access to not just the number of people visiting your website, but at what time and for how long, which pages they viewed and in which order, how they got there and through which campaigns, how far along the buying process they got before exiting, which campaigns resulted in which product sales, and which campaigns delivered the most interested viewers.

Today’s Google Analytics can even track users across devices, such as an individual who researches you on their phone but completes their transaction on their desktop.

Once you’ve got all this data, you can choose to invest more in what works, and tweak (or abandon) what doesn’t, allowing your campaign to continually improve.

8) Hire the professionals

We’ve got one final tip for you: for the best results, hire a reputable, experienced agency. (We’d say that an agency that’s been in the business more than 25 years is ideal.)

One of the great aspects of SEO is that it’s available to all businesses. Big changes can be made with little or no financial outlay. Following these seven tips will take you from invisible on the internet to a significant presence on the major search engines.

But it can take time to implement, time you might not be able to spare as a busy small business owner. And if you want to truly stand out from the crowd – even compete with bigger businesses – you’ll need to get creative. And that’s where experience counts.

We’ve helped SMEs from a wide range of backgrounds to grow and smash their targets through the use of SEO.

Contact us to discuss the true potential for your website, and how we can help you achieve your goals.

Latest news

1

Financial Affairs support the Red Rose Award winners' reception Networking photograph

Financial Affairs support the Red Rose Award winners' reception

24 Apr 2025

2

Lancaster University unveils cutting-edge computing and cyber security facilities Head of Lancaster University's School of Computing and Communications Professor Nigel Davies, Chris Ensor, Vice-Chancellor Professor Andy Schofield and Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Engagement) Professor Sarah Kemp

Lancaster University unveils cutting-edge computing and cyber security facilities

24 Apr 2025

3

Northcote announces new owners Alf and Clare Ellis as Lisa Goodwin-Allen returns as chef patron-director Craig Bancroft and Lisa Goodwin-Allen

Northcote announces new owners Alf and Clare Ellis as Lisa Goodwin-Allen returns as chef patron-director

24 Apr 2025

4

Major shareholder makes Inspired takeover bid inspired-500x500.png

Major shareholder makes Inspired takeover bid

23 Apr 2025

5

Nominate your favourite family-run business in Lancashire. Thompsons meeting (1).png.png

Nominate your favourite family-run business in Lancashire.

22 Apr 2025

Pc Prestonmacan Gif980x120 March
Background image for hub sign up block

LBV Hub

Leverage Lancashire Business View platforms

Post your news
Post your events
Post your offers
Build your network
Improve your SEO
Gain coverage in the magazine
Sign-up
Events
LBV122 May/June Launch Event
121 Lancashire Business View Magazine Launch
Networking
21 May 2025

LBV122 May/June Launch Event

Lancaster and Morecambe College, Lancaster, LA1 2TY

08:30 - 10:30

Sub36 Networking
Networking
11 Jun 2025

Sub36 Networking

British Jewellery School, Scorton, PR3 1BA

15:00 - 17:00

Lancashire Net Zero Carbon Conference
Net Zero Carbon Social 1200px 2
Networking
18 Jun 2025

Lancashire Net Zero Carbon Conference

Crow Wood Hotel & Spa Resort, Burnley, BB12 0RT

08:30 - 13:00

Lancashire Built Environment Conference 2025
BEC 315 X 315 Px
Networking
25 Sep 2025

Lancashire Built Environment Conference 2025

Blackpool Football Club, Blackpool, FY1 6HX

08:30 - 13:00

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course

Preston Campus, Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 17:00

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course

Preston Campus, Preston, PR1 2HE

08:00 - 17:00

RISE - The Academy for Female Leaders and Managers
WENDY BOWERS RISE Illustrstion copy.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
02 Apr 2025 - 08 Oct 2025

RISE - The Academy for Female Leaders and Managers

East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce, Clayton le Moors, BB5 5JR

09:00 - 15:30

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: April
1.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
25 Apr 2025 - 25 Apr 2025

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: April

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

10:00 - 11:30

People Power: Exclusive Event Series
Stay ahead in 2025.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
29 Apr 2025 - 29 Apr 2025

People Power: Exclusive Event Series

People's History Museum, Manchester, M3 3ER

17:00 - 21:00

Planning for the future + navigating Inheritance Tax changes
Planning for the future + navigating Inheritance Tax changes for website.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
01 May 2025 - 01 May 2025

Planning for the future + navigating Inheritance Tax changes

Stanley House Hotel, Mellor, Blackburn, BB2 7NP, Blackburn, BB2 7NP

08:00 - 10:30

A night at the races
1.png.png
LBV Hub Dinners / Balls
02 May 2025 - 02 May 2025

A night at the races

Morecambe FC, Morecambe, LA4 4TB

19:00 - 23:59

Advantage: AI – A Workshop for Business Leaders – May 2
EV-land-2025-05B.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
02 May 2025 - 02 May 2025

Advantage: AI – A Workshop for Business Leaders – May 2

Door4 Office, Burnley Wharf, Manchester Road, Burnley, BB11 1JG

09:00 - 11:00

Advertise with us

Reaching 50,000 members, our print, digital and event platforms offer a fantastic way to raise your business profile and help you grow.

Find out more Lbv121 Online Graphic
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin