Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) can often feel like a dark art, full of technical jargon and complex strategies. Many small business owners feel they need to hire an expensive agency to even stand a chance. But the truth is, some of the most effective SEO tasks are surprisingly simple and can be done by anyone, regardless of their technical expertise.
While a deep and comprehensive SEO strategy does require specialist knowledge, there are many foundational tasks that you can do yourself to build a solid base. These “quick wins” can make a significant difference to your online visibility and help you attract more customers without a large budget.
This guide focuses on practical, straightforward tips that you can implement today to improve your website’s SEO.
1. Make Your Website Mobile-Friendly
This is no longer a suggestion; it is a necessity. With over 60% of all website visits now coming from mobile devices, Google prioritises websites that offer a good experience on a small screen. If your website is difficult to use on a phone, visitors will leave, and Google will be less likely to recommend it.
How to do it:
Most modern website builders (like WordPress, Squarespace, Wix, or Shopify) use responsive templates that automatically adjust to different screen sizes. Check your website on your own phone. Can you read the text easily without zooming? Are the buttons easy to press? If not, it may be time to update your website’s design to a more modern, mobile-friendly template.
2. Improve Your Page Titles and Descriptions
Your page title (or title tag) and meta description are the first things a potential customer sees in Google’s search results. They need to be clear, compelling, and relevant.
How to do it:
- Page Titles: Aim for around 55 characters. Include your main keyword for that page and your business name. For example, a homepage title could be “Bespoke Kitchen Design in Cornwall | Kernow Kitchens.”
- Meta Descriptions: Aim for around 105 characters. This is your chance to “sell the click.” Briefly describe what the page is about and why someone should visit. For example, “Discover our range of handmade kitchens, designed and built in our Cornish workshop. View our gallery and get a free quote today.”
Every page on your website should have a unique title and description. You can usually edit these in the SEO settings of your website platform.
3. Use Headings to Structure Your Content
Headings (H1, H2, H3, etc.) are not just for making text look bigger. They create a logical structure for your content, which helps both users and search engines understand what your page is about. Think of them as the chapters and sub-chapters of your page.
How to do it:
- Use one H1 tag for the main heading of your page. This should clearly describe the page’s content and ideally include your main keyword.
- Use H2 tags for the main sub-sections of your page.
- Use H3 tags for sub-sections within your H2s, if needed.
This simple hierarchy makes your content much easier to scan and digest, which improves the user experience, a key factor in SEO.
4. Add Alt Text to Your Images
Alternative text (or alt text) is a short, written description of an image. It serves two main purposes: it is read aloud by screen readers for visually impaired users, and it helps search engines understand the content of your images.
How to do it:
When you upload an image to your website, there should be a field for “alt text” or “alternative description.” Write a brief, descriptive sentence that accurately describes the image. For example, instead of “image123.jpg,” use alt text like “A modern, light-grey kitchen with a marble island.”
5. Internally Link Your Pages
Internal linking is simply the practice of linking from one page on your website to another relevant page on your website. It is a powerful and often overlooked SEO tactic.
How to do it:
When you are writing content, look for opportunities to naturally link to other pages on your site. For example, if you are writing a blog post about “How to choose a kitchen worktop,” you could link to your “Granite Worktops” and “Oak Worktops” service pages. This helps users discover more of your content and helps Google understand the relationship between your pages.
By consistently implementing these five simple tips, you can build a strong SEO foundation for your website. While they may seem small, these actions compound over time, leading to better visibility, more traffic, and ultimately, more customers for your business.
About Dead On Digital
Dead On Digital supports UK small businesses with practical websites, digital marketing and smart automation that help improve and strengthen their online presence. Everything we do is focused on keeping things clear, simple and aligned with how real businesses actually operate day to day.
We believe your website and online presence should keep working for you as your business grows, not be built once and forgotten. If you are reviewing where you are now or thinking about ways to improve things online, we are always happy to offer friendly, honest advice.