SEO Basics: Getting Your Small Business Found Online
SEO Basics: Getting Your Small Business Found Online
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) might sound technical and intimidating, but the basics are straightforward. In this guide, we'll break down the essential SEO strategies that will help your New Zealand small business get found online.
What is SEO and Why Does It Matter?
SEO is the practice of optimizing your website to rank higher in search engine results. When someone searches for "best café in Wellington" or "plumber near me," you want your business to appear at the top.
The Benefits of Good SEO:
- Free, ongoing traffic from search engines
- Highly targeted visitors who are actively looking for what you offer
- Local customers who are ready to buy
- Long-term ROI that compounds over time
Local SEO: Your Secret Weapon
For small businesses, local SEO is where the magic happens. These strategies help you appear in local search results and Google Maps.
1. Claim Your Google Business Profile
This is step one for any local business. Your Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business) helps you appear in:
- Google Maps
- Local pack results
- Knowledge panels
How to optimize:
- Fill out every field completely
- Add high-quality photos
- Keep hours and contact info accurate
- Encourage customer reviews
- Post regular updates
2. Consistent NAP Information
NAP stands for Name, Address, and Phone number. Your NAP should be identical everywhere it appears online:
- Your website
- Google Business Profile
- Social media profiles
- Online directories
- Review sites
Inconsistent information confuses search engines and hurts your rankings.
3. Local Keywords
Include location-specific keywords throughout your website:
| Instead of | Use |
|---|---|
| "Best coffee" | "Best coffee in Auckland CBD" |
| "Web design services" | "Web design for NZ businesses" |
| "Plumbing repairs" | "Emergency plumber Wellington" |
On-Page SEO Essentials
These are changes you make directly on your website to improve rankings.
Title Tags and Meta Descriptions
Every page needs a unique title tag and meta description:
<title>Professional Web Design for NZ Small Businesses | Jnok</title>
<meta name="description" content="Affordable, professional websites for New Zealand small businesses. Transparent pricing, fast delivery, and designs that convert.">
Best practices:
- Keep titles under 60 characters
- Keep descriptions under 160 characters
- Include your primary keyword
- Make them compelling to click
Header Structure
Use headers (H1, H2, H3) to organize your content:
- H1: Main page title (only one per page)
- H2: Major sections
- H3: Subsections within H2s
This helps both users and search engines understand your content structure.
Image Optimization
Images can slow down your site and miss SEO opportunities if not optimized:
- Compress images before uploading
- Use descriptive file names (coffee-shop-wellington.jpg, not IMG_1234.jpg)
- Add alt text that describes the image
- Use modern formats like WebP
Internal Linking
Link between pages on your own website. This helps:
- Search engines discover all your pages
- Users find related content
- Important pages get more "link juice"
Content is Still King
Creating valuable content is one of the most effective SEO strategies:
Blog Posts
Write articles that answer questions your customers have. This post you're reading is an example!
Service Pages
Create detailed pages for each service you offer, targeting specific keywords.
FAQ Sections
Answer common questions to capture featured snippets and voice search queries.
Technical SEO Basics
Don't worry — you don't need to be a developer. Focus on these fundamentals:
Page Speed
Slow websites rank lower and frustrate users. Test your site at Google PageSpeed Insights.
Mobile-Friendliness
Google uses mobile-first indexing. Your site must work perfectly on phones.
SSL Certificate
Your site should use HTTPS. Most hosts provide free SSL certificates.
Clean URLs
Use readable URLs like /services/web-design/ instead of /page?id=123.
Measuring Your Progress
Track your SEO efforts with these free tools:
- Google Search Console — See how your site performs in search
- Google Analytics — Track visitor behavior
- Google Business Profile Insights — Monitor local search performance
Common SEO Mistakes to Avoid
- Keyword stuffing — Using keywords unnaturally
- Duplicate content — Having the same content on multiple pages
- Ignoring mobile — Not testing on real devices
- Buying links — This can get you penalized
- Expecting instant results — SEO takes 3-6 months to show results
Getting Started: Your SEO Checklist
Here's what to do this week:
- Claim and optimize your Google Business Profile
- Check your NAP consistency across the web
- Add title tags and meta descriptions to all pages
- Ensure your site is mobile-friendly
- Start planning your first blog posts
Need Help with SEO?
At Jnok, every website we build includes fundamental SEO optimization. We make sure your site is set up for success from day one.
Contact us to learn how we can help your business get found online.
Have questions about SEO? Reach out to our team for a free consultation.