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For small business owners, having a website is an essential tool in marketing and selling your goods and services – but if it’s not showing up in Google search results, you’re missing out on new customers. Luckily, making your website more Google-friendly is simple and does not require a lot of money or technical skills. Here are 5 simple, practical steps to help your website climb up the search rankings.
1. Use the Right Keywords
Think about what your customers are typing into Google when they are looking for your services. These are your keywords. For example, if you are an electrician in Philadelphia, phrases like “top electrician in Philadelphia” or “professional electrician Philadelphia” should be a few terms that appear naturally throughout the pages of your website.
There are plenty of free tools that help you find what keywords your potential customers are searching for such as Google Keyword Planner and Ubersuggest.
2. Write Clear, Helpful Page Titles & Meta Description Tags
Each page of your website must have a unique title and short description (known as a meta description). These are what show up in Google’s search results, so they make them very clear and compelling to entice the user to click your listing.
Here is an example using our previously mentioned electrician in Philadelphia:
Title: Licensed Electrician in Philadelphia, PA | Residential & Commercial Services
Description: Need a reliable electrician in Philadelphia? We offer expert residential and commercial electrical services, 24/7 emergency support, and free estimates. Call today!
3. Make Sure Your Website is Mobile-friendly
More than half of web traffic comes from phones. Google knows this and now prioritizes websites that are easy to use on mobile devices. If visitors have a bad user experience and must pinch, zoom and wait for websites to load, they are likely to leave your website which tells Google to de-value your ranking. If you want to test your site’s mobile experience, try using Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test and see how your site holds up.
4. Make Your Website Fast
A slow-loading website not only makes your users leave your website but also hurts your Google rankings. Here are many quick things you can do to speed up your website.
- Compress images using free image compression tools such as TinyPNG or Squoosh.
- Avoid bulky design elements or too many animations that don’t add value to the user experience.
- Make sure you are using a good, reliable hosting provider.
- If your website uses WordPress, try installing a caching plugin such as WP Rocket or W3 Total Cache to improve page speed without having to have any development knowledge.
5. Add New Content Regularly
Google loves websites that are active and updated frequently. One of the most common ways to keep your content fresh is to add a blog and begin posting to it regularly. Write simple posts answering common questions related to your industry, showcasing your work or sharing tips to help your customers.
Example topics:
- What to Know Before Hiring a Local Electrician
- Top 5 Signs You Need to Call an Electrician
- What to Expect During an Electrical Inspection in Philadelphia
Final Thoughts
You don’t need to be an SEO expert to make your website more Google-friendly. These five steps – smart keywords, clear titles, mobile optimization, faster loading and fresh content – can have a huge impact on your search visibility. The best part? They’re easy to do and cost nothing.
Ready to upgrade your website? Pick one of the tips above and get started!
