Demystifying SEO for small business owners. Learn the fundamentals of search engine optimization and start ranking higher today.
SEO Basics: A Small Business Owner’s Guide to Search Rankings
Search Engine Optimization might sound technical, but the fundamentals are straightforward. This guide breaks down SEO into actionable steps any small business owner can implement.
What is SEO?
SEO is the practice of optimizing your website to rank higher in search engine results, primarily Google. When potential customers search for products or services you offer, SEO helps ensure they find you.
Why SEO Matters for Small Businesses
- 73% of clicks go to the first page of Google results
- Local SEO helps Halifax businesses appear in “near me” searches
- Organic traffic doesn’t require ongoing ad spend
- High intent: People searching are actively looking for solutions
The Three Pillars of SEO
1. Technical SEO
Your website’s foundation must be sound:
Site Speed – Aim for under 3 seconds load time – Compress images and enable caching – Use a reliable hosting provider
Mobile Responsiveness – Over 60% of searches are mobile – Google uses mobile-first
indexing – Test with Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test
Security – SSL certificate (https://) is essential – Google penalizes unsecured sites
2. On-Page SEO
Optimize individual pages for target keywords:
Title Tags – Include primary keyword near the beginning – Keep under 60 characters – Make them compelling to click
Meta Descriptions – Summarize page content in 155 characters – Include a call-to-action – Use your target keyword naturally
Header Structure – One H1 per page with primary keyword – Use H2s and H3s to organize content – Include secondary keywords in headers
Content Quality – Answer the searcher’s question completely – Include relevant keywords naturally – Make content scannable with short paragraphs
3. Off-Page SEO
Build authority through external signals:
Backlinks – Links from other websites signal trust
– Quality matters more than quantity
– Focus on relevant, authoritative sites
Local Citations – List your business on Google Business Profile
– Ensure consistent NAP (Name, Address, Phone)
– Get listed in industry directories
Reviews – Google reviews impact local rankings
– Respond to all reviews professionally
– Encourage satisfied customers to leave reviews
Local SEO for Halifax Businesses
Local SEO is critical for businesses serving specific areas:
1. Claim Google Business Profile
2. Optimize for local keywords (“Halifax marketing agency”)
3. Get local backlinks from Halifax directories and partners
4. Create location-specific content
5. Encourage local reviews
SEO Tools for Small Businesses
Free Tools: – Google Search Console – Google Analytics – Google Keyword Planner
Paid Tools: – Ahrefs or SEMrush for comprehensive SEO – Screaming Frog for technical audits
Getting Started
1. Audit your current website with Google Search Console
2. Research keywords your customers use
3. Optimize your most important pages first
4. Create a plan for regular content creation
5. Build local citations and encourage reviews
At Ninja Tuna, we specialize in SEO for Halifax small businesses. As a Halifax website designer we work hard to build SEO strategy into your website so you become the obvious choice for people searching online.
Contact us for a free SEO audit and discover your opportunities.