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Having worked with countless small business websites as a web designer, I’ve noticed some recurring SEO pitfalls that often go unaddressed. Let me share some honest insights that could help boost your website’s performance. Here are the most common issues I encounter daily:
1. Speed: The silent conversion killer
We’ve all been there – waiting for a website to load while our patience ticks away. Research shows that 53% of mobile users abandon sites that take over 3 seconds to load. Not only does this frustrate potential customers, but it also sends negative signals to Google, affecting your rankings.
Quick Win:
Start with a free PageSpeed Insights analysis. You’d be amazed at how simple tweaks like image compression and code optimisation can dramatically improve loading times. I recently helped a local shop reduce their load time from 8 seconds to 2.5 seconds – their mobile traffic doubled within a month!
2. Keyword strategy: Think smart, not big
I often see local businesses trying to compete for broad terms like “web design” or “digital marketing. It’s like a local café trying to outrank Starbucks – not impossible, but why make life difficult?
Smart Approach:
Instead, focus on specific, location-based keywords that your ideal customers are actually searching for. For example, “web designer for small businesses in Leicestershire” might get less traffic, but the visitors you do get are much more likely to become clients. Pro tip: Check your competitors’ keywords using tools like Ubersuggest or Answer The Public – you might find some hidden gems!
3. Technical SEO: The foundation matters
Think of technical SEO as your website’s foundation. Just like you wouldn’t build a house on shaky ground, you can’t expect good rankings with broken technical elements. Common issues I see include duplicate content, missing meta descriptions, and broken internal links.
Take Action:
Make Google Search Console your best friend. It’s free and will alert you to technical issues before they become major problems. Set a monthly reminder to check for crawl errors, mobile usability issues, and security problems. A little regular maintenance goes a long way!
4. Building authority: Quality over quantity
Your website’s authority is like your business’s reputation in the digital world. Having 100 backlinks from spam directories is far worse than having 10 quality links from respected local businesses or industry publications.
Relationship Building:
Start by connecting with other local businesses. Guest posting, collaborative content, and local business features can all lead to natural, valuable backlinks. HARO (Help a Reporter Out) is also fantastic – I’ve helped clients get featured in industry publications just by responding to relevant queries.
5. Local SEO: Your digital storefront
For brick-and-mortar businesses, local SEO isn’t just another marketing tactic – it’s essential for survival in today’s digital age. Yet many businesses haven’t even claimed their Google Business Profile!
Local Success Strategy:
Beyond just completing your GBP profile, engage with your customers regularly. Respond to reviews (good and bad), post updates about your business, and share photos of your work. Consider using tools like BrightLocal to monitor your local rankings and manage citations effectively.
Bonus: check out this great techical SEO video from Ahrefs.
Need help?
