In today’s digital world, being found online is essential for small business success. Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is one of the most powerful tools to help your business show up in search engine results. This guide explains what SEO is, why it matters, and how to use it effectively.
Why Your Small Business Needs SEO
SEO helps your website appear on the first page of search results on Google, Bing, or DuckDuckGo. People trust and click on the top results, so if you’re not there, you’re missing out on potential customers.
Benefits of SEO:
- Increases visibility and traffic to your website
- Builds trust and credibility
- Drives more qualified leads and sales
Key Google Ranking Factors
Google ranks websites using 200+ factors. Here are four main ones you should focus on:
- Core Web Vitals – Ensure fast loading, good responsiveness, and stable layout.
- Mobile-Friendliness – Your site must look great and work smoothly on phones.
- HTTPS Security – Secure your site with an HTTPS certificate.
- Avoid Pop-Ups – Don’t use disruptive ads or banners that hurt user experience.
The 3 Types of SEO Strategies
1. On-Page SEO (Optimizing your website content)
- Use relevant keywords
- Write clear titles and descriptions
- Optimize images and headings
- Add internal links
- Use schema markup for better indexing
2. Off-Page SEO (Building authority from outside sources)
- Get backlinks from trusted websites
- Share your content on social media
- Contribute guest posts to industry blogs
3. Technical SEO (Making your site easy to crawl and index)
- Submit a sitemap to Google
- Structure your site with clear navigation
- Use canonical tags to avoid duplicate content
Should You Do SEO In-House or Outsource?
Build an In-House SEO Team
- Great for businesses wanting full control
- Requires ongoing training and tools
Hire a Freelancer
- Good for specialized short-term help
- Watch out for unethical practices (like spammy backlinks)
Work with an Agency
- Offers full-service SEO expertise
- Access to more tools, support, and strategies
Consider a Fractional CMO (FCMO) Solution
An FCMO is a part-time marketing leader who brings strategic oversight without the cost of a full-time hire.
Winning Team Marketing’s FCMO Program Includes:
- Marketing strategy and coaching
- Competitor and website analysis
- SEO improvement and blog content
- Google and Facebook Ads
- Email and drip marketing
- Local SEO and brand consistency
Final Thoughts
SEO is a must-have for small businesses wanting to grow online. Whether you go DIY or get expert help, the goal is the same: get seen by the right people at the right time.
Ready to boost your online visibility?
Contact Winning Team Marketing today and let our FCMO Program guide your success!