If you’ve recently launched a website, you’ve probably gone to Google and searched, “How to start SEO for my website?” It’s one of the most important questions to ask, and the good news is that it’s never too early to start.
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is the process of enhancing your website’s visibility to users searching for your product, service, or content online. However, depending on your goals and business type, the right starting point can vary. Here’s a breakdown of three common types of website owners.
DIY SEO Strategy for Small Business Websites
If you’re a local small business—think restaurant, wellness studio, dentist, or a local service provider—Local SEO is where you’ll see the most significant return long term.
Start by creating or claiming your Google Business Profile. This is the listing that appears when people search for your business name or a local service (such as “pizza near me”). Be sure to fill out every field: hours, address, phone number, services, and photos. Once this is done, repeat the process on multiple search engines, such as Bing, Yelp, and Apple Maps.
This first step now enables your business to appear in multiple search engine results.
Next, focus on location-based keywords. Add city or neighborhood names to your website copy, page titles, and metadata. For example, instead of saying, “We are a full-service salon,” try “We are a full-service salon in Downtown Jersey City.”
Encourage customers to leave Google reviews, as this increases credibility and visibility. And don’t forget mobile: if your website isn’t mobile-friendly or loads slowly, your rankings will suffer.
DIY SEO Strategy For E-commerce Brands
If you sell products online, your SEO strategy begins with optimizing products and categories.
Use tools like Google Keyword Planner or Ubersuggest to discover what people are searching for in your niche. Then, use those keywords naturally on product titles, descriptions, URLs, and image alt tags.
Structure your site with clear category pages and utilize internal linking to help users (and search engines) navigate effectively. For example, link from your blog posts to related products to increase relevance and traffic. These relevant links indicate to Google that you’re doing your best to match the user’s intent.
Creating content such as gift guides, buying tips, or product comparisons is also crucial. When this content is produced in video format and uploaded to YouTube, it increases website traffic and your ranking in organic search results through YouTube and Google. Not only do they help with SEO, but they build trust with shoppers.
DIY SEO Strategy For Podcasters
If you’re a podcaster, SEO might not be your first priority—but it should be. Your episodes are packed with searchable content that can drive organic traffic.
Create a blog post for each episode, including a summary, timestamps, quotes, and key takeaways. Use long-tail keywords that reflect the episode topic (e.g., “how to invest in your 30s podcast”).
Embed the episode on the page and add a transcript to help search engines crawl your content. Also, optimize for branded searches so people who hear about your show can easily find it.
Your podcast content snippets are perfect for YouTube shorts. They need to be uploaded to YouTube and optimized with relevant keywords or tags. These videos will continue to rank higher in search engines and be featured on the first page of Google.
Over time, these episode pages can attract search traffic, especially when promoted through social media or email marketing.
3 Things You Can Do Right Now to Kickstart SEO Strategy
Whether you’re a service provider, online store, or creator—here are three free and practical SEO tips you can start implementing today:
✅ 1. Set Up Google Search Console, Google Analytics, and Keyword Planner
These free tools from Google help you monitor site traffic, identify popular pages, and discover the search terms people are using to find your site. They’re essential for tracking your SEO rankings, understanding your site structure, and the progress of your strategy.
Google’s keyword planner tool allows you to do extensive keyword research, which helps you create better, more relevant pages and blog content.
✅ 2. Make Sure Each Page Has a Unique Title and Description
Every page on your site should have its own meta title and description. This is the snippet of text that people and search engine bots see first in Google search results, helping users decide whether to click or move on to other websites. Be clear and concise, and include relevant keywords where appropriate.
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✅ 3. Start Blogging (Even Once a Month Helps)
Creating valuable content that is keyword-focused keeps your site active and improves rankings over time. Regularly leveraging blog content to answer common customer questions or creating content around your niche consistently shows Google you’re actively trying to answer user’s questions and provide a solution.
Use AI to Help You Create Blog Posts
Now, we do not recommend just going to ChatGPT and asking it to write you a 300-word blog post. Utilize AI to establish the foundation of your blog posts, which should include addressing user search intent and incorporating relevant keywords. But the most important part is finishing it with your personal touch and expertise. Giving this AI-generated content your human touch helps Google believe that it is written by a human and not penalize you for producing crappy me-too content.
SEO isn’t just a marketing buzzword—it’s a long-term growth tool. Whether you’re a local business, an online retailer, or a podcaster, the first steps you take today will help you build momentum and drive results tomorrow. With a clear focus and a little consistency, your website’s SEO can help your target audience find you—right when they need you most.