Boost Your Search Visibility: A Small Business Guide to DIY SEO
Search engine optimization (SEO) remains one of the most cost-effective marketing channels for small businesses to drive qualified web traffic. But hiring an expensive agency for ongoing SEO consulting and white label SEO services can bust limited marketing budgets.
The good news is that with a DIY approach focused on foundational SEO best practices, startups and entrepreneurs can incrementally improve organic visibility over time through their own efforts.
Follow this small business guide to essential organic SEO services you can handle yourself to start boosting search rankings.
Conduct an SEO Audit
The first do-it-yourself SEO task focuses on auditing your current website to identify high priority issues impacting performance.
Analyze Technical SEO Elements
Review core technical SEO elements like site speed, mobile optimization, proper markup etc. Resolve any red flags like broken links or crawling errors.
Assess Existing Content
Conduct an inventory of all site content while gauging the relevance and authority of pages and posts. Identify content gaps aligned to core products, services and target customer priorities.
Check Keyword Rankings
Use free tools like Google Search Console and SEMRush to determine current keyword rankings and traffic sources. Make note of competitive pages outranking you for potential targeting.
Consolidating this data into a single SEO audit report summarizes problems to address and opportunities to pursue for quick visibility gains.
Produce Fresh, Valuable Content
Posting regular original content remains essential for SEO success by both earning direct traffic and signaling site quality to search algorithms.
Blog Articles
Publish at least 4 blog articles per month focused on topics and questions your ideal customers care about. Embed relevant keywords naturally while providing genuinely helpful advice.
FAQ Pages
Expand your website’s FAQ section with specific questions searchers are asking around your products, services and industry. Optimize with keywords to capture that demand.
Updated Category + Location Pages
Keep core site sections like service category pages and location/region pages fresh by adding new content blocks about specialties, awards etc on a quarterly basis.
Cultivate Backlinks Through Outreach
Gaining external sites links back to your website pages continues to be hugely influential for SEO rankings. But rather than paying for links or using shady tactics, focus on earning links through relevant content contributions.
Pitch Guest Blog Posts
Write and submit posts for publication on industry blogs, local sites and relevant online magazines. Secure backlinks within that content to related pages on your site.
Share Data or Infographics
Create infographics and original data reports related to your niche that other websites would find interesting to share. Include brand mentions and links with assets offered.
Comment on Forums
Actively participate in both general small business forums and vertical communities by providing thoughtful comments on discussions. Add a site link within the website field of your user profile.
Optimize Conversions Pathways
Driving increased organic traffic only translates into growth if visitors complete desired actions across user journeys.
Guide Navigation
Structure main site navigation and page-level content in alignment with typical visitor progression from awareness -> consideration -> decision.
Reduce Bounce Rates
Analyze high bounce rate pages to understand engagement gaps then add sticky content elements like data calculators, interactive tools etc that compel exploration.
Install Analytics
At minimum, connect Google Analytics for event tracking on calls-to-action, scroll depth and other conversion behavior signals. Identify drop-off points.
Conclusion
By taking a methodical approach applying essential organic SEO best practices using free or low-cost tools, small businesses can absolutely move the needle on search visibility themselves without expensive consultants or agencies.
Focus on technical optimizations, value-added content creation, earned backlink outreach, and conversion-centric site experiences. Measure impact through search rankings, traffic and leads over the first 6 months.
Then examine if expanded organic SEO services merit consideration either through dedicated staff or supported by an affordable SEO provider like Digital Solutions Axis. Our data-driven SEO solutions blend advanced tactics with on-going optimization to fuel small business growth.
