SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) sounds complicated, but the basics are straightforward. If you get these five things right, you'll be ahead of most small business websites.
1. A clear page title and meta description
Every page on your site should have a unique title (under 60 characters) and description (under 160 characters) that tells Google what it's about. Think of it as your advert in search results.
2. Your business name, address, and phone number (NAP)
This should be consistent across your website, Google Business Profile, and any directories. Inconsistencies confuse Google and hurt your local rankings.
3. Fast loading speed
Google penalises slow sites. Compress your images, use modern formats like WebP, and choose a good hosting provider. Aim for under 3 seconds load time.
4. Mobile-friendly design
We've said it before and we'll say it again: Google uses mobile-first indexing. If your site doesn't work on mobile, you're invisible.
5. Helpful, relevant content
Write for humans, not robots. Answer the questions your customers actually ask. Use headings to break up text. Include your location and services naturally.
Bonus: Google Business Profile
This is free and incredibly powerful for local businesses. Claim yours, fill it out completely, add photos, and ask happy customers for reviews.
At Iprecious, every website we build includes these SEO basics as standard. We won't promise you'll be number one overnight, but we'll give you solid foundations.