WTF Is SEO Anyways?
Alright, —let’s talk about something only a shocking 33% of small business owners are familiar with =
SEO. (Still Everyone’s Oblivious?) 😂
It actually stands for Search Engine Optimization. The search engine is Google (or a couple smaller search engines)
Yep, that three-letter acronym that makes web designers and marketing gurus sound super smart.
So, what is SEO, and why should you care if you're running a small business (or even thinking about it)?
Let’s break it down in the most simple, fun, and relatable way possible.
Imagine you're hosting a fabulous party at your small business (whether that's a shop, a service, or an online empire).
You’ve got the best food, the most stylish decor, and music that’s chef’s kiss.
But there’s one problem: no one knows where your party is happening.
It’s tucked away in a quiet corner, down a hidden street, with no signs to guide people there.
Now, you wouldn’t throw the perfect event and not tell people about it, right?
That’s where SEO comes in.
SEO in this case is sending out your beautifully designed invites with a map that leads straight to your door.
SEO tweaks your website so that when someone Googles "best cupcakes near me" or "personal trainer in my town," your business is at the top of the guest list—front and center.
It’s basically your VIP pass to online visibility!
Without SEO, your party is still amazing, but if no one is there - is it really even a party?
With SEO, your invites are going to go to the people that you really wanna party with! 😁
Is Your Website “Invisible”? Let SEO Help You “Shake It Off” and Bring in the Traffic! 🎶
Let’s be realistic—everyone’s online these days (all the time!)
Whether they’re looking for the best organic skincare, a cozy new coffee shop, or tips on how to turn your bunny into a TikTok influencer (guilty!), people turn to Google (or Bing, if that’s their thing) to find answers.
If your website isn’t showing up on the first few pages of search results, you’re practically invisible.
SEO is what gets you in the spotlight where all the action is.
The Three Sides of SEO You Need to Know
You might be thinking, “Great, but what can I do to improve my SEO?”
Well, there are some pretty technical things that might require a learning curve - but there are also A TON you can do yourself that is pretty easy.
There are three main pieces to the SEO puzzle, and you’re probably already doing some of this without even knowing it.
Here’s the breakdown:
1. On-Page SEO: Content is Queen, and SEO is Her Crown 🌟
This is all about making your website itself the best it can be.
You don’t need to be a tech wizard to improve your on-page SEO, either—just a few smart changes will get things going.
Keywords are Queen:
Keywords are the words or phrases people type into Google when they’re searching for something. If you sell handmade candles, think about what people might search for, like “best soy candles” or “luxury candles for gifts.” Use these words in your website content, but make it sound natural, not like you’re stuffing them in everywhere.Titles Matter:
Your page titles are like the headlines of your website. They should be catchy but clear, and they need to include your most important keyword. If your business is “Rhonda’s Holistic Therapy” a good title might be “Therapy Services That Will Help – Rhonda’s Holistic Therapy”Meta Descriptions (huh?):
These are the little blurbs that show up under your website link in Google search results. Make it punchy, add your keyword, and include a call-to-action like “Shop our vegan treats today!” It’s one of the first things a potential customer will see.Alt Text for Images:
Ever wonder how Google knows what your pictures are about? It doesn’t—unless you tell it! Alt text is where you describe what’s in the image, which helps with SEO. So, if you have a picture of your best-selling blueberry muffin, the alt text could be “vegan blueberry muffin from Jane’s Vegan Bakery.”
2. Off-Page SEO: Getting Others to Talk About You 🔗
This is like the digital version of getting referrals, networking or recommendations.
It’s all about the chatter outside of your website that affects your ranking in search results.
Backlinks Are Like Gold Stars:
When other websites link to your site, search engines see this as a big thumbs-up, like “Hey, this site is legit!” The more quality backlinks you have, the more trustworthy you look to Google. You can get backlinks by collaborating with bloggers, getting press mentions, or even writing guest posts for other websites.Social Media Counts, Too:
Your Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and other social media profiles don’t directly affect your SEO ranking, but they sure help drive traffic. And guess what? More traffic means more people searching for and linking to your site.Online Directories Are Your Friends: Make sure your business is listed in local directories like Google My Business, Yelp, and any industry-specific sites. These listings not only help people find you but also boost your off-page SEO.
3. Technical SEO: The Geeky Stuff (Don’t Worry, It’s Easy!) 👩💻
Most of my clients say “I don’t do technical!” which is cool. You can hire me to help you.
But if you’re wanting to tackle this - you don’t need to know how to code to handle this.
Technical SEO just means making sure your site works smoothly and is easy for search engines to crawl, index and rank (aka read).
Speed Matters:
Ever clicked on a website, waited, and waited, then gave up? Google hates that too. Make sure your website loads quickly, or visitors (and search engines) will move on.Mobile-Friendly:
More people browse on their phones than computers these days. If your site doesn’t look good or function properly on mobile, you’ll lose a ton of potential customers—and Google will drop you in the rankings.Sitemaps and Robots.txt:
Okay, this is gonna sound a little techy, but think of a sitemap as a map of your website that helps search engines understand how everything is connected. Robots.txt files tell search engines which pages to ignore. If this sounds too confusing, just ask me.
Why is SEO Important for Your Small Business?
So why should you, as a woman running a small business, care about SEO?
Let’s break it down with some real-world, relatable reasons you’ll understand!
1. You Want More Traffic to Your Website
SEO is your ticket to more website visitors. When people Google something related to your products or services, you want to be one of the top results they see. More visitors = more chances to make a sale. It’s that simple!
2. You Want to Build Credibility and Trust
People trust businesses that show up high in search results. It’s like choosing the restaurant with a long line out the door. If Google says you’re a top result, people assume you must be pretty great.
3. It’s a Long-Term Investment
SEO isn’t like a social media post that’s forgotten by tomorrow. It’s a long-term strategy that keeps working for you over time. Once you’ve optimized your website, you’ll continue to see the benefits without having to constantly update things (though regular tweaks help).
5 AWESOME & Super Easy SEO Tips You Can Start RIGHT NOW!
You don’t need to overhaul your entire website to start seeing some SEO benefits. Here are five easy things you can do right now to improve your ranking:
✅ Claim Your Google My Business Listing: If you haven’t already, claim and complete your Google My Business listing. This will help you show up in local searches and on Google Maps.
✅ Update Your Page Titles and Descriptions: Go through your website and update your page titles and meta descriptions to include important keywords. Make them fun and engaging!
✅ Add Alt Text to Your Images: Don’t forget about those photos! Go back and add descriptive alt text to all the images on your website.
✅ Create a Blog: Regularly posting blog content on your site gives Google more to index and helps you rank for additional keywords. Plus, you can answer your customers’ burning questions!
✅ Make Your Website Mobile-Friendly: Check your site on a phone or tablet. Does it look good? Is it easy to navigate? If not, it’s time for a mobile makeover!
Wrapping It Up: SEO Is Like Planting a Garden 🌱
Think of SEO like planting a garden.
Your updates are the seed. There is always planting and tending to the garden to do.
You don’t see instant results, but over time, with a little care and attention, your efforts start to bloom.
Whether you’re a complete beginner or a tech-savvy pro, SEO is all about getting your business noticed by the people who need you most.
So, WTF is SEO? It’s an organic strategy to grow your business without paying for costly ads or spending 10 hours a day on social media.
It’s effort you put in for getting found, building trust, and growing your small business online. Time to start optimizing! 💪🌟