DIY SEO for Small Businesses
Start with visibility tools
Claim your Google presence with Search Console and Google Business Profile.
Google Search Console: Helps you monitor performance and fix indexing issues.
Google Business Profile: Lets you appear in Maps and local results.
Free Tools: Google Search Console, Google Business Profile
Understand what your customers are searching for
Use tools to find real-world phrases and search intent.
Focus on service + location keywords like “Plumber in Toronto” or “Affordable wedding photographer.”
Free Tools: Google Keyword Planner, Ubersuggest
Paid Tools: Semrush, Ahrefs, KWFinder
Make your website Google-friendly
Update your titles, headings, images, and meta descriptions.
Every page should focus on one topic, include your keyword in the title and heading, and be easy to read.
Free Tools: Yoast SEO, Rank Math
Bonus: Canva or TinyPNG for compressing images
Fast and mobile-friendly wins
Google ranks fast, mobile-ready websites higher.
Free Tools: Google PageSpeed Insights, GTmetrix, Mobile-Friendly Test
Fix Tips: Compress images, use lightweight themes, caching plugins like WP Fastest Cache
Consistency = trust
List your business on local directories and gather positive Google reviews.
Ensure your Name, Address, and Phone Number (NAP) is identical across all platforms.
Free Tools: Yelp, YellowPages, Bing Places
Paid Options: BrightLocal, Whitespark
Answer your customers' questions
You don’t need to be a writer — just be helpful.
Write 300–800 word posts that answer common questions: “How much does ___ cost?”, “What’s the process?”, “Why choose us?”
Free Tools: Google Docs, Grammarly, ChatGPT for outlines
Optional: Surfer SEO (for on-page content score)