SEO Basics for Small Businesses: A Beginner’s Guide to Growing Online

This article provides insights about SEO, how to define your keyword strategies, and tools you can use to map out your online success.

The term “SEO” has become a prominent buzzword across digital platforms.

As a business owner or freelancer looking to offer services, you’ve likely picked up on the fact that it has to do with being found on Google and getting website views.

But. What is it, exactly? And how does it actually work?

In this brief guide to Search Engine Optimization, (SEO) I’ll outline a few fundamental principles, guiding you through what it is and why it is so important.

Finally, I’ll offer a few helpful tools you can use to increase your measurable success online, especially as it pertains to copywriting, my professional forte.

SEO is a set of strategies and practices used to improve a website's visibility on search engines like Google, Bing, or Yahoo. (But honestly, do we use anything other than Google?)

The goal of SEO is to make a website more likely to appear in the top results when people search for relevant keywords or phrases.

This involves optimizing various elements of a website. Its content, structure, and backlinks. All to make it more appealing and authoritative in the “eyes” of search engines.

Ultimately, the aim is to attract more organic (unpaid) traffic to the website by ranking higher in search engine results pages (SERPs).

I have learned to love this as a consumer because I use Google for everything! Backpacking tips, best restaurants, where to buy a glittery motorcycle helmet, you name it!

You want your audience to find you.

They want to find you, too.

Keywords in SEO are the words and phrases that website owners and marketers optimize their content for, with the goal of improving their website's visibility in search engine results pages (SERPs) and attracting relevant organic traffic.

The strategic use of keywords is a fundamental aspect of SEO, helping websites connect with their target audience online.

To choose effective keywords in relation to the website, copywriters need to research a minimum of these three factors for the project:

• Relevance: which keywords are commonly used by target audience/niche
• Strategic integration: web copy, articles, blog posts, product descriptions
• Ranking: the search engine’s algorithms ranking of pages based on factors like keyword usage, quality of content, and website authority

1. First things first, understand your audience and industry niche. You need to have an idea of what their needs, problems, and preferences are.

I think of it like this: What Would Dani Google?

Dani is my audience persona.

She’s a rad lady in her early 40s who runs a sailing business out of ports along the PNW.

Very good at poker, very bad at using all her spinach before it spoils. Has a cheeky mouth and a loyal, sea-loving golden retriever.

She wants her business to succeed. We want that, too. Dani is awesome.

2.  Second, brainstorm Seed Keywords, which are general keywords related to your niche. These will be the foundation for your research as you move on to the next step.

3. Use keyword research tools.

Many great keyword research tools are available for free on a trial basis or included in a membership. Just google “keyword research tools,” and you’ll find some good ones.

I personally like to use Moz Keyword Explorer, SEMrush, and Google Keyword Planner.

Enter your seed keywords (the ones you just brainstormed) into these tools to generate a list of related keywords and phrases.

4. Before you decide, review important metrics for each keyword choice, considering:

• Search Volume (number of searches for that keyword per month)
• Keyword Difficulty (how competitive is it to rank for that keyword)
• CTR, or click-through rate (the percentage of clicks a keyword’s search results get.
• Choose keywords with a balance of good search volume and reasonable competition.
• Think back to relevance, strategic integration, and ranking.

5. Lastly, pick your keywords and get going on your content!

Feeling work shy? Busy? Skip to the bottom for my contact information!

Huge thanks to the marketing gurus who've mapped the way. 

Here are a few of the tools I like to use:

Google's SEO Starter Guide: Google's official guide provides a comprehensive overview of SEO best practices and is a great starting point for beginners. You can find it on the Google Search Central website.

Website: Google Search Central

Moz: Moz is a well-known authority in the SEO industry. They offer a variety of resources, including guides, blog posts, and their Whiteboard Friday video series, which covers a wide range of SEO topics.

Website: Moz Keyword Explorer

SEMrush Academy: SEMrush offers a free SEO course through their SEMrush Academy. It covers topics like keyword research, on-page SEO, and backlink strategies.

Website: SEMrush Academy

HubSpot Academy: HubSpot provides a free SEO course through HubSpot Academy. It's suitable for beginners and covers the fundamentals of SEO.

Website: HubSpot Academy

Kudos to you for taking the time to enhance your understanding of SEO! 

I hope this brief overview has helped fill in some of the gaps.

I know it’s a lot. And honestly, just the tip of the iceberg.

But by understanding these SEO basics, you're better equipped to improve your website's visibility, attract more organic traffic, and ultimately achieve your online goals.

As a copywriter, I see how essential SEO is for positive user experience (your audience) and for business success.

If you’re someone who doesn’t thrive doing this kind of nitty-gritty detail process – or – who simply doesn’t have time to become an SEO expert on top of all your other projects, I feel for you.

I am here to offer my SEO knowledge and copywriting skills for your online success. 

Send me an email to connect about how I can help. 

I’m a real person who reads my emails. And responds. 

Unless I’m out sailing with Dani. In which case, you'll have to wait! ;)

Reach me at naomidornfeldwrites@gmail.com or fill out the form below!