SEO Basics for Small Business Owners: 5 Simple Steps to Get Started

SEO doesn’t have to be intimidating. At Paul B Design, we believe in practical, no-nonsense strategies that help your website get noticed—without jargon or big budgets. Follow these five steps, and you’ll be on your way to attracting more customers online. If it’s too much, we’re here to help you.

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1. Get On Google’s Radar with Search Console

Think of Google Search Console as your website’s report card. It shows you:

• What Google sees: Ensure every page on your site gets discovered.
• Search queries: Learn which phrases bring people to you.
• Site health alerts: Fix crawl errors or mobile issues before they hurt your rankings.

Quick start:

1. Head to the Google Search Console and sign in with your Google account.
2. Add your website and pick a verification method (we recommend the HTML tag via Google Analytics if you already use it).
3. Submit your sitemap (usually at /sitemap.xml) so Google can find all your pages in one shot.

2. Install Yoast SEO on WordPress

If WordPress powers your site, Yoast SEO is like a built-in SEO coach. It helps you:

• Optimize content: Get live feedback on titles, headings, and keyword usage.
• Create sitemaps: Automatically generate XML sitemaps for search engines.
• Boost snippets: Add simple structured data so your pages stand out in search results.

Quick start:

1. In your WordPress dashboard, go to Plugins > Add New, search “Yoast SEO,” then install and activate.
2. Run the Yoast setup wizard—it walks you through your site’s SEO basics in minutes.

3. Find the Right Keywords

Keywords connect real customer questions to your services. For small businesses, focus on:

• Long-tail phrases: Phrases like “best Greek catering in Irvine” attract motivated buyers.
• Local modifiers: Add your city or neighborhood for nearby customers (e.g., “Placentia pita delivery”).

Our go-to tools:

• Ubersuggest for keyword ideas, volume, and quick site audits.
• Keyword Surfer Chrome extension for instant search volume and related terms.

Quick start:

1. Pick 3–4 keywords for each core page (homepage, services, blog).
2. Track them in a simple spreadsheet with volume and difficulty scores.
3. Check your position monthly—watch those rankings climb!

4. Speed Up Your Site

Slow pages frustrate visitors and search engines alike. A fast site means happier customers and better rankings.

Try these tools:

• Google PageSpeed Insights for a quick health check and actionable fixes.
• GTmetrix for a deeper performance report combining Lighthouse and WebPageTest.

Quick start:

1. Test your homepage (and one service page).
2. Tackle the top 2–3 suggestions (like compressing images or enabling browser caching).
3. Re-run tests to celebrate your speed boost.

5. Learn, Measure, Repeat

SEO is a marathon, not a sprint. Keep improving by learning the ropes and tracking real results.

• Google Analytics Academy: Free courses on measuring traffic and setting up goals at analytics.google.com/analytics/academy.
• Moz Blog: Subscribe for clear, jargon-free SEO advice at moz.com/blog.

Quick start:

1. Complete the “Google Analytics for Beginners” course—understand who visits and what they do.
2. Scan Moz Blog for one actionable tip each month.
3. Review your Google Analytics and Search Console reports once a month: celebrate wins and spot new opportunities.