If you’re a small business owner who wants more customers, better visibility, and zero confusion around SEO, this one’s for you.
We know SEO can sound like alphabet soup: SERPs, CTRs, meta tags, alt text—and don’t even get us started on backlinks. But here’s the deal: you don’t have to understand every acronym. You just need a solid, simple strategy.
This checklist breaks SEO down into steps that are doable, understandable, and worth your time. Whether you’re handling things yourself or working with a pro like Yaal Consulting, this is your roadmap to online visibility that actually drives leads.
✅ 1. Nail the Basics
- Set up (and verify) your Google Business Profile
- Submit your site to Google Search Console
- Connect Google Analytics
- Make sure your site is mobile-friendly and loads in under 3 seconds
Insider Tip from Gavin: Speed is huge. A slow site turns leads away before they even see what you offer.
✅ 2. Know Your Keywords
- Identify 5–10 high-intent keywords your audience is searching for
- Use tools like Ubersuggest, Google Keyword Planner, or even plain ol’ Google Autocomplete
- Think like your customer: What would they type in?
✅ 3. Optimize Your Website Pages
- Use 1 primary keyword per page
- Include it in the URL, page title, headers (H1, H2), and a few times in the copy
- Write a compelling meta description for each page
- Use image alt text that describes the image with keywords when possible
✅ 4. Create Local SEO Power
- Make sure your name, address, and phone number (NAP) are consistent across the web
- Get listed on directories like Yelp, Bing Places, Yellow Pages, and industry-specific ones
- Encourage and respond to Google reviews (especially the good ones!)
Did You Know? Businesses with 4–5 star Google ratings get 28% more clicks than those with lower scores.
✅ 5. Make Content That Helps (and Converts)
- Start a blog or resource section with helpful tips, guides, or FAQs
- Answer common client questions in your content
- Link between pages on your site to keep visitors engaged
✅ 6. Build Trust With Backlinks
- Ask partners, vendors, and happy clients to link to your site
- Write guest posts for local blogs or industry publications
- Get featured in “best of” local lists or chamber of commerce pages
✅ 7. Track What Matters
- Use Google Analytics to see what pages are performing
- Monitor rankings using tools like Ubersuggest or Moz
- Check Google Search Console for errors and keyword visibility
Let’s Make SEO Work for You
This isn’t about being perfect—it’s about being visible. When your ideal customers are searching, you want to be right there, waving a friendly digital hello.
Yaal Consulting helps small business owners implement this checklist (and more) with done-for-you SEO strategies that actually make sense.
👉 Schedule your free SEO audit and let’s get your business found—fast.