Get Your Business Found: A Beginner's SEO Guide for Your New Website

Your Website is Live! Now What? A Beginner's Guide to SEO

Congratulations on launching your new website! That's a huge step. But building the site is just the beginning. Now, you need to help people find it. This is where Search Engine Optimization (SEO) comes in.

Don't let the acronym scare you! SEO is simply the process of making your website more attractive to search engines like Google. When your site is optimized, it has a better chance of appearing higher in search results when people look for businesses, services, or information like yours. Here's a beginner-friendly guide to get you started.

SEO Basics: What You Need to Know

  1. Keywords are Key:

    • What are they? Keywords are the words and phrases people type into search engines.
    • How to find them: Think like your customer. What terms would they use to find what you offer? (e.g., "handmade jewelry London," "best coffee shop near me," "learn Spanish online").
    • Where to use them: Naturally incorporate relevant keywords into your page titles, headings, body text, and image descriptions (alt text). Don't "stuff" them in unnaturally.

  2. High-Quality Content is King (and Queen!):

    • Search engines love fresh, relevant, and valuable content.
    • Write for your audience first, not just for search engines. Provide information that answers their questions or solves their problems.
    • Regularly update your site with new blog posts, articles, or product information if applicable.

  3. Page Titles and Meta Descriptions Matter:

    • Page Title: This is the clickable headline that appears in search results. Make it clear, concise (around 50-60 characters), and include your main keyword for that page.
    • Meta Description: A short summary (around 150-160 characters) that appears under your page title in search results. Write compelling copy that encourages clicks.
    • Many website builders allow you to easily edit these for each page.

  4. Make Your Site Mobile-Friendly:

    • A huge portion of web traffic comes from mobile devices. Google prioritizes mobile-friendly sites.
    • Most modern website builder templates are "responsive," meaning they automatically adjust to look good on all screen sizes. Always preview your site on mobile.

  5. Speed Thrills (Search Engines Too!):

    • A slow-loading website frustrates users and can hurt your rankings.
    • Optimize images (compress them), choose a good website builder/hosting, and keep your site's design relatively clean to improve speed.

  6. Use Headings Correctly (H1, H2, H3, etc.):

    • Headings help structure your content for readers and search engines.
    • Use one H1 tag per page for your main title/topic. Use H2s for main subheadings, H3s for sub-subheadings, and so on. Incorporate keywords where natural.

  7. Internal Linking:

    • Link relevant pages within your own website together. This helps search engines understand your site structure and spreads "link equity" (ranking power).
    • For example, a blog post could link to a relevant service page.

  8. Image Alt Text:

    • Alternative text (alt text) describes your images to search engines (which can't "see" images) and to visually impaired users using screen readers.
    • Be descriptive and include keywords if appropriate. Most builders have a field for alt text when you upload an image.

Getting Started with SEO on Your New Site:

  • Focus on the Basics: Don't try to do everything at once. Start with good content, clear titles, and a mobile-friendly design.
  • Use Your Website Builder's SEO Tools: Many platforms have built-in SEO settings or guides. Explore them!
  • Be Patient: SEO takes time. You likely won't see results overnight. Keep creating valuable content and optimizing your pages.
  • Consider Google Search Console: This free tool from Google provides insights into how your site is performing in search and can help you identify issues.

By implementing these basic SEO practices, you'll be well on your way to helping your ideal customers find your new website. Good luck!