Small Business SEO Checklist

Search engine optimisation doesn’t have to be mysterious. This checklist breaks down the exact steps small business owners can take to improve visibility, attract the right customers, and show up where it matters—on Google.

1. Set the Foundations

• Make sure your website is mobile-friendly and loads quickly.
• Install Google Analytics and Google Search Console.
• Submit your sitemap to Google Search Console.
• Ensure your site has an SSL certificate (HTTPS).

2. Research and Plan

• Identify your primary and secondary keywords.
• Check competitors to see what they rank for.
• Map keywords to the right pages.

3. Optimise On-Page Content

• Write a clear, relevant page title using your target keyword.
• Add a compelling meta description.
• Use headers to structure content logically.
• Include internal links to related pages.
• Add at least one relevant, compressed image with alt text.

4. Improve Technical SEO

• Check for broken links (404s) and fix or redirect them.
• Optimise image sizes to improve loading speed.
• Enable browser caching and compression.
• Ensure your site is crawlable and not blocked by robots.txt.

5. Build Authority

• Create helpful content your audience actually wants.
• Share your content on social media and email.
• Collaborate with local businesses or publications for backlinks.

6. Track and Improve

• Monitor keyword rankings monthly.
• Check Google Analytics for traffic trends.
• Identify high-bounce pages and improve content or layout.
• Review top-performing content and update it regularly.