SEO 101 for Small Business Owners

A simple guide to getting your business found on Google

If you run a small business, you already know how important it is to be visible online. Customers search for everything — plumbers, hair stylists, electricians, personal trainers, cafés, and online stores.

The good news: you do not need to be a marketing expert to show up in Google Search. A few basic SEO steps can help your website get discovered by the right people.

This guide explains those basics in plain English.

What is SEO?

SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) is the process of making your website easier for search engines like Google to understand and recommend.

Think of Google as a library. SEO helps Google:

• Understand what your business offers
• Identify who you serve and where you operate
• Know why your business is trustworthy and relevant

When Google has this information, it becomes far more likely to show your website to potential customers.

Why SEO matters

Good SEO helps you:

• Get more customers without paying for ads
• Build trust and credibility
• Compete online, even against bigger companies
• Drive long-term website traffic
•  

Without SEO, potential customers may never find you - even if you have a great business.

SEO Basics You Can Start Today

1. Identify the keywords customers use

Keywords are the words and phrases people type into Google.

Examples:

Write down 5–10 search terms your ideal customer would actually Google.

2. Use your keywords naturally on your site

Add your chosen keywords to:

• Page titles
• Meta descriptions
• Headings (H1)
• First paragraph of content
• Image descriptions (alt text)
• URLs where relevant

Do not repeat keywords too often — write naturally and clearly.

3. Create useful content

Google rewards clear, helpful information. Your website should answer:

• What do you sell or offer?
• Who do you help?
• Where are you based?
• Why should someone choose you?
• How can people contact you?

Adding a simple FAQ section is extremely effective for SEO.

4. Ensure your website loads fast

Customers hate waiting, and Google does too. Faster sites rank higher.

Our website builder automatically optimises performance, but avoid uploading very large images or videos that slow down pages.

5. Make your website mobile-friendly

Most South Africans browse the internet on mobile phones.
Our platform automatically creates mobile-friendly websites — no extra work required.

6. Claim your Google Business Profile

If your business serves a local area or has a physical location, claim your listing on Google. It helps your business appear in local search and on Google Maps.

Search online for “Google Business Profile” - it only takes a few minutes to set up and is free.

7. Build trust with reviews and links

Google values businesses that customers talk about and recommend.

Try to collect:

• Google reviews
• Facebook reviews
• Mentions on local blogs or directories
• Links from partner websites
• Social media mentions

The more trust signals your business has, the better your chances of ranking.

SEO is not instant (and that’s normal)

SEO is a long-term strategy. It takes time for Google to trust your site — usually weeks to months.
But once your SEO improves, organic traffic becomes one of the most valuable marketing channels for your business.

Additional simple SEO tips

• Update your website content every few months
• Publish helpful blog posts (even once a month works)
• Answer customer questions on your website
• Avoid complicated language — clarity wins

How our website builder helps your SEO

Our platform is built with SEO in mind. You get:

• Fast-loading pages
• Mobile-friendly design
• SEO-friendly structure and clean code
• Easy tools to add titles and descriptions
• Blog functionality for content marketing
• Templates designed with SEO best-practices

This means you can focus on your business while we handle the technical side.

Final Thoughts

Effective SEO comes down to three main things:

1. Understanding what your customers search for
2. Publishing clear, helpful information
3. Building trust online over time

If you apply these steps consistently, your website will begin climbing search results and attracting more customers.

SEO is a journey, but with the right tools and a little effort, you can absolutely succeed.