Basic SEO For New Website Owners
So you’ve just launched your new website. Congratulations! Now comes the big question: How do you actually get people to find it?
If you’ve heard the term “SEO” thrown around and felt immediately intimidated, you’re not alone. SEO (Search Engine Optimization) sounds technical and complicated, but the basics are actually pretty straightforward. Think of it this way: you’re just helping Google understand what your website is about so it can show it to the right people.
In this guide, I’ll walk you through the essential SEO steps for a brand-new website. Nothing fancy, nothing technical – just the foundational stuff that actually works. You don’t need to be an expert to do this. If you can set up a Wix or Squarespace site, you can handle basic SEO.
What to expect: SEO takes time. You won’t rank on page one overnight. Most new websites start seeing results in 3-6 months if they’re doing the basics consistently. But here’s the good news – you’re competing against thousands of business websites that do zero SEO. By following these simple steps, you’ll be ahead of the pack.
But wait… maybe you can just buy ads on Google. Is that better?
Why SEO is Better Than PPC for Most Small Businesses
When you’re trying to get customers online, you basically have two options: pay for ads (PPC – Pay-Per-Click), or optimize your website to show up in organic search results (SEO). Both work, but for most small businesses with limited budgets, SEO is the smarter long-term investment.
The Money Factor
With PPC, you’re renting visibility. The second you stop paying for ads, your traffic disappears completely. A plumber in Austin might pay $50-150 per click for competitive keywords like “emergency plumber” – and most clicks don’t convert to customers. That adds up fast.
SEO is different. Yes, it requires an upfront investment of time or money, but once you rank, that traffic is essentially free. A blog post you write today can attract customers for years at no additional cost. You’re building an asset, not renting space.
Trust and Click Behavior
Here’s something most business owners don’t realize: studies show that 70-80% of search users skip right past the ads and click on organic results. People trust organic rankings more than paid advertisements. When your website shows up organically on page one, it signals credibility and authority in a way that a “Sponsored” label never will.
Long-Term Compounding
PPC delivers immediate results but doesn’t compound. You spend $1000, you get X amount of traffic, then it’s over.
SEO compounds over time. Your first blog post might bring in 10 visitors a month. Your tenth might bring in 100. Your twentieth might bring in 500. Each piece of content builds on the last, creating a snowball effect. After a year of consistent SEO work, you might be getting more traffic than you could ever afford with PPC.
The Bottom Line
PPC has its place – it’s ok for immediate results, testing offers, or seasonal promotions. But for sustainable, cost-effective growth, SEO wins every time. You’re building something that lasts. Think of it this way, instead of buying an advertisement on a billboard… own the billboard.
Step 1: Understand What Keywords Are (And Why They Matter)
Before you do anything else, you need to understand keywords. This is the foundation of everything.
Keywords are simply the words and phrases people type into Google when they’re looking for something. That’s it. Nothing complicated.
Here’s an example: Let’s say you just opened a dog grooming business in Portland. When people need your service, they don’t search for “canine hygiene specialist” (even if that’s what you call yourself). They search things like:
- “dog grooming near me”
- “dog groomer Portland”
- “puppy haircut Portland”
- “best dog groomers in Portland”
Those are keywords. Your job is to figure out what your potential customers are actually searching for, then make sure those words appear on your website in the right places.
How to Think Like Your Customer
This is where most beginners go wrong. They use industry jargon or formal business terms that nobody actually searches for.
Take 10 minutes right now and think about:
- What problem does your business solve?
- How would a regular person describe that problem?
- What would they type into Google at 10pm when they need your help?
Write down 10-15 phrases. Don’t overthink it. These don’t have to be perfect.
Using KWFinder to Find the Right Keywords
Now you need to figure out which of your keyword ideas are actually worth targeting. This is where a tool called KWFinder comes in handy.
KWFinder is a simple keyword research tool with a free trial that lets you check a limited number of searches. Here’s what it does: you type in your keyword idea, and it tells you (1) how many people search for it each month, and (2) how hard it would be to rank for it.
Here’s how to use it:
- Go to KWFinder and sign up for the free trial
- Type in one of your keyword ideas (like “dog grooming Portland”)
- Look at two numbers:
- Search volume – how many people search this per month (you want at least 100-500)
- Keyword difficulty – scored 0-100 (green/low is easy, red/high is hard)
For a brand new website, stick with keywords that have a difficulty score under 30-40. These show up as green or light orange in KWFinder. Yes, they might have lower search volume, but you actually have a chance of ranking for them.
Here’s what this looks like in practice:
- “dog grooming” – Difficulty: 65 (too hard, skip it)
- “dog grooming Portland” – Difficulty: 45 (still tough for a new site)
- “mobile dog grooming Portland” – Difficulty: 28 (perfect!)
- “dog nail trimming Portland” – Difficulty: 22 (great option)
Your goal: Find 3-5 keywords with:
- Difficulty under 30-40
- At least 100+ searches per month
- Directly related to what you offer
These are your target keywords. Everything else you do will build on these.
Step 2: Put Your Keywords in the Right Places
Once you know your keywords, use them strategically on your website. Google looks at specific places to understand what each page is about.
Page Titles (Most Important)
Your page title is what appears as the blue, clickable link in Google search results. This is the most critical place to use your keyword.
How to do it:
- In Wix/Squarespace/WordPress, there’s a setting for “page title” or “SEO title.”
- Format: Put your main keyword first, then your business name
- Example: “Mobile Dog Grooming Portland | Happy Paws Grooming”
- Keep it under 60 characters so it doesn’t get cut off in search results
Do this for every important page on your site – your homepage, services pages, about page, and any blog posts.
Headings (Very Important)
Headings are the larger, bolder text that breaks up your content. Your main heading (usually the title at the top of your page) should include your keyword naturally.
Example:
- Good: “Professional Mobile Dog Grooming in Portland”
- Bad: “Welcome to Our Website”
Use your keyword in at least one or two subheadings too, but make it natural. Please don’t force it.
Your Actual Content (Important)
Use your keywords naturally throughout the text on your page. Mention them a few times, but write for humans first. Google is smart enough to understand synonyms and related words.
A simple rule: If you read your content out loud and it sounds weird or repetitive, you’re overdoing it. This is called “keyword stuffing” and it actually hurts your rankings.
Image Names and Alt Text (Helpful)
When you upload images to your website, give them descriptive file names before uploading.
Instead of: IMG_1234.jpg
Use: mobile-dog-grooming-portland.jpg
Then, add “alt text” (a description of the image) that includes your keyword when relevant. Most website builders have an alt text field when you click on an image. This helps Google understand what the image is about and helps with accessibility for people using screen readers.
Step 3: The Bare Minimum Technical Stuff
I know “technical” sounds scary, but these three things are simple and essential.
Make Sure Your Site Works on Phones
More than half of all Google searches happen on phones. If your website looks broken or is hard to use on mobile, Google will rank you lower.
The good news: If you built your site on Wix, Squarespace, or WordPress with a modern theme, it’s probably already mobile-friendly. To check:
- Open your website on your phone
- Can you read the text without zooming?
- Are the buttons easy to tap?
- Does everything load properly?
If something looks off, most website builders have mobile editing options. Fix anything that’s hard to use.
Set Up Google Search Console (Free Tool)
Google Search Console is a free tool that lets you tell Google your website exists and see how it’s performing in search results.
Quick setup:
- Go to search.google.com/search-console
- Sign in with a Google account
- Add your website URL
- Verify you own the site (your website builder usually has an easy verification method)
- Submit your sitemap (in Wix/Squarespace, this is automatic; in WordPress, use the Yoast SEO plugin)
That’s it. You don’t need to do anything else right now. This tool will start collecting data about your search performance.
Add Your Business to Google (If You’re Local)
If you have a local business (a physical location or you serve a specific area), claim your Google Business Profile. This is the box that shows up on the right side of Google when people search for your business, and it helps you appear in “near me” searches and Google Maps.
How to do it:
- Go to google.com/business
- Sign in and click “Add your business.”
- Follow the prompts to enter your business info
- Verify your business (usually by postcard with a code)
Fill out your profile completely – add photos, business hours, services, and your website URL. Use your keywords in your business description.
Step 4: Create Some Helpful Content
Here’s a truth bomb: A 5-page website with nothing but “About Us” and “Contact” pages won’t rank for much. Google wants to send people to websites that actually answer their questions and provide value. But that’s why you’re ready this.
You need content – but not as much as you think.
Start With 5-10 Solid Pages or Posts
Instead of creating 50 thin, rushed pages, create 5-10 really helpful ones. Each should:
- Target one of your keywords
- Answer a specific question your customers have
- Be at least 500-800 words (longer if you have more to say)
- Include images, examples, or helpful tips
Content ideas for our dog grooming example:
- “How Often Should You Groom Your Dog?” (targets “dog grooming frequency”)
- “Mobile Dog Grooming vs. Salon: What’s Right for Your Dog?” (targets “mobile dog grooming”)
- “Dog Grooming Prices in Portland: What to Expect” (targets “dog grooming prices Portland”)
- “How to Prepare Your Anxious Dog for Grooming” (answers common customer concern)
See the pattern? Each piece of content targets a keyword while genuinely helping your potential customers.
Answer Real Questions
Think about the questions people ask you all the time. The same questions you answer over email or on the phone. Those are perfect blog post topics.
Use simple language. Break things up with headings. Add pictures. Make it scannable.
Quality beats quantity every single time. Five excellent, helpful pages will outperform twenty rushed, thin ones.
Step 5: What You Can Skip For Now
Basic SEO for new website isn’t a quick fix; however, when you start researching SEO, you’ll see all kinds of advanced tactics. Ignore them for now. As a beginner with a new website, here’s what you don’t need to worry about yet:
- Link building – Getting other websites to link to you is important eventually, but focus on the basics to start.
- Technical SEO deep dives – You just started, there’s nothing to dive into.
- Competing with huge brands: Don’t try to rank for ultra-competitive keywords like “dog grooming” nationwide. Stick with your local, specific keywords.
Your First Weekend SEO Checklist
Here’s what you can realistically accomplish this weekend:
Saturday Morning (2-3 hours):
- Brainstorm 15-20 keyword ideas
- Use KWFinder free trial to find 3-5 “easy” keywords (difficulty under 40)
- Choose your primary keyword for your homepage
Saturday Afternoon (2-3 hours):
- Update your homepage title and main heading with your primary keyword
- Update 3-5 other important page titles with relevant keywords
- Review and update image file names and alt text
Sunday Morning (1-2 hours):
- Set up Google Search Console
- Submit your sitemap
- If you’re local: start setting up Google Business Profile
Sunday Afternoon (2-3 hours):
- Plan 5 helpful content pieces you can create
- Write your first piece of content (or at least outline it)
- Check your site on mobile and fix any obvious issues
Total time investment: About 8-10 hours to get the fundamentals in place.
Step 6: Common Beginner Mistakes to Avoid
Mistake #1: Targeting Keywords That Are Too Competitive
It’s tempting to go after big, broad keywords like “plumber” or “lawyer” or “marketing.” But as a new website, you have virtually zero chance of ranking for these. Stick with longer, more specific phrases (like “emergency plumber downtown Seattle”) until your site builds some authority.
Mistake #2: Keyword Stuffing
Using your keyword 47 times in a 300-word paragraph doesn’t help. It actually hurts. Google’s smart enough to understand synonyms and context. Write naturally for humans, and include your keyword a few times where it makes sense.
Mistake #3: Ignoring Search Intent
Search intent means understanding what someone actually wants when they search. If someone searches “dog grooming near me,” they want to book an appointment, not read a 3,000-word history of dog grooming. Make sure your content matches what searchers are actually looking for.
How to Know If It’s Working
SEO takes time, but here are signs you’re on the right track:
After 1-2 months:
- Google Search Console shows your site is being indexed
- You’re starting to appear in search results (even if it’s on page 3-4)
- You see a few clicks from Google in Search Console
After 3-6 months:
- You’re ranking on page 1-2 for some of your target keywords
- You’re getting regular organic traffic (even if it’s just 10-20 visitors a week)
- People are finding you through searches you didn’t even target
What to track:
- Rankings for your target keywords (just Google them from an incognito window)
- Organic traffic in Google Analytics
- Click-through rate in Google Search Console
Remember: Progress isn’t linear. Some weeks you’ll jump up in rankings, other weeks you’ll plateau. That’s normal.
SEO & Digital Marketing
