SEO Basics: Getting Your Small Business Found Online

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) might sound complicated, but the basics are actually quite straightforward. At its core, SEO is about making your website easy for both search engines and humans to understand. Start with keyword research. Think about what terms your potential customers are typing into Google when they're looking for businesses like yours. These keywords should naturally appear in your page titles, headings, and content. But don't overdo it—keyword stuffing will actually hurt your rankings.

Local SEO is particularly important for small businesses. Make sure your business is listed on Google My Business, and keep your information consistent across all online directories. Customer reviews also play a huge role in local search rankings, so encourage satisfied customers to leave feedback. Content is still king when it comes to SEO. Regularly publishing helpful, relevant content—like blog posts—signals to search engines that your site is active and valuable. This is where AI tools can really help, making it easier to create quality content consistently.