SEO tip · Beginner
A simple SEO strategy in four steps
By the SEO Using AI Editorial Team · · 20-second video
Quick answer
A workable SEO strategy for a small business has four parts: find the exact words your customers search, give each question its own clear page, make the site fast enough for Google's Core Web Vitals, and earn links from websites people already trust. Then repeat it every month.
Step 1. Find the words customers search
Start with the Queries report in Google Search Console, Google's autocomplete and the People also ask box. Write down the phrases customers actually use, including prices, places and problems, not just the names of your services.
Step 2. Give each question its own page
Match each important search to one page on your site, so your pages do not compete with each other. Each page answers its question directly near the top, then goes deeper.
Step 3. Make the site fast
Check your pages in PageSpeed Insights. Google's Core Web Vitals targets are a Largest Contentful Paint under 2.5 seconds, an Interaction to Next Paint under 200 milliseconds, and a Cumulative Layout Shift under 0.1. Oversized images and heavy plugins are the usual causes.
Step 4. Earn links from trusted sites
Get listed and mentioned where your customers and your industry already are: suppliers, local associations, sponsorships, local news, and useful guides others want to reference. Avoid bought links, which break Google's spam policies.
Why it works
Search engines rank pages that match the search, answer it well, load quickly and are referenced by others. These four steps cover each of those, and repeating them builds on last month's work.
Common mistakes
- Targeting only the name of your service instead of the questions people ask
- Several pages chasing the same search
- Ignoring phones, where most local searches happen
- Buying cheap links in bulk
Questions
How long does SEO take to work?
Usually months rather than weeks, depending on your competition and how much the site needs. Watch impressions and average position in Search Console, since they move before clicks do.
Can I do SEO myself?
Yes. Start with these four steps and our free guides. Many owners handle the basics and hire help for technical fixes or ongoing content.
Video transcript
Can't find your business on Google? Fix it in four steps.
One. Find the exact words your customers search.
Two. Answer each question on its own clear page.
Three. Make your site fast, so Google can read it.
Four. Earn links from sites people trust.
Repeat every month, and watch yourself climb.
