In this episode of Small Business Sweet Spot, I’m diving into SEOing your website—a topic that often feels overwhelming. So overwhelming that it often paralyzes business owners into no action all. I used to think SEO was a secret only experts knew, but I was mistaken. I’ll share with you the key steps to make SEO more doable. If you’ve ever been confused by SEO or wondered how to make it work for your business, this episode is for you.
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Hey there! If you’ve ever thought SEO was a secret recipe only the pros know, I get it. I used to believe that too. I was convinced that agencies kept their magic tricks hidden and that SEO was this super hard thing that only certain people could do. But let me tell you something: there are no secrets, and SEO isn’t as tough as it’s often made out to be.
I’m Barb Davids, and this is Small Business Sweet Spot—a place for fluff-free and actionable advice. Today, I’m here to break down SEOing your website into manageable steps so you can finally stop feeling overwhelmed and start seeing some real results.
I’d Rather Do SEO Than Make Dinner
I’m going to venture a guess here and say that I feel it’s sort of like me with dinner making. How I feel about dinner making is how many people feel about SEO. They don’t know how to do it.
I don’t know how to make dinner. I don’t want to do it. What if I mess something up and it tastes like shit?
But when I have a recipe and I have directions, it seems more doable. It’s just like SEO… when you have direction and you have a plan, it’s doable!
So with that, what actually goes into SEOing your website?
1. Start With a Snapshot of Where You Are
Before you can improve, you need to know your starting point. Ask yourself these questions and jot down the answers:
- What search phrases are you currently ranking for?
- Which of my channels drive the most traffic?
- Which channels convert the most leads?
- Do I have the right tracking in place to measure these numbers?
- Are my pages optimized and engaging for my audience?
Document these answers and get a clear picture of your current status.
2. Check Out the Competition
Your competitors aren’t just those who are in the same field as you; they’re also anyone who shows up in search results for your keywords. Here’s what to look for:
- How much traffic are they getting and for what keywords?
- What keywords are they ranking for on the first page?
- How often do they publish blog posts?
- What kind of backlinks do they have?
- What does their website look like and do they have a Google Business listing?
This will give you insights into their strategies and help you identify gaps and opportunities.
3. Set Goals and Develop a Strategy
Let’s say you want to increase leads from your contact page. If you’re currently getting five leads a month and want to hit 20, that’s your goal. Your strategy might involve increasing your search visibility and improving your click-through rate from organic search results.
Benchmark your numbers so you know where you stand before you start making changes.
4. Get into Keyword Research
Now that you know what you’re aiming for, it’s time to dig into keyword research. Find out what other keywords you could be ranking for and how often they’re searched. This will help you understand what traffic you might be missing out on and guide your content creation.
5. Do a Site Audit
A site audit might sound intimidating, but it’s just a way to check what’s working and what needs fixing on your site. Use DIY tools to find out what needs optimizing and prioritize these fixes. Use DIY tools with caution and care; they don’t consider your specific business needs—they might flag things that don’t actually matter for you.
6. Optimize Your Pages
Go through your pages and optimize them. This involves applying SEO techniques and updating content as needed. Focus on the most visited pages or those critical to your funnel.
Long-term success comes from ongoing content marketing. Create and distribute content regularly, leveraging your keyword research to fuel your strategy. Repurpose content for different platforms to maximize its reach.
The Takeaway
SEO isn’t as complicated as it seems. With the right framework and strategy, you can make significant progress. Don’t let confusion hold you back—take action today and watch your website thrive!
Ready for more website traffic?
If SEO and content marketing have been a source of frustration, don’t worry—you’re not alone.
It’s time to get personalized support that will make a difference. Book a call with me, and let’s set up a personalized marketing system for your website that includes SEO and a content plan that lasts.
