What Does SEO Really Mean?
If you're a website owner looking to get more traffic from Google - and who isn't? - then you've probably heard about SEO: Search Engine Optimisation. But what does it really mean? And how can you do it without getting lost in jargon and complex strategies, or paying big bucks for 12 to 18-month contracts?
Just as an FYI: at Joomstore we have 3-week SEO packages that guarantee results. Read on for some simple, practical steps you can take to improve your website's SEO - even if you're not a tech wizard.
1. Start with Great Content
Google loves content that helps people. If someone types a question into Google, your website should aim to be the helpful, trustworthy answer.
- Write blog posts that answer common questions your best audience would have
- Use clear, natural language - like you're talking to a customer
- Break content into easy-to-read sections with properly formatted headings and bullet points
2. Use Keywords the Smart Way
Keywords are the words or phrases people type into search engines. Use tools like Google Keyword Planner or Ubersuggest to find relevant keywords - AI tools like ChatGPT or Claude are great for this too. Include keywords in your page titles, headings, URLs, and naturally throughout your content. Don't stuff keywords - keep it natural and useful for the reader.
3. Optimise Page Titles and Meta Descriptions
Your page title and meta description appear in Google search results - they're your first impression. Keep titles under 60 characters and ensure they're relevant to the page content. Write compelling meta descriptions under 155 characters that encourage clicks. Include your primary keywords in both.
4. Improve Website Speed
A slow website turns people away - and Google notices too. Quick wins: compress images using tools like TinyPNG, use website caching and a content delivery network (CDN), and choose reliable hosting. It pays to spend a little extra for quality.
5. Make Your Website Mobile-Friendly
More than half of all web traffic comes from mobile devices. Google uses mobile-first indexing, meaning it primarily looks at the mobile version of your site. Test your site using Google's Mobile-Friendly Test, use responsive design, and keep menus and buttons easy to tap on small screens.
6. Get Quality Backlinks
A backlink is when another website links to yours. Google sees this as a vote of confidence. Write guest posts for reputable blogs, share your content on social media, list your business on directories and local listings, and build relationships with industry influencers.
7. Use Internal Links
Linking to your own pages helps users navigate and helps search engines understand your site structure. Adding title text with relevant keywords to each link helps too. If you're writing a post about choosing the right service, link to a detailed page about that service.
8. Track Your Progress
SEO takes time, but it's important to track what's working. Free tools: Google Analytics (understand who's visiting and what they're doing) and Google Search Console (see how your site performs in search and fix technical issues).
Noah's 2 Cents
SEO doesn't have to be overwhelming. These tips won't replace the more technical work of doing proper on-page SEO, but if you follow these steps consistently, you'll definitely get better traction in search results. Think of it as making your website more helpful, more trustworthy, and easier to find. SEO is a marathon, not a sprint - start small, stay consistent, and keep learning!