Search Engine Optimization (SEO) often gets a reputation for being overly technical or expensive. But here’s the truth: some of the most impactful improvements are the easiest to implement — especially for small business owners who manage their own websites or work with a lean team.

In fact, Google rewards websites that get the basics right.

In this post, I’ll show you five simple SEO fixes you can do today — no developers, plugins, or massive budgets required. These are things we do with nearly every client we onboard, and they consistently make a noticeable impact on rankings, click-throughs, and conversions.

1. Fix Your Page Titles and Meta Descriptions

Each page on your website has a title tag and meta description that show up in Google search results. If these are missing, duplicated, or vague, your visibility suffers.

To fix them:

  • Install a plugin like Yoast SEO or Rank Math (if you use WordPress).

  • Update each core page with a specific, keyword-rich title and a benefit-focused meta description.

Example Before:
Title: “Home – My Business”
Description: “Welcome to my website.”

Example After:
Title: “Affordable Web Design for Small Businesses in South Africa”
Description: “We build custom WordPress sites from $1,500. Get started with a free consultation.”

Use your main keyword and location where possible.

2. Compress and Optimize Your Images

Large image files slow down your site, and speed is a ranking factor for Google.

Do this:

  • Compress images using tools like TinyPNG or ShortPixel.

  • Install plugins like Smush or Imagify to automate future optimization.

  • Rename images using descriptive filenames and fill in alt text.

Example:
Instead of IMG_3421.jpg, use wordpress-design-cape-town.jpg.

3. Add Internal Links

Internal links help search engines and visitors navigate your site.

Start by:

  • Linking from blog posts to related service pages.

  • Linking from services back to your homepage or contact page.

  • Using clear anchor text like “Explore our SEO services.”

This improves crawlability, time on site, and conversion flow.

4. Add Your Location to Key Pages

If you serve a geographic region, location mentions can help you show up in local search results.

Include your city or country in:

  • The homepage heading or intro

  • The footer

  • The contact page

  • Your meta descriptions (see point 1)

Write naturally. Avoid keyword stuffing.

Example:
“We provide SEO and web design services to businesses in South Africa and abroad.”

5. Submit Your Site to Google Search Console

To make sure Google knows about your site and indexes your pages:

  1. Go to Google Search Console.

  2. Add and verify your domain.

  3. Submit your sitemap (/sitemap_index.xml for most WordPress setups).

  4. Use the “URL Inspection” tool to manually request indexing for updated pages.

This ensures new content gets picked up faster and improves your visibility in search.

Final Thoughts

These five fixes are basic, but highly effective. They’re often overlooked by small business owners and can significantly improve your rankings and visibility — especially if you’re competing in local or niche markets.

If you need help improving your site’s SEO, we offer affordable packages designed for small business growth.