If you’ve recently launched a business or you’re just about to, one thing you’ll quickly realise is how important it is to be found online. Having a great-looking website is only half the battle. The real question is – can people actually find it? If not, you could be losing customers before you’ve even had a chance to say hello. That’s where SEO comes in.
SEO stands for Search Engine Optimisation, and it’s all about making your website as visible as possible in Google search results. Done well, it can help drive steady, targeted traffic to your website – and the best part is, this traffic doesn’t cost you anything to acquire. In this beginner-friendly guide, I’ll walk you through the core principles of SEO, the steps you can take right now, and how to get your business seen in search results in 2025.
What is SEO and Why Does it Matter?
Imagine someone searching for a service you offer. They’re typing it into Google, maybe something like “fencing contractors in Leeds” or “best accountant for small businesses”. If your website doesn’t show up on that first page, the chances are they’ll never see you. SEO helps improve your chances of being there when it matters most.
Search engines like Google look at hundreds of signals to decide which websites to show first. These include things like:
- How relevant your content is to the search
- How fast your website loads
- Whether your site works well on mobile
- The quality of your content
- How trustworthy or authoritative your site seems
These are just a few of the factors that SEO tries to improve.
Start with the Basics: Keywords
Keywords are the words or phrases people type into Google when they’re searching. They’re at the heart of SEO. To get started, think about what your ideal customer might be searching for.
If you’re a dog groomer in Leeds, for example, someone might search for:
- dog grooming in Leeds
- mobile dog groomer near me
- best dog groomers West Yorkshire
Once you’ve got a list of possible phrases, you’ll want to include them naturally in key parts of your website:
- Page titles
- Headings (like the one above)
- Meta descriptions
- Image file names and alt tags
- Body text
Be careful not to overdo it though. Keyword stuffing is an outdated tactic that can actually harm your rankings. Google’s smarter than that now. Focus on writing naturally for humans first, while keeping your keywords in mind.
You can use free tools like Google Keyword Planner or Answer the Public to find out what people are searching for.
Optimise for Local Searches
If you’re running a business that serves a local area – whether you’re a florist in Harrogate or a solicitor in York – local SEO is vital. Make sure you:
- Set up and fully complete your Google Business Profile
- Add your business to trusted directories (Yell, FreeIndex, Bing Places, etc.)
- Include your location in your page titles and headings where relevant
- Add a map or directions to your Contact page
At Leeds Web Designer, we help local businesses do exactly this, and it’s often one of the quickest ways to start appearing in searches near you.
Improve Your Website Speed and Mobile Friendliness
Google now uses what’s called “mobile-first indexing”. That means it primarily uses the mobile version of your site for ranking purposes. If your website is slow, clunky, or hard to use on a phone, you’re likely to be pushed down the rankings.
Here’s what to focus on:
- Use responsive design so your site adapts to different screen sizes
- Compress your images to keep load times fast
- Avoid heavy use of animations, pop-ups or oversized videos
- Use a reliable hosting provider (slow hosting = slow site)
Tools like Google PageSpeed Insights or GTmetrix can help you identify and fix speed issues.
Write Content That Helps, Not Sells
People don’t always search for businesses. Often, they’re looking for answers. That’s why blog posts, how-to guides, FAQs and tips are such powerful SEO tools.
For example, if you’re a mortgage adviser, a blog post titled “5 Things to Know Before Applying for Your First Mortgage” could bring in loads of potential customers who are right at the start of their journey. You’ve helped them – and now you’re on their radar.
Creating regular, helpful content also shows Google that your site is active, relevant and trustworthy. That’s why blogging is a big part of our SEO strategy here at Leeds Web Designer.
Don’t Ignore On-Page SEO
On-page SEO refers to things you can do on your actual web pages to help them rank better:
- Use proper heading tags (H1 for your page title, H2 for subheadings)
- Add meta titles and descriptions to every page (these appear in Google search results)
- Use internal links to guide users to other parts of your site – for example, linking from your homepage to your Services page
- Add descriptive alt text to all images so search engines understand them
- Use readable URLs (e.g. /web-design-leeds instead of /page-id123)
These small tweaks can make a big difference over time.
Get Other Sites to Link to Yours
Backlinks – links from other websites to yours – are one of Google’s strongest trust signals. If reputable websites are linking to your content, Google sees that as a vote of confidence.
A few ways to earn backlinks:
- Create really useful blog content that people want to share
- Write guest posts for industry websites
- Offer testimonials to suppliers (with a link to your site)
- Join local business directories
- Collaborate with local charities or events
Avoid buying backlinks or using spammy tactics. These are more likely to get you penalised than help you rank.
Keep an Eye on Analytics
If you’re not tracking what’s happening on your website, you’re guessing. Use Google Analytics and Google Search Console to see:
- How many people visit your site
- What pages they look at
- How they found you
- What search terms brought them in
- Which pages might need improvement
This data is gold when it comes to improving your site and your SEO.
Be Patient (But Consistent)
SEO isn’t a quick win. It’s more like planting seeds. It can take weeks or even months to see real movement, especially for newer sites. But the results are worth it. Once you start ranking, you can get a steady stream of traffic without paying for ads.
Consistency is key. That means:
- Updating your website regularly
- Posting helpful content
- Tweaking and improving as you go
Stick with it, and you’ll see the difference over time.
Need Help Getting Your Website Found?
At Leeds Web Designer, we don’t just build great-looking websites – we build sites that get found. Whether you’re just getting started, or you’ve got a site that’s gone quiet, we can help with:
- Local and national SEO
- Website audits
- Speed and mobile optimisation
- Blog content strategy
- SEO-friendly website design
If you’re not sure where to start, let’s chat. We offer free initial advice and can point you in the right direction, whether you’re DIY-ing or ready to hand it over.
Get in Touch
Want more visibility for your website? Need someone to take the hassle out of SEO? We’re here to help.
Visit our Contact page to get a quote, drop us a message or book a call. No pressure, no jargon – just straight-talking advice to help your business grow.
