top of page
Search

SEO Isn’t Magic! You Can Do It Yourself (Here’s How)

  • Writer: John Lally
    John Lally
  • 3 days ago
  • 2 min read

SEO Isn’t a Mystery (And You Don’t Need to Hire Anyone)

There’s a lot of noise online about SEO. Tools, audits, algorithm updates, agencies promising to “get you to page one.” It’s no wonder small business owners often feel like SEO is something only experts can handle.


Here’s the truth: you can do a lot of SEO yourself, for free, or at very low cost.


This post breaks down the simple actions you can take to improve your visibility online. And if you don’t want to do it yourself? That’s fine too, we offer SEO support for Kent businesses that want to hand it off. But this post? No strings. Just helpful info.


Learn about our SEO services (only if you need them).




Step 1: Check Where You’re Starting

Before you begin, run a quick check of your website. These tools will show how you’re doing:

  • Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test

  • Google PageSpeed Insights

  • Ubersuggest Site Audit


These tools will highlight problems with loading speed, structure, or mobile usability, which are all part of SEO.



Step 2: Use the Right Words in the Right Places

This is the heart of SEO: using the words your customers search for, and placing them naturally on your site.


Start with:

  • Page titles (what shows up in Google search results)

  • Headings (H1, H2, etc.)

  • First paragraph of your content

  • Image ALT text

  • URLs (if editable)


Step 3: Make Sure Google Can Understand Your Website

Google uses something called “crawling” to read your site. To help it:

  • Add a sitemap (Wix and WordPress do this automatically)

  • Use descriptive URLs like /roof-repairs-kent instead of /page-id123

  • Avoid giant blocks of text, break things into headings and paragraphs

  • Add internal links between related pages, for example What Is a Business Website Really For? (see what I did there)!



Step 4: List Your Business Properly Online

Local SEO helps people near you find your business. The big one is your Google Business Profile, but also:

Make sure your name, address, and phone number (NAP) match across all of them.



Step 5: Keep It Going With Blog Content

Google favours active websites. Publishing regular blog posts gives your site more chances to show up in searches, especially for longer, question-based phrases.

Topics to write about:

  • Questions your customers ask

  • Local areas you serve

  • Tips or checklists

  • Explainers like “how we work” or “what to expect”


Step 6: Don’t Obsess, Just Start

You don’t need to know everything about search algorithms or meta tags to benefit from SEO. Start small:

  • Make sure your site explains what you do

  • Use relevant keywords in plain English

  • Keep your info up to date

  • Publish something helpful once a month

If you do those things consistently, your site will improve, no agency needed.



But If You Don’t Want to DIY…

That’s totally fine too. Some of our clients just don’t have the time, or they’d rather stay focused on the work they enjoy. If that’s you, we can help:

No lock-in, no pressure, just practical, affordable help if and when you want it.

Comments

More than just a blog.

Our blog is here to help small businesses and tradespeople across Kent make sense of the digital stuff - from websites and SEO to branding, automation and print. Whether you're just starting out or looking to sharpen up what you already have, you'll find tips, ideas and practical advice you can actually use.

​

If you’d rather get it sorted without the DIY route, we’re here to help. Check out our services or get in touch to see how we can support your business.

bottom of page