{"id":93016,"date":"2026-03-07T12:12:17","date_gmt":"2026-03-07T18:12:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/?p=93016"},"modified":"2026-03-07T12:12:17","modified_gmt":"2026-03-07T18:12:17","slug":"12-top-seo-best-practices-for-small-business-websites","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/03\/12-top-seo-best-practices-for-small-business-websites.html","title":{"rendered":"12 Top SEO best practices for small business websites"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Wondering how to improve your website\u2019s SEO and increase web traffic fast? There are plenty of actionable steps you can take today. Most don\u2019t even require a web developer or coding knowledge to get started.<\/p>\n<p>Below we\u2019ll review 12 best practises you can easily work into your business plans to help you:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Rank higher in search engines<\/li>\n<li>Grow your audience<\/li>\n<li>Attract more leads<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>We\u2019ll also give you tips on how GoDaddy can help you on your journey, plus share plenty of free resources you can refer to along the way.<\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_82_2 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/03\/12-top-seo-best-practices-for-small-business-websites.html\/#1_Optimize_your_URLs\" >1. Optimize your URLs<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/03\/12-top-seo-best-practices-for-small-business-websites.html\/#Go_for_shorter_URL_titles\" >Go for shorter URL titles<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/03\/12-top-seo-best-practices-for-small-business-websites.html\/#Include_primary_keywords\" >Include primary keywords<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/03\/12-top-seo-best-practices-for-small-business-websites.html\/#Keep_it_relevant\" >Keep it relevant<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/03\/12-top-seo-best-practices-for-small-business-websites.html\/#A_note_on_changing_URL_titles\" >A note on changing URL titles<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/03\/12-top-seo-best-practices-for-small-business-websites.html\/#2_Optimize_metadata\" >2. Optimize metadata<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/03\/12-top-seo-best-practices-for-small-business-websites.html\/#Meta_descriptions\" >Meta descriptions<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/03\/12-top-seo-best-practices-for-small-business-websites.html\/#Meta_titles\" >Meta titles<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/03\/12-top-seo-best-practices-for-small-business-websites.html\/#3_Check_your_speed\" >3. Check your speed<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/03\/12-top-seo-best-practices-for-small-business-websites.html\/#How_to_optimize_your_CWV_score\" >How to optimize your CWV score<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/03\/12-top-seo-best-practices-for-small-business-websites.html\/#4_Find_the_right_keywords_for_your_content\" >4. Find the right keywords for your content<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/03\/12-top-seo-best-practices-for-small-business-websites.html\/#How_to_choose_the_best_keywords\" >How to choose the best keywords<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/03\/12-top-seo-best-practices-for-small-business-websites.html\/#Where_to_include_primary_keywords\" >Where to include primary keywords<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/03\/12-top-seo-best-practices-for-small-business-websites.html\/#Keyword_length\" >Keyword length<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/03\/12-top-seo-best-practices-for-small-business-websites.html\/#Duplicate_keywords\" >Duplicate keywords<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-16\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/03\/12-top-seo-best-practices-for-small-business-websites.html\/#Helpful_tools_and_resources\" >Helpful tools and resources<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-17\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/03\/12-top-seo-best-practices-for-small-business-websites.html\/#5_Write_for_your_audience\" >5. Write for your audience<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-18\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/03\/12-top-seo-best-practices-for-small-business-websites.html\/#Pages_and_blog_posts\" >Pages and blog posts<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-4' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-19\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/03\/12-top-seo-best-practices-for-small-business-websites.html\/#Dwell_time\" >Dwell time<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-20\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/03\/12-top-seo-best-practices-for-small-business-websites.html\/#Ecommerce_product_pages\" >Ecommerce product pages<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-21\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/03\/12-top-seo-best-practices-for-small-business-websites.html\/#6Leverage_SEO_with_a_blog\" >6.Leverage SEO with a blog<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-22\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/03\/12-top-seo-best-practices-for-small-business-websites.html\/#Focus_on_quality_over_volume\" >Focus on quality over volume<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-23\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/03\/12-top-seo-best-practices-for-small-business-websites.html\/#Ensure_your_posts_are_easy_to_read\" >Ensure your posts are easy to read<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-24\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/03\/12-top-seo-best-practices-for-small-business-websites.html\/#Continue_to_audit_older_posts\" >Continue to audit older posts<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-25\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/03\/12-top-seo-best-practices-for-small-business-websites.html\/#7_Optimize_images\" >7. Optimize images<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-26\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/03\/12-top-seo-best-practices-for-small-business-websites.html\/#Key_notes_for_writing_alt_text\" >Key notes for writing alt text<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-27\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/03\/12-top-seo-best-practices-for-small-business-websites.html\/#Image_optimization_made_easy\" >Image optimization made easy<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-28\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/03\/12-top-seo-best-practices-for-small-business-websites.html\/#8_Is_your_site_mobile_friendly\" >8. Is your site mobile friendly?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-29\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/03\/12-top-seo-best-practices-for-small-business-websites.html\/#9_Submit_your_sitemap\" >9. Submit your sitemap<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-30\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/03\/12-top-seo-best-practices-for-small-business-websites.html\/#10_Experiment_with_backlinking\" >10. Experiment with backlinking<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-31\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/03\/12-top-seo-best-practices-for-small-business-websites.html\/#11_Local_business\" >11. Local business<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-32\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/03\/12-top-seo-best-practices-for-small-business-websites.html\/#12_Measure_your_success\" >12. Measure your success<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-33\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/03\/12-top-seo-best-practices-for-small-business-websites.html\/#Final_takeaways\" >Final takeaways<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"1_Optimize_your_URLs\"><\/span>1. Optimize your URLs<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Optimizing your URLs is a good way to improve SEO quickly. It\u2019s something that takes little effort but can help boost your rankings when done right. Here are a few best practices to look out for.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_120947\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-120947\" style=\"width: 280px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-120947\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Screenshot of Page Title editor inside GoDaddy Website Builder.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Go_for_shorter_URL_titles\"><\/span>Go for shorter URL titles<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>When it comes to URLs, you want to keep them short and compelling. Shorter URLs are often easier to remember, which makes them more shareable and higher ranking. Make sure your URL is free of fluff words (like \u201cand\u201d or \u201cfor\u201d) and easy to understand.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Note: <\/strong>GoDaddy\u2019s Website Builder automatically optimizes your URL title for you by limiting it to 25 characters. Simply type in your URL title into the designated text box for \u201cPage Title\u201d and you\u2019re done. It also fills in any spaces with hyphens following web convention.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Include_primary_keywords\"><\/span>Include primary keywords<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Adding a primary keyword to your URL is another best practice for optimization and should also be applied to your:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Meta title: This is the blue header in the search engine results page<\/li>\n<li>Meta description: This is the copy that sits beneath the meta title<\/li>\n<li>On-page title: This is the actual title of your work at the top<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Aim for placing your keyword closer to the beginning of your URL title for optimal results.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Keep_it_relevant\"><\/span>Keep it relevant<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>URLs should also be relevant to the content you\u2019re displaying on that specific page. Keeping them aligned with the page copy allows Google\u2019s search bots to easily understand and identify the information for search queries.<\/p>\n<div class=\"callout\"> The more relevant your information is to a search query, the higher it ranks on Google. <\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Think about how relevant it will be for future use. You don\u2019t want it to be overly specific that it becomes less relevant over time.<\/p>\n<p>For example, you can make a URL more applicable for future use if you avoid adding a specific year at the end. Peek the following URL endings to see how they contrast.<\/p>\n<p>Instead of a URL that ends in:\u00a0<strong>.com\/best-fathers-day-gifts-2022<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Go for something like:\u00a0<strong>.com\/best-fathers-day-gifts<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>If other websites link to your page, the URL without the year enables that page to keep hold of any authority and associated rankings in the future.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_120951\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-120951\" style=\"width: 240px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-120951\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Screenshot of URL title settings inside GoDaddy Website Builder.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"A_note_on_changing_URL_titles\"><\/span>A note on changing URL titles<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Editing your URL title is an option using GoDaddy\u2019s Website Builder, but it\u2019s not recommended you make any changes when dealing with older existing pages.<\/p>\n<p>Changing an existing URL can hurt your SEO and result in decreased traffic, since it\u2019s likely you have backlinks attached to the post you\u2019re trying to change. This means that anytime someone finds the old link through a partnering site or newsletter, they might end up at the dead link instead.<\/p>\n<p>Unless you really need to for rebranding purposes, it\u2019s best you avoid this route to prevent any damage to you SEO.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"2_Optimize_metadata\"><\/span>2. Optimize metadata<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<figure id=\"attachment_120955\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-120955\" style=\"width: 206px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-120955\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Screenshot showing where to write a meta title and meta description inside GoDaddy Website Builder.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The term \u201cmetadata\u201d comes up a lot when researching how to improve SEO quickly. It refers to the data on a webpage that provides Google with information about a particular site. In other words, it\u2019s data that describes other data.<\/p>\n<p>By itself, metadata won\u2019t affect SEO rankings. But it can help in the following areas:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Boost engagement<\/li>\n<li>Increase click-through rates<\/li>\n<li>Give you the upper edge over your competitors<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>It\u2019s a small piece of the SEO puzzle that is often overlooked but can be beneficial when combined with other best practices. Let\u2019s look at two ways to improve your meta data below.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Meta_descriptions\"><\/span>Meta descriptions<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Meta descriptions appear in the search results page underneath the meta title. It often gives a quick snippet of what the web page is about and typically includes a call to action (CTA) to encourage more clicks.<\/p>\n<p>Examples of these CTAs could look like:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\u201cShop now\u201d<\/li>\n<li>\u201cSchedule an appointment\u201d<\/li>\n<li>\u201cClick here to read more\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>As noted earlier, you\u2019ll want to include a primary keyword within the description and keep the copy to 155 characters or less. The primary keyword will also appear in bold anytime it matches a searcher\u2019s query.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Meta_titles\"><\/span>Meta titles<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The meta title (aka <a href=\"https:\/\/moz.com\/learn\/seo\/title-tag\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" rel=\"nofollow external noopener\">title tag<\/a>) is the text shown in large blue font in the search engine results page. It\u2019s often the first thing searchers will see and can sometimes be confused with the H1 tag.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<div class=\"callout\"> However, the meta title and H1 tag are two separate things. <\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The meta title is named with SEO and Google in mind, while an H1 tag is more for the user\u2019s benefit. A lot of times digital marketers will use the same title for both the meta title and H1 tag to cause less confusion for users.<\/p>\n<p>When naming your meta title, you should always:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<figure id=\"attachment_120967\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-120967\" style=\"width: 248px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-120967\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Screenshot of meta title editor inside GoDaddy Website Builder.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong>Include a primary keyword at the start.<\/strong> An exception should be made for well-known brands or local businesses who should add their business name to the start.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>Accurately describe what\u2019s on page.<\/strong> Make sure you showcase what people want to see and use actionable words that\u2019ll generate more clicks.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Ensure each title tag is unique.<\/strong> Look at competitors for ideas but don\u2019t copy. Keep it short and sweet like: Tall Men\u2019s Clothing | Tall Jeans, Pants &amp; Coats | ABC.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Keep it to 65 characters or less. <\/strong>This includes spaces, so avoid going over if you don\u2019t want search engines to automatically truncate it for you. Title tags may be rewritten by Google if it thinks there\u2019s a more suitable one for the searcher\u2019s query. If you need to test the length, you can use free online tools like this <a href=\"https:\/\/moz.com\/learn\/seo\/title-tag\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" rel=\"nofollow external noopener\">meta title counter <\/a>to help you.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Editing the meta title and meta description is easy using GoDaddy\u2019s Website Builder. Simply use the editor and go to the page you need optimized. Click on <strong>Settings (cog symbol) <\/strong>and then select <strong>Get Found on Google <\/strong>to edit what you need.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"3_Check_your_speed\"><\/span>3. Check your speed<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>An important element of improving SEO is speed. The time it takes for your webpage to load will affect whether your users stay to engage or bounce back in search of something better.<\/p>\n<p>Between July and August 2021, Google rolled out a measure of <a href=\"https:\/\/support.google.com\/webmasters\/answer\/9205520?hl=en#zippy=\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" rel=\"nofollow external noopener\">core web vitals (CWV)<\/a> to help website owners evaluate their overall page performance.<\/p>\n<p>This report is based on real-world user data (or field data) and includes three segments that <a href=\"https:\/\/developers.google.com\/search\/docs\/advanced\/experience\/page-experience#:~:text=Page%20experience%20is%20a%20set,visual%20stability%20of%20the%20page.\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" rel=\"nofollow external noopener\">evaluates a user\u2019s experience loading a webpage<\/a> &#8212; two of which are related to a site\u2019s speed.<\/p>\n<p>Here\u2019s a quick breakdown of each one for reference:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Largest contentful paint (LCP)<\/strong>: This refers to the largest block of text, video, or visuals that take up the most amount of time to load after a user clicks on your site.<\/li>\n<li><strong>First input delay (FID):<\/strong> This is the amount of time it takes for a browser to respond to a user\u2019s first interaction on your site (typically when they click on a link or tap on a button).<\/li>\n<li><strong>Cumulative layout shift (CLS):<\/strong> This has to do with any layout shifts your user be experiencing as they interact with your page. Too many unexpected shifts could result in a bad user experience if left unchecked.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>One best practice is to score below 1.3 seconds when reaching the First Byte. This means that the overall responsiveness and speediness of your website should fall within this time frame after a user clicks onto your site from a search query.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_optimize_your_CWV_score\"><\/span>How to optimize your CWV score<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Rankings are affected by a CWV score, so it\u2019s best to aim high in good rankings to increase web traffic.<\/p>\n<p>Google\u2019s search advocate, John Mueller, noted in a recent <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=LhO4M2Wsxz8&amp;t=982s\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" rel=\"nofollow external noopener\">YouTube discussion<\/a> that if a site had lost or gained traffic steadily over the period of the CWV roll out, then it was likely related to the website\u2019s CWV score.<\/p>\n<p>GoDaddy\u2019s Website Builder scores nearly 68% in good CWV rankings and outperforms most other competitors. It\u2019s a great option to consider if you\u2019re looking for low-hassle performance speed on your site. Plus, it includes other fool-proof elements like SSL certificates and more.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_120971\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-120971\" style=\"width: 640px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-120971\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">GoDaddy scores higher than other competitors when it comes to Google&#8217;s CWV rankings.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>For non-GoDaddy sites, your biggest priority is to minimize image sizes before uploading to your site. Try using an image compressor to cut down on load time and apply a <a href=\"https:\/\/web.dev\/lazy-loading\/\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" rel=\"nofollow external noopener\">lazy loading plugin<\/a> if you have a WordPress site. This will display all images below the fold only when the user scrolls down.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"4_Find_the_right_keywords_for_your_content\"><\/span>4. Find the right keywords for your content<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Improving SEO means creating content Google can easily comprehend. That\u2019s why optimizing with keywords helps. It allows Google bots to decipher what your page is about so that it can provide relevant results to search queries.<\/p>\n<p>Let\u2019s take a look at some best practices for keyword usage.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_choose_the_best_keywords\"><\/span>How to choose the best keywords<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>When creating content for your site, try to think of phrases and terms your target audience may be typing into a search query. For example, if you\u2019re a retailer that specializes in kid\u2019s clothing, you could aim for keywords like:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Toddler girl dresses for spring<\/li>\n<li>Zipper onesies for baby boys<\/li>\n<li>Activewear for boys and girls<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Keep an eye on your competitors and note how they utilize their keywords for search queries.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>It\u2019s important to know the keywords your competitors are ranking for that you are not.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Let these findings guide you when deciding what keywords to create for your own content. Ensure your version is better optimized and more informative to win the upper edge.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Where_to_include_primary_keywords\"><\/span>Where to include primary keywords<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Here are other areas where you should include primary keywords throughout your text:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Each page on your site: <\/strong>Include a primary keyword for every 60 \u2013 150 words in each of your posts. Ensure they sound natural and avoid <a href=\"https:\/\/developers.google.com\/search\/docs\/advanced\/guidelines\/irrelevant-keywords\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" rel=\"nofollow external noopener\">keyword stuffing<\/a> to prevent Google from penalizing you.<\/li>\n<li><strong>On-page title: <\/strong>Make sure each page on your website has a primary keyword within the on-page title at the top.<\/li>\n<li><strong>First 100 words of every page:<\/strong> Include a primary keyword in your opening paragraph for each post. The sooner you introduce it, the better.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>It&#8217;s also best to add a secondary keyword that\u2019s similar in meaning to your primary keyword. This provides Google with extra information (or clues) to what your page is about.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_120976\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-120976\" style=\"width: 640px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-120976\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Example of how a page title is automatically marked up as H1 tags for SEO using GoDaddy Website Builder, despite the over-sized font on the page.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong>Editor\u2019s Note:<\/strong> GoDaddy\u2019s website builder automatically assigns your primary keyword as a required H1 header tag in the backend, so there\u2019s no extra coding necessary for you. This makes things easier any time you want to adjust the font size or style. Simply edit as you go.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Keyword_length\"><\/span>Keyword length<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>When it comes to keyword length, there are two things to remember:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Short keywords<\/strong> with a large volume are harder to rank for and are more competitive<\/li>\n<li><strong>Longer keyword <\/strong>phrases with three to five words are easier to rank for and are less competitive<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Let\u2019s imagine you run a clothing shop. Instead of choosing a generalized keyword like \u201cT-shirts,\u201d you can opt for something more specific like \u201ccruelty-free vegan T-shirts.\u201d The competition for the longer phrase is lower and has a better chance at ranking higher on Google.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Duplicate_keywords\"><\/span>Duplicate keywords<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>On a similar note, you want to avoid including the same keywords and phrases on multiple pages of your website. This is known as <a href=\"https:\/\/yoast.com\/keyword-cannibalization\/\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" rel=\"nofollow external noopener\">keyword cannibalization<\/a> and could lead users to the wrong page when they enter your site from a search query. It\u2019s also not good for bounce-back rates.<\/p>\n<p>The same goes for duplicate content. Try to avoid creating posts that are similar in topic, since this could confuse the search engine bots.<\/p>\n<p>An example would be targeting \u201cdivorce lawyer near Los Angeles\u201d on one page and \u201chow to find a divorce lawyer near me\u201d on another. The angles are too similar for Google to recognize the difference.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Helpful_tools_and_resources\"><\/span>Helpful tools and resources<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>To help you optimize strategically, you can use the following tools when deciding which keywords to go for:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/ads.google.com\/intl\/en_au\/home\/tools\/keyword-planner\/\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" rel=\"nofollow external noopener\">Google\u2019s Keyword Planner<\/a>: This is a tool for finding keywords that many digital marketers tend to utilize \u2013 especially in advertising. But you don\u2019t need to be an advertiser to use it. Anyone can sign up for free and use it for insight on keyword search volume.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/kwfinder.com\/\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" rel=\"nofollow external noopener\">KWFinder<\/a>: If you\u2019re looking for a tool with more advanced features, try KWFinder. It offers a free trial and helps you find keywords that are easy to rank for.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/keywordtool.io\/amazon\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" rel=\"nofollow external noopener\">Keyword Tool<\/a>: Ecommerce store owners can find extra ideas using predictive search tools like this one. It gives you free keyword search suggestions for Amazon, eBay and more.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Remember, it\u2019s best to avoid using keywords that have volumes in the highest and lowest categories. Refer to these tools any time you need help.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"5_Write_for_your_audience\"><\/span>5. Write for your audience<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Developing content that improves SEO quickly should be centred around your audience first and foremost.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>You need to know who you are trying to target before you begin writing posts for your website.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>This will allow you to create content that is genuinely helpful to potential customers visiting your site. It\u2019s also something Google will reward you for in rankings and will lead users to CTAs that apply to:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Purchases<\/li>\n<li>Email sign-ups<\/li>\n<li>Inquiries and more<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>When drafting content for your site, you should note that there are two main categories to consider:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Standard pages and blog posts: <\/strong>These typically consist of informational content. A standard page should have a minimum of 300 words, while a blog post should have 700 or more.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Ecommerce product pages: <\/strong>Ecommerce pages focus more on product details. The recommended word count for these pages should range between 120-200 words.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Let&#8217;s discuss them even further to help you better understand why both are important for improving SEO.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Pages_and_blog_posts\"><\/span>Pages and blog posts<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/themeisle.com\/blog\/wordpress-difference-between-page-and-post\/\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" rel=\"nofollow external noopener\">Pages and blog posts<\/a> provide informational content to users but differ in the type of content displayed. Pages are more static and don\u2019t often need updating (like About Me or Contact pages), while blog posts provide constant updates to queries that are relevant to your product or service.<\/p>\n<p>Google ranks all web pages according to a mixture of:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Relevancy for the searcher<\/li>\n<li>Value of content on a page<\/li>\n<li>The page\u2019s uniqueness<\/li>\n<li>A website\u2019s overall authority<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Authority takes time and is something you earn as your audience grows. It\u2019s not something you can control right away. But optimizing the other categories can help you achieve authority success down the line.<\/p>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Dwell_time\"><\/span>Dwell<strong> time<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p>Google rewards websites with higher rankings if searchers stick around for a while (aka dwell time).<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>To increase dwell time, owners should write for their prospective customer and not for Google.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Write as if you are encouraging a friend to take the next step with your business offer. Use words that inspire and provide informative content that helps users with pain points.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Ecommerce_product_pages\"><\/span>Ecommerce product pages<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Ecommerce pages provide users with information about your product or service, but also convinces them to follow-through with a purchase.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_120977\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-120977\" style=\"width: 640px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-120977\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Example of product page description with 156 words on an ecommerce site.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Many ecommerce sites miss out on visibility due to lack of content, which makes it hard to rank.<\/p>\n<p>A general recommendation to improve SEO is to start by optimizing product and service pages first. You can do this by:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Using long-tail keywords: <\/strong>This helps increase opportunities in competitive spaces and even converts better with keywords that are low in search volume. It\u2019s better to have a small increase in web traffic and sales, rather than none.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Hitting the 120-200 minimum word count: <\/strong>Do this for all products in your online catalogue and avoid writing beyond this range. Writing too much could be a distraction to the potential sale.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Uploading enticing images:<\/strong> Try to aim for at least three images per product, including one that shows it in use. You might also consider adding product-specific text to images that highlight dimensions and special features.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Avoid copying manufacturer descriptions: <\/strong>Google will consider this duplicate content and you\u2019ll end up taking a hit to your SEO.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><em>Related: <\/em><em>How to boost ecommerce search rankings in 8 steps<\/em><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"6Leverage_SEO_with_a_blog\"><\/span>6.Leverage SEO with a blog<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Blogging is the most efficient way to increase web traffic online. They serve many purposes but are often used for informational content. Even <a href=\"https:\/\/foundationinc.co\/lab\/airbnb-seo-moat\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" rel=\"nofollow external noopener\">Airbnb<\/a> and Paypal use blog posts to attract visitors to their site.<\/p>\n<p>Here are just a few ways blogs can improve SEO rankings for your site:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Drive organic traffic to your site:<\/strong> Incorporating long tail keywords into your posts can help bring new users into your site via Google.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Increase dwell time:<\/strong> Posts that have engaging content will keep users on your site longer.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Boost authority: <\/strong>Informational posts are often picked up by other sites who want to linkback to your site as a source.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Focus_on_quality_over_volume\"><\/span>Focus on quality over volume<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>When it comes to blog content, you want to ensure your posts offer users valuable information that\u2019s helpful and relevant.<\/p>\n<div class=\"callout\"> Don\u2019t post articles for the sake of filling up space on your site. <\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Instead, aim to solve customer problems by answering common questions they might have.<\/p>\n<p>For example, a wedding planner might write a long form article titled \u201cWhat does a wedding planner do?\u201d to address a common query users search for.<\/p>\n<p>Remember to focus on one primary keyword per blog post and scatter it throughout the text naturally. Combining words like \u201cHow\u201d, \u201cWhat\u201d and \u201cWhy\u201d with your keyword will make it sound more helpful for users and Google alike.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Ensure_your_posts_are_easy_to_read\"><\/span>Ensure your posts are easy to read<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>You can make readability more convenient for your users by:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Using short sentences<\/li>\n<li>Keeping paragraphs concise<\/li>\n<li>Optimizing images for quicker page loads<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>This will allow users to quickly scan the text for information they need. Plus, it makes it easier for Google bots to crawl you site for ranking purposes.<\/p>\n<p>Another best practise is to highlight important information by:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Adding bold text<\/li>\n<li>Making bulleted points<\/li>\n<li>Italicizing blocks of text<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<blockquote>\n<p>Google\u2019s John Mueller confirmed that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.searchenginejournal.com\/google-bolded-text-can-help-your-seo\/\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" rel=\"nofollow external noopener\">bolding important words in a paragraph can improve SEO<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>It\u2019s also useful for ecommerce sites to include links to priority products and category pages on relevant blog posts. Just remember to make it sound natural and not too spammy.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Continue_to_audit_older_posts\"><\/span>Continue to audit older posts<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Do revisit your old blog posts on a regular basis and update or extend them when possible. Google hates inactive dusty sites and will reward sites with fresh new content.<\/p>\n<p>Don\u2019t forget that your blog posts must also include a title tag and meta description. Be sure you include your keywords in the meta data and that it is up-to-date with Google\u2019s standards.<\/p>\n<p><em>Related: Blog post SEO: <\/em><em>Step<\/em><em>-by-step guide to writing a search-friendly blog article<\/em><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"7_Optimize_images\"><\/span>7. Optimize images<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<figure id=\"attachment_120978\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-120978\" style=\"width: 640px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-120978\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo by\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/unsplash.com\/@joshcala?utm_source=unsplash&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_content=creditCopyText\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" rel=\"nofollow external noopener\">Josh Calabrese<\/a>\u00a0on\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/unsplash.com\/s\/photos\/glasses?utm_source=unsplash&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_content=creditCopyText\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" rel=\"nofollow external noopener\">Unsplash<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Images are the second-most popular way to search online. They help users find what they\u2019re looking for and serve as a visual guide in their buying journey.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>But if you\u2019re not optimizing your images before uploading, you might be missing out on valuable SEO rankings.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>A couple of good ways you can improve SEO using images is so to:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Include alt text: <\/strong>Alt text (aka image alt or alt attributes) helps search engines understand what the image is about. It also helps with accessibility for users with screen readers and displays when browsers can\u2019t process images correctly.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Compress images:<\/strong> This helps boost your on-page loading speed and can be done using Photoshop or by using a site like <a href=\"https:\/\/tinypng.com\/\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" rel=\"nofollow external noopener\">TingPNG<\/a> before uploading.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Optimizing for both areas will make it easier for Google to crawl and decipher your site. But if you need a little more help with alt text, read the section below.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Key_notes_for_writing_alt_text\"><\/span>Key notes for writing alt text<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Despite the latest advances in technology, search engine crawlers can\u2019t see images like humans do. They must rely on the accompanying alt text to help them out.<\/p>\n<p>One best practice for alt text is to keep it simple. These descriptions are meant be short and should include 125 characters or less (including spaces). There\u2019s no need for gimmicks or extra filler worlds like \u201cthis is an image of &#8230;\u201d Simply describe what the image is about in the most direct way possible.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_120979\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-120979\" style=\"width: 216px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-120979\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Screenshot showing where to add image alt text inside GoDaddy Website Builder.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>For example, the alt text for the image above could be, \u201cClose up of someone holding a pair of glasses.\u201d<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Image_optimization_made_easy\"><\/span>Image optimization made easy<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>GoDaddy\u2019s Website Builder makes it easy to edit alt text on images. Simply click on an image insider the editor and write your alt text in the box designated for \u201cImage description.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>You can also use GoDaddy\u2019s Website Builder to automatically compress your images, along with any other large files you may have already uploaded.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"8_Is_your_site_mobile_friendly\"><\/span>8<strong>. Is your site mobile friendly?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Making your site mobile-friendly is an important factor for Google rankings. It\u2019s a primary reason why <a href=\"https:\/\/www.godaddy.com\/garage\/googles-mobile-first-index-how-you-can-prepare-your-website\/\" data-wpel-link=\"internal\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"follow noopener\">mobile-first indexing<\/a> was created and adds to the overall convenience for users on-the-go.<\/p>\n<p>Users should be able to experience your website on a mobile or tablet device the same way they do on a desktop.<\/p>\n<p>It needs to be easily accessible without needing to pinch or squeeze to view your content.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_120980\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-120980\" style=\"width: 640px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-120980\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo by <a href=\"https:\/\/unsplash.com\/\" link=\"external\" rel=\"nofollow external noopener\">Jamie Templeton<\/a> on <a href=\"https:\/\/unsplash.com\/?utm_source=unsplash&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_content=creditCopyText\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" rel=\"nofollow external noopener\">Unsplash<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/search.google.com\/test\/mobile-friendly\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" rel=\"nofollow external noopener\">Google\u2019s Mobile-Friendly<\/a> tool is a great way to test your website when optimizing for mobile devices. Or if you don\u2019t want to hassle with checking yourself, GoDaddy\u2019s Website Builder has standard built-in mobile responsiveness.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"9_Submit_your_sitemap\"><\/span>9<strong>. Submit your sitemap<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.godaddy.com\/help\/what-is-a-sitemap-3643\" data-wpel-link=\"internal\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"follow noopener\">A sitemap<\/a> helps search engines crawl your website and index it faster. It consists of a file that contains all the URLs on your page, plus metadata that shows each one\u2019s importance and the date they were last updated.<\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re not using GoDaddy or a content management system (CMS) like WordPress, you\u2019ll need to create one using a tool like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.xml-sitemaps.com\/\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" rel=\"nofollow external noopener\">XML sitemap generator<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Submitting your sitemap to Google is the last step in this process. You can do this by logging into your Google Search Console (GSC) account and entering it in the \u201cSitemaps\u201d tab in the side bar.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/hub\/seo\/sitemaps\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" rel=\"nofollow external noopener\">Backlinko<\/a> has a great step-by-step guide if you need extra help importing your sitemap link into your account.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"10_Experiment_with_backlinking\"><\/span>10<strong>. Experiment with backlinking<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Sometimes other websites will link to your site when they want to refer to you as a source of information. This is considered backlinking and it helps boost your authority when Google notices they are coming from relevant and reputable websites.<\/p>\n<p>Another tactic is to partner with other websites in your industry and guest blog on their site. This allows you to share your expertise with similar audiences so that you can backlink and gain new leads.<\/p>\n<p>It also helps to include links to other relevant blogs on your site whenever you find valuable information you can share with your audience.<\/p>\n<p>Additionally, Google and major search engines consider a backlink from a site you don\u2019t own as a vote for your business. Numerous studies suggest that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.prnewswire.com\/news-releases\/backlinks-and-content-quality-correlate-with-higher-google-rankings-new-study-by-backlinko-finds-301047861.html\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" rel=\"nofollow external noopener\">backlinks from quality websites can help increase a site\u2019s rankings<\/a> and traffic.<\/p>\n<p><em>Related: <\/em><em>How to get backlinks to a small business website<\/em><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"11_Local_business\"><\/span>11. Local business<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<figure id=\"attachment_120981\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-120981\" style=\"width: 640px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-120981\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo by\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/unsplash.com\/@mikepetrucci?utm_source=unsplash&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_content=creditCopyText\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" rel=\"nofollow external noopener\">Mike Petrucci<\/a>\u00a0on\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/unsplash.com\/s\/photos\/shop-owner?utm_source=unsplash&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_content=creditCopyText\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" rel=\"nofollow external noopener\">Unsplash<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Local businesses can make use of additional opportunities in search engines with things like Google My Business (GMB). This allows brick and mortar or service businesses to reach local audiences in the surrounding area through rich search results.<\/p>\n<p>In other words, your business can have a dedicated profile with Google that appears any time someone submits a query for relevant businesses in their area. It typically includes things like:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Your website\u2019s URL address<\/li>\n<li>Photos that highlight your business or services<\/li>\n<li>Customer reviews and more<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>All of this info can be optimized to improve SEO and there are plenty of other distinct things to do to increase website\u2019s traffic locally. You can find more information about <a href=\"https:\/\/www.godaddy.com\/garage\/local-seo-guide\/\" data-wpel-link=\"internal\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"follow noopener\">local SEO<\/a> with this handy guide from our blog.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"12_Measure_your_success\"><\/span>12. Measure your success<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Google Analytics (GA) is a free tool for monitoring website traffic from any source. Many digital marketers use it to collect insight on:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Target audiences<\/li>\n<li>Website performance<\/li>\n<li>Ad campaigns<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>However, it can be a bit intimidating if you\u2019ve never used it before. GA contains a wide variety of reports and data that take time learning how to navigate.<\/p>\n<p>It can also be a challenge to set it up, since it requires a bit of coding knowledge to get started.<\/p>\n<p>To make things easier, GoDaddy\u2019s Website Builder integrates with Google Search Console to track search engine performance for you. It also provides technical SEO suggestions to help improve your website.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_120982\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-120982\" style=\"width: 640px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-120982\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Most GoDaddy Website Builder plans show traffic insights you can access within your account.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Most plans for GoDaddy\u2019s Website Builder also include a simplified window inside the platform for essential organic performance. This makes is so there\u2019s no need to log in anywhere else until you\u2019re ready for more advanced steps. It\u2019s a great launching point for beginners interested in learning more about GA.<\/p>\n<p>Check out <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/playlist?list=PLI5YfMzCfRtZU5Qwzx57HjmZyNE2o5YDN\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" rel=\"nofollow external noopener\">Google Analytics\u2019 Analytics Academy playlist<\/a> for more information.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Final_takeaways\"><\/span>Final takeaways<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>If you want to have a competitive edge in today\u2019s online marketplace, you need to ensure your business is ranking on search engines. The best way to do that is to improve SEO on your site, so that search bots can crawl it and easily determine what your site is about.<\/p>\n<div class=\"callout\"> The more SEO-friendly your site is, the higher it&#8217;ll rank in search queries. <\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Users with GoDaddy\u2019s Website Builder have the upper hand since it includes built-in benefits like:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Standardized mobile optimization<\/li>\n<li>Automatic XML sitemaps that don&#8217;t need to be maintained<\/li>\n<li>SSL certificate with HTTPS for data encryption<\/li>\n<li>Access to Google Search Console<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>You also get the added benefit of 24\/7 support in case you need extra help determining your next move. And you can even opt for additional plans (like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.godaddy.com\/online-marketing\/seo-services\" data-wpel-link=\"internal\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"follow noopener\">GoDaddy\u2019s SEO Services<\/a>) to help boost your online presence even more.<\/p>\n<p>Remember, improving SEO for your site is all about time and dedication. Now\u2019s the time to jump in and capitalize on opportune moments that get your business noticed online.<\/p>\n<p>The post 12 Top SEO best practices for small business websites appeared first on <a rel=\"follow noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.godaddy.com\/garage\" data-wpel-link=\"internal\" target=\"_self\">GoDaddy Blog<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Source: Go Daddy Garage<\/p>\n<p id=\"kc_opp\"><small>Republished by  <a href=\"http:\/\/www.blogtrafficexchange.com\/\">Blog Post Promoter<\/a><\/small><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Wondering how to improve your website\u2019s SEO and increase web traffic fast? There are plenty of actionable steps you can take today. Most &hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":93017,"comment_status":"false","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[23511],"tags":[126],"class_list":["post-93016","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-ebusiness-emarketing","tag-information"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Orange-flotation-ring-hanging-on-wall-300x168-1.jpg?fit=300%2C168&ssl=1","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p3k0YU-ocg","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":92227,"url":"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/03\/buildout-checklist-for-pros-to-improve-seo-in-web-design.html","url_meta":{"origin":93016,"position":0},"title":"Buildout checklist for pros to improve SEO in web design","author":"admin","date":"March 31, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"As professionals, we should give much thought to SEO in web design when designing clients\u2019 sites. Without a pro handling this during build-out, it\u2019s possible nobody else will be left to ensure that a search engine can easily crawl and read the content. When developing or designing a website, you\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;E-business &amp; E-marketing&quot;","block_context":{"text":"E-business &amp; E-marketing","link":"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/category\/ebusiness-emarketing"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":92231,"url":"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/03\/top-5-ssl-issues-for-pros-to-understand-and-avoid.html","url_meta":{"origin":93016,"position":1},"title":"Top 5 SSL issues for pros to understand (and avoid)\u00a0","author":"admin","date":"March 21, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"The ubiquitous SSL certificate is often an afterthought when building websites for clients. It\u2019s often included with high-performance hosting products, making it tempting for pros to look at it as a set-and-forget application. No second thought is given to potential SSL issues. But then, that call\u2026 Yep, SSL issues can\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;E-business &amp; E-marketing&quot;","block_context":{"text":"E-business &amp; E-marketing","link":"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/category\/ebusiness-emarketing"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":92844,"url":"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/03\/woocommerce-wednesdays-creating-an-online-store-with-woocommerce-vs-shopify.html","url_meta":{"origin":93016,"position":2},"title":"WooCommerce Wednesdays: Creating an online store with WooCommerce vs. Shopify","author":"admin","date":"March 16, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"As the two most popular platforms, WooCommerce and Shopify are often compared by sellers both new and experienced. In this post, we\u2019ll examine how the process of creating the main parts of an ecommerce store differs between WooCommerce vs. Shopify. It isn\u2019t always easy to know the difference between ecommerce\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;E-business &amp; E-marketing&quot;","block_context":{"text":"E-business &amp; E-marketing","link":"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/category\/ebusiness-emarketing"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":93741,"url":"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/03\/backlink-your-youtube-videos.html","url_meta":{"origin":93016,"position":3},"title":"Backlink your YouTube videos","author":"admin","date":"March 7, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"It\u2019s safe to assume you already know that YouTube is the world\u2019s second-largest search engine. You probably also know that YouTube is owned by Google. But did you know with the right strategy, you\u2019re able to backlink your YouTube videos to rank higher on all search engines? In fact, Google\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;E-business &amp; E-marketing&quot;","block_context":{"text":"E-business &amp; E-marketing","link":"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/category\/ebusiness-emarketing"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":93187,"url":"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/03\/godaddy-team-innerview-website-security-care.html","url_meta":{"origin":93016,"position":4},"title":"GoDaddy Team Innerview: Website Security\u00a0Care","author":"admin","date":"March 13, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"For pros, website security can be one of the toughest areas of web design and development. It\u2019s why Sucuri has been refining the experience since 2009. Now a member of the GoDaddy family of brands, Sucuri powers Website Security from GoDaddy. For nearly a decade, Krystle Herbrandson has held leadership\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;E-business &amp; E-marketing&quot;","block_context":{"text":"E-business &amp; E-marketing","link":"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/category\/ebusiness-emarketing"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":93152,"url":"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/03\/10-wordpress-security-best-practices-you-need-to-implement-right-now.html","url_meta":{"origin":93016,"position":5},"title":"10 WordPress security best practices you need to implement \u2014 right now\u00a0","author":"admin","date":"March 19, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"WordPress is a powerful web application and is used by up to 43% of the internet, to date. But with great popularity comes great threats. With numbers like these, many would-be attackers are constantly on the lookout for weaknesses in your site \u2014 a good reason to implement these WordPress\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;E-business &amp; E-marketing&quot;","block_context":{"text":"E-business &amp; E-marketing","link":"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/category\/ebusiness-emarketing"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/93016","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=93016"}],"version-history":[{"count":22,"href":"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/93016\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":102670,"href":"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/93016\/revisions\/102670"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/93017"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=93016"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=93016"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bricktowntom.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=93016"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}