Starting a business or digital project is exciting, but getting your website noticed online can feel overwhelming. At its core, search engine optimization (SEO) is about making your site valuable for users so search engines like Google will feature it in relevant search results. And the good news is that you don’t need to be an expert to handle basic SEO tasks. Many new business owners can make important but low-risk SEO decisions without the fear of causing long-term damage.
By mastering a few simple strategies, you can set your website up for success and build a strong foundation for your brand’s online presence. And if you want to take your site—and your brand—to the next level, we’re here to help you with everything from domain registration to web design and optimization.
How does SEO work?
Search engines explore the web by sending out little bots, or ‘crawlers,’ to check out websites and catalog what they find. If your site isn’t set up to let these bots in, you might as well be invisible—no search engine will be able to include you in their results. SEO, or Search Engine Optimization, is about making sure your website is easily accessible and relevant to these crawlers, so they can find, understand, and rank your content accurately. By optimizing your site’s structure, content, and keywords, you help search engines connect your pages with the right audiences.
Start with the basics
First things first—if you haven’t already, get yourself a domain name. Your domain name is essentially your business’s street address on the internet. And while you could pick something random, it’s best to be strategic. Choose a domain that not only sounds great but also helps you show up where it matters in search engine results.
Next, you’ll need a way to actually build the site (unless you enjoy coding from scratch, in which case, go forth and conquer). Most people go with a content management system (CMS) like WordPress—super user-friendly, customizable, and easy to play around with when it comes to SEO. You can see a run-down of Epik’s hosting tiers and services to see what works best for you. If you’re already hosting your site elsewhere, switching to Epik is simple, and our hosting plans offer the ideal blend of affordability and convenience.
Bonus tip: If you’re on WordPress, grab the free Yoast SEO plugin. It’s like having an SEO expert whispering in your ear, guiding you through all the ways you can improve your website’s chances of making Google happy.
Help search engines find your content
As we said above, search engines crawl the internet to discover websites, and there are steps you can take to ensure they can easily find and understand your site. Make sure your site is accessible and well-organized, so search engines know exactly where to look. Here are some tips to get you started.
See if Google has found your site
To see if Google’s already discovered your site, just do a quick check: type site:yourdomainhere into Google. If you see your site in the results—congrats, you’re in! But if not, don’t panic. There could be some technical hiccup, so head over to Google’s guide and make sure there’s nothing blocking your site from showing up in the search.
Organize your folder structure
Google’s bots like order. When similar pages are grouped together, it helps them learn which ones need more attention. A good strategy is to use descriptive URLs and to group pages that belong together into descriptive directories or folders.
This also helps Google learn how often the URLs in your site’s individual directories change. Well-organized directories means that pages with frequent updates, like a promotions page, will get crawled more often than static pages, such as a return policy page. For example, a URL like /promotion/newpromo would benefit from more frequent crawling than /policies/returnpolicy.
Improve your internal linking
The way your site’s pages all connect to one another should feel natural and logical to visitors: both humans and bots. All of your most important pages should be easy to reach, and all related pages should be linked to one another where possible. It helps those bots find and understand your content faster, and it gives users a better experience. Win-win.
Have a clear content strategy
When it comes to SEO, content is still king. But not just any content—helpful, valuable content that makes your users believe that you really know your stuff. Whether it’s a blog full of troubleshooting guides or an FAQ section answering the questions your customers didn’t even know they had, your goal is to build trust and prove you’re the expert in your field. The more helpful and relevant your content, the more likely people (and search engines) will come back for more.
And here’s a pro tip: Google doesn’t just care about what you say, but also how you say it. That’s where Google’s EEAT guidelines come in—Expertise, Experience, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness. Basically, Google wants to know you’re going to be of value to its users. Make sure your content hits those marks by being clear, detailed, and genuinely helpful. If you want to dive deeper into what Google considers “helpful content,” check out their EEAT guidelines. It’ll be your go-to roadmap for building content that both users and search engines love.
Use relevant keywords
The most essential piece of the SEO puzzle is choosing the right keywords to add to the important areas of a page. When you choose the wrong keyword, your page simply won’t show up in search results. But choosing appropriate keywords is thankfully simpler than it sounds. In most cases, it’s just about identifying the product, feature, or problem your users are searching for. Here’s where a little keyword research can go a long way.
Start by seeing how your competitors are handling things, or use free tools like Google Trends or Answer the Public to find out what people are actually typing into their search bar. Once you’ve got your target keywords, optimize the important parts of your page—headers, meta titles, descriptions—without going overboard. Keyword stuffing is a thing of the past, so aim to make it clear what your page is about without sounding like a robot. It’s all about balance.
Set up analytics tracking
If you’re not tracking how your website is performing, you’re missing opportunities for continued growth. Setting up tools like Google Analytics and Google Search Console is can help you understand what’s working on your site and what needs a little love. Google Analytics gives you the lowdown on who’s visiting your site, where they’re coming from, and which pages are the star performers. Google Search Console, on the other hand, helps you see how Google views your site—think of it as getting feedback straight from the source.
With these two tools in place, you’ll get quicker insights in your site’s strengths and weaknesses. You’ll be able to identify which pages are performing well, spot broken links, detect underperforming pages, and know when updates are needed. This information allows you to continuously refine your content and maintain an optimized website.
Optimize for mobile viewing
Don’t forget to check your website on your smartphone. We live in a mobile-first world, and Google prioritizes mobile-friendly websites when ranking search results. So if your site is a mess on mobile, not only will visitors bounce faster, but search engines will take notice and rank you lower.
It’s not just about aesthetics, either. A clunky mobile experience can hurt your credibility. People expect fast loading times, readable text, and buttons that are big enough to tap without squinting. If the layout doesn’t transfer well, users will get frustrated and leave, which means lost business. So take a few minutes to scroll through your site on your phone—it’s a small step that can have a big impact on both user satisfaction and your SEO.
How long until I see the impact in search results?
Every change you make will take some time to be reflected on a search engines end. Some changes might take effect in a few hours, others could take several months. In general, you likely want to wait a few weeks to assess whether your work had a positive effect in search results. Keep in mind that not all changes you make to your website will result in large impact in search results. If you’re not satisfied with your results and your business strategies allow it, try small changes to see if they make a difference.
Wrapping it all up
SEO might seem like a tangled web of technical terms and strategies, but at its core, it’s about making your website the best it can be—for both users and search engines. Remember, SEO isn’t a one-and-done thing—it’s an ongoing process. But the good news is, with just a little effort, you can see real results without needing a degree in computer science. And if you ever need a hand with anything from hosting to optimizing your site, we’re here to help you build your brand and climb the search rankings. Let’s make your website work as hard as you do.
FAQs
How do search engines rank websites?
Search engines use algorithms that consider relevance, keyword usage, site structure, user experience, and links from other sites. They analyze these elements to determine how well a page answers a search query and ranks it accordingly.
How does internal linking help with SEO?
Internal links connect pages within your website, guiding users and search engines to important content. These links help distribute page authority across your site, which can improve rankings. Internal linking also helps search engines to understand the relationship between your pages and to prioritize higher-value content.
Can I do SEO myself, or do I need a professional?
Basic SEO can be done yourself by focusing on quality content, proper keyword usage, and making sure your website is user-friendly. However, for more complex strategies like technical SEO, analytics, and in-depth competitor analysis, professional help can often be beneficial.
How often should I update my website content for SEO?
Updating your content regularly keeps it fresh and relevant, which search engines love. Aim to review and update key pages every few weeks, especially if there are new developments or trends in your industry. Your most high-traffic pages or blogs will benefit most from frequent updates.
How does user experience (UX) impact SEO?
Search engines consider UX signals, like bounce rate, time on page, and mobile-friendliness, when ranking websites. A site that provides a positive experience by loading quickly, being easy to navigate, and adapting well to mobile devices is more likely to rank higher–it indicates users are finding value in the content.
What are backlinks, and why do they matter?
Backlinks are links to your site from other websites. They act as endorsements, signaling to search engines that your content is valuable. Quality backlinks can improve your ranking, as search engines see them as a sign of authority and credibility.