At SMPL Web Design, one of the top reasons clients come to us—besides building or redesigning their website—is to tackle a critical question: How can I rank higher in search so my business gets noticed and I bring in more clients? The answer: The best way to boost your rankings is with Search engine optimization (SEO).
SEO used to be fairly straightforward. You’d submit your website to search engines, load your pages and blog posts with relevant keywords, and share your content on social media. Over time, this often resulted in decent rankings. But times have changed. Search engines have become more sophisticated, with ever-evolving algorithms that make achieving and maintaining high rankings both complex and, at times, costly.
Adding to the challenge, there are countless businesses offering services that promise to boost your rankings—often requiring you to host your site with them, pay for costly redesigns, or commit to ongoing fees for pay-per-click campaigns (SEM). While these options have their place, as a small business owner, you might not have the budget for such investments.
Here’s the good news: if you have some patience and are willing to put in a bit of effort, you can organically improve your website’s ranking on Google and other search engines within a few months. By following these SMPL best practices for SEO, you can make meaningful progress without breaking the bank.
Start With a Strong Foundation
Before diving into SEO tactics, it’s crucial to ensure you have a well-designed, fast, and responsive website that accurately represents your business. Google prioritizes websites that are well-organized, load quickly, and adapt seamlessly to various devices, including desktops, tablets, and smartphones.
If your site is outdated, slow, or built on a do-it-yourself platform and isn’t ranking well, it may be time to invest in a redesign. At SMPL Web Design, we specialize in creating beautiful, professional websites that are SEO-ready and optimized for all devices—all at a price tailored for small businesses. Interested in upgrading your website? Contact us today!
Ready to Boost Your SEO?
Once your website is running smoothly, it’s time to start building your SEO strategy to attract more customers and improve your rankings. Here are my top tips for boosting your SEO organically:
Claim Your Google Business Profile
Why it matters: This puts your business on the map—literally—and makes it easy for people to find you in local searches.
How to do it:
- Sign up for Google My Business.
- Add your business name, address, and phone number (make sure they match what’s on your website).
- Upload clear, professional photos that showcase your business.
- Ask happy customers for reviews and be sure to reply to every one of them.
Use the Right Keywords on Your Website
Why it matters: When people search online, search engines look for words that match their questions. Search engines use keywords to match your content with user queries.
How to do it:
- Think about what your customers might type into Google (e.g., “affordable web design near me”).
- Sprinkle those words naturally into your page titles, headings, and content.
- Don’t overdo it—focus on writing in a way that’s helpful and easy to read.
Create and Publish Valuable Content
Why it matters: Posting useful info shows search engines (and people) that your website is active and valuable.
How to do it:
- Start a simple blog with posts answering common customer questions.
- Share quick tips or guides related to your business.
- Post regularly—even once a month is enough to make a difference.
Share with Your Audience
Why it matters: Sharing your content across multiple platforms drives traffic to your site and builds credibility with search engines.
How to do it:
- Build an email list on your website and send a monthly newsletter with your latest blog post, products, or offers.
- Share your latest posts and products on social media platforms.
- Collaborate with other small businesses to share articles, tips, and products on each other’s sites to broaden your reach and audience.
SEO is a Marathon, not a sprint
Boosting your SEO doesn’t have to be overwhelming or expensive. By starting with a solid foundation—a well-designed, responsive website—and implementing these best practices, you can make significant progress in boosting your search rankings and attracting more customers. Remember, SEO is a marathon, not a sprint. Stay consistent, keep learning, and trust the process. If you’re ready to take your website to the next level or need help getting started, SMPL Web Design is here to support you every step of the way. Contact us today to boost your brand and look good online!
Tune in for my next article where I show a case study for a current client and how they went from ranking at the bottom of page 1 to ranking at the top!