SEO Basics (That Actually Matter)
For Non-Techy Business Owners Who Just Want to Show Up Online
You don’t need to be an SEO expert. You don’t even need to blog.
But if you want people to find your business when they search for what you do—you need the basics dialed in.
Here’s the no-jargon version of what matters.
🔍 1. Tell Google Who You Are and What You Do
Every page on your site should have:
A unique title tag
A short meta description
Clear content that uses real words your audience searches for
You don’t need to stuff keywords—just use plain English:
Instead of: “Solutions for forward-focused client alignment”
Try: “Custom websites for small businesses in Harrisburg, SD”
🗺 2. Get Your Local Info Right (NAP Consistency)
NAP = Name, Address, Phone Number
It should be identical everywhere:
Your website
Google Business Profile
Yelp, Facebook, etc.
Even small differences (like “Street” vs “St.”) can cause problems.
📱 3. Make It Mobile-Friendly
Over 60% of your traffic is probably coming from phones.
If your site loads slowly, scrolls sideways, or breaks on mobile—it won’t rank well.
Run it through Google’s PageSpeed Tool and fix what you can.
🧭 4. Use Headings That Actually Guide People
Don’t write a wall of text. Use clear headlines (H1, H2, etc.) to break up your content and tell Google what each section is about.
This helps users and search engines understand your page.
💡 5. You Don’t Need to Be #1—Just Show Up When It Counts
Most small businesses don’t need to “rank nationwide.” You just need to show up when someone local searches for your service.
So stop worrying about “the algorithm.” Start focusing on clarity.
TL;DR
Use clear page titles and descriptions
Say what you do, where you do it
Be consistent with contact info
Make it mobile-friendly
Use proper headings and clean layout
Want someone to look at your site and show you what’s missing?
👉 Get Your Free Homepage Concept
Tomorrow: We’re breaking down the anatomy of a homepage—what works, what doesn’t, and why yours might be costing you business.
