When operating your business online, your website acts as your virtual storefront and round-the-clock salesperson. But what good is it if nobody can find it?
Showing up on Google is essential for getting more visitors, attracting clients, and growing your business. That’s where SEO (Search Engine Optimization) comes in.
Yes, that darn term you know you need but don't know anything about and makes you wanna pull your hair out...

I know “SEO” sounds intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be complicated. In this beginner-friendly guide, I’ll break down simple, practical steps to help your website climb Google’s search results — without needing a degree in digital marketing. 😉
Step 1: Understand How Google Works
Think of Google like a matchmaker. Its job is to connect people searching for information with the most relevant and trustworthy content. Google uses bots (called crawlers) to scan and index websites, then ranks them based on factors like:
Relevance: Does your website answer the searcher’s inquiry?
User Experience: Is your site fast, mobile-friendly, and easy to navigate?
Authority: Does your site have quality content and links from other reputable sites?
The goal is to check these boxes so that Google sees your site as a valuable & accurate resource worth showing in search results.
Step 2: Choose the Right Keywords
Keywords are the words and phrases people type into Google when searching. To figure out what keywords to target, ask yourself:
What services do I offer?
What problems do my ideal clients search for?
How would someone unfamiliar with my industry describe what I do?
How to Find Keywords
Google Search: Type in a topic and see what autocomplete suggestions pop up.
Answer the Public: A tool that shows common questions people are asking.
Competitor Research: Look at what keywords similar businesses are using.
Other Search Engines: Depending on your industry, you can use other online tools to see (through autocomplete suggestions) what people are searching for — YouTube, Etsy, eBay, Amazon
Start by targeting long-tail keywords (specific phrases) like “how to book a nutrition consultation” rather than broad terms like “nutrition services.”
Step 3: Optimize Your Website Content
Once you have your keywords, it’s time to sprinkle them strategically throughout your website. But don’t overdo it! Google penalizes keyword stuffing — this is the act of including a bunch of keywords in an unnatural, non-user friendly way.
Key Places to Use Keywords:
Page Titles: Include the main keyword naturally
Headings (H1, H2, etc.): Organize content with keyword-rich headings
URL: Keep it short and descriptive (example: yoursite.com/nutrition-tips)
Meta Descriptions: Write informative descriptions that include your keyword
Body Content: Use variations of the keyword naturally throughout the text
💡 Pro Tip: Focus on creating high-quality content that answers your audience’s questions. Google loves helpful, engaging content, and so will your potential customers!
Step 4: Boost Your Site Speed
Google prioritizes fast-loading websites. Nobody wants to wait 10 seconds for a page to load — especially your potential clients.
Simple Ways to Improve Speed:
Compress large images
Use a fast web hosting provider
Minimize unnecessary plugins
Enable browser caching
FREE TOOL FOR YOU: Test your site speed using Google PageSpeed Insight.
Step 5: Make Your Website Mobile-Friendly
Most web traffic comes from smartphones, and it just continues to climb. If your site doesn’t work well on mobile, Google will push it down the rankings. Plus, most user are not going to waste their time on your website, meaning you're missing out on potential sales!
How to Check:
Open your website on your phone. Is it easy to read and navigate?
Use Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test to check your site.
If it’s not mobile-friendly, consider switching to a responsive website design. Most website builders include a mobile-view editor — this is a VERY important step, don't skip it.
Step 6: Build Quality Backlinks
Backlinks are links from other websites pointing to yours. They signal to Google that your site is credible and worth ranking higher.
How to Get Backlinks:
Write guest posts for industry blogs
Collaborate with other business owners for cross-promotion
Share valuable content on social media that others will link to
Step 7: Set Up Google Analytics and Google Search Console
In my past corporate life, we often used the mantra, "You can’t improve what you don’t measure." These free tools from Google provide insights into your site’s traffic and performance.
Google Analytics: Tracks who visits your site, how they found you, and what they do once they’re there.
Google Search Console: Monitors your site’s search presence and flags issues that might hurt rankings.
Step 8: Be Patient and Consistent
SEO is not an overnight solution — it's a long game. It takes time and consistent effort to see results. Keep creating valuable content, optimizing your site, and tracking your progress. And don't get discouraged!
Ready to show up on Google?
SEO might sound overwhelming, but by taking small, intentional steps, you can make your website more visible to the people who need your services most.
If you’re ready to hand off the technical stuff so you can focus on serving your clients, I’m here to help. Let’s connect and make sure your website starts showing up where it matters most!
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