17 SEO Tips for Small Businesses

Are you a small business owner looking to grow your online presence but don’t know where to start? Do you already have a website, but you’re frustrated that it’s not drawing more traffic? You need SEO, stat!

SEO (Search Engine Optimization) increases your website's visibility in web browsers.  It might sound technical, but don't worry, it's easier than you think to optimize your website. If you can create high-quality, relevant SEO content, you can attract customers who need your services.

Whether you have an established brand or one that's growing in the ranks, use these 17 SEO tips for small businesses to get more eyeballs on your website.

Why is SEO Important?

SEO turns visitors into customers. When we live much of our lives online, visibility is key to attracting new clients to your brand because most people search online before purchasing products. Knowing where your potential customers are looking helps you stay ahead of competitors and increases your brand’s reach (and guess what, they’re looking at search engine results!)

Higher search engine rankings also boost your small business’s credibility. When your business ranks higher in Search Engine Results Pages (SERPs), more people see and trust your site, increasing the likelihood that they'll book an appointment or buy your products.

So, let’s dive into some SEO tips to help your small business website shine!

17 Simple SEO Tips for Small Businesses

Tip 1: Brainstorm Target Audience Queries

Your target audience will input keywords to find results in Search Engine Results Pages (SERPs). Keywords are simply the terms people use when searching for services like yours. 

The right keywords will attract the right audience for your brand. Using trending keywords can increase your website's traffic naturally; Organic growth is key in SEO.

Start by listing the services you offer. Take, for instance, an esthetician who owns a beauty spa. They might think of words like "massage therapy," "facial treatments," or "spa packages." 

Then, consider what potential clients might search in web browsers when looking for your products and services.

Tip 2: Research Keywords for Your Small Business

Tools like Google Keyword Planner, Ahrefs, and SEMrush help you find popular and relevant keywords. Based on that data, you can decide which words matter most to your business and potential clients.

These tools can show you frequency scores, how competitive those terms are to use, and customer intent. Search engines favor content in their rankings that best matches user intent.

Try to find a happy medium between keywords with a steady volume and a lower difficulty score. Scores below 30 signal low competition. 

From there, you can create content around that keyword with blog posts, listicles, videos, and more. Create content that answers common questions and aligns with what your potential clients are searching for.

Tip 3: Remember E-E-A-T for SEO Success

Google ranks websites based on relevance, user experience, and quality content. Customers want to work with a business they feel they can trust, no matter how high it ranks. 

Emphasize your experience, expertise, authoritativeness, and trustworthiness (E-E-A-T) to increase your rhetorical appeal to potential clients. 

Highlight accomplishments and experience on your About page to impress visitors and boost your business's credibility. If you'd put it on your resume, you should flaunt it on your website.

Tip 4: Create Content Catered to Audience Intent

Once you’ve determined the audience intent for searching your keywords, you can create tailored content for your website. User intent matches how people conduct their online searches. 

Your content should answer queries in a way that is either informational, commercial, navigational, or transactional.

Tip 5: Use Relevant Keywords in On-Page SEO

On-page SEO is anything you do on your website to improve search engine rankings. You should aim to incorporate keywords in about 1-2% of your content. 

Write detailed descriptions and generate creative blog post ideas about your services, and create other keyword-rich content that provides value to your visitors. Avoid keyword stuffing, which can harm your rankings. 

Keep your brand voice natural and friendly to connect with your site visitors.

Tip 6: Optimize Meta Descriptions and Titles with Target Keywords

Meta descriptions and title tags are snippets of text that summarize a page’s content in search results. 

Include target keywords and ensure they are compelling and unique to encourage clicks. 

For example, a good title tag for an esthetician could be "Relaxing Spa Services in [Your City] | [Your Spa's Name]." You should also write a custom meta description and unique hyperlinks and URLs for every page. 

Tip 7: Consider Accessibility in Alt Text

Alt text helps visually impaired users navigate your website and improves SEO by providing more text for search engines to index. 

Include keyword-rich alt text for all images on your website. Compress image files and avoid adding unnecessary images to maintain site speed. 

Tip 8: Build Backlinks to Improve Off-Page SEO

Off-page SEO is anything you do beyond your website to promote your content. Think of this as PR to build your website’s reputation and authority.

Backlinks are links from other websites to yours. They signal to search engines that your site is trustworthy. 

Contact industry websites and fellow bloggers for guest blogging opportunities or partnerships to earn quality backlinks.

Tip 9: Make a Guest Appearance on a Podcast

Appear on industry-related podcasts to promote your business and expertise to more people. Podcast hosts can link your website in their show notes. Share these episode links on your website and social media pages.

Tip 10: Post in Community Forums

If you know a lot about your sector or niche, you can share your passion and expertise on community forums. Use relevant keywords and promote your brand via links to drive traffic to your site.

Tip 11: Leverage Local SEO 

Google My Business (GMB) is a free tool that helps your business appear in local search results and on Google Maps. 

Complete your profile with your business name, address, phone number, website, and business hours. Add high-quality photos and encourage satisfied clients to leave reviews. 

Claim and verify your listing and ensure your information is consistent and updated across all your online platforms.

Post your small business website in online directories like Yelp and TripAdvisor to further increase your local ranking.

Tip 12: Create Location-Specific Content 

Attract visitors in your area by writing blog posts and other content about local events and news. Highlight collaborations with other local businesses to establish your brand within your community.

Tip 13: Encourage Online Reviews 

Positive reviews build trust with potential clients and improve your local SEO. 

Encourage satisfied clients to leave reviews on Google, Yelp, and other review platforms. Respond to reviews promptly and professionally to show that you value customer feedback.

Tip 14: Check Your Site’s Load Time

There’s nothing more frustrating to potential clients than a website that's as slow as a snail. 

Use tools like Google PageSpeed Insights to check your site's speed and get suggestions for improvement. 

Also, ensure your website is mobile-friendly since many users will access it from their phones. A responsive design adjusts your site’s layout to fit any screen size.

Tip 15: Analyze and Adjust Your Metrics

Use tools like Google Analytics to track key metrics like bounce rates, conversion rates, and user interactions. This data helps identify what’s working and what needs improvement.

Review these analytics often to spot trends and make necessary adjustments. For high bounce rates, revise content or improve user experience. Using data-driven insights is a surefire way to boost your website’s SEO performance.

Tip 16: Post Often on Social Media

Social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, and Facebook are powerful tools to connect with potential clients and offer your services. 

Cross-promote any links you share to all of your accounts. Share content like behind-the-scenes looks at your business, client testimonials, and special promotions. Use relevant hashtags and keywords to increase your reach.

Tip 17: Create Insightful Video Content

Engaging video content can showcase your business’ atmosphere, services, and client experiences. Our spa owner example could create virtual tours of their spa, show popular treatments, and share client testimonials. 

Use relevant keywords in video titles, descriptions, and tags to reach a wider audience. Include a video transcript to make it more accessible to users and search engines. 

Like any other content you create, promote your videos on many platforms to maximize their visibility.

Ready to Get More Eyeballs on Your Business?

SEO doesn’t have to be hard, and you don’t need to be a coding expert to optimize your small business website. 

With our expertise in crafting compelling and engaging SEO content for businesses at any phase in their lifecycle, our team at Emerald Creative Content can help you turn those clicks into conversions. 

Your website can do so much more, let us help you prove it by booking a free strategy call today.