Common SEO Mistakes Small Businesses Make (and How to Fix Them)
Your website should be working for you, bringing in traffic and converting visitors into customers. But if your SEO isn’t in place, you’re probably missing out on a lot of potential business.
Many small businesses make the same SEO mistakes—ones that keep them from ranking higher on Google and reaching the right audience. The good news? These mistakes can be fixed. Let’s go over the most common ones and what to do about them.
1. No Google Business Profile (GBP)
Imagine someone is searching for your business, but instead of finding your contact info, hours, and reviews in one easy place, they find… nothing. That’s what happens when you don’t have a Google Business Profile.
Google prioritizes local businesses in search results, but only if you give it the right information. Without a GBP, you’re missing out on local traffic, potential customers, and valuable credibility.
Fix it: Head to Google Business Profile and claim your listing. Fill in all the details—business name, address, phone number, hours, photos, and services. Keep it updated and encourage happy customers to leave reviews. Also, make sure your information matches what’s on your website to improve consistency and trust.
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2. Ignoring Image SEO
Ever uploaded an image with a name like IMG_1234.jpg? Search engines have no idea what that image is about, which means you’re missing out on valuable SEO points.
Fix it: Rename your images before uploading them. Use descriptive, keyword-friendly names like custom-jewelry-calgary.jpg instead of random numbers. Also, add alt text—this helps search engines understand what’s in the image and improves accessibility. Remember! Don’t stuff those keywords into the alt text, just describe the image as is, and if the keywords pops in naturally - kudos to you! Google indexes images, and well-optimized ones can appear in image searches, bringing in even more traffic.
3. Not Using the Right Keywords (or Any at All)
Keywords are the foundation of SEO. The problem? Many small businesses either don’t use them or go after the wrong ones. Some aim for broad, high-competition keywords (like “coffee” instead of “organic coffee beans in Calgary”), while others don’t use keywords at all.
Fix it: Research keywords that match what your customers are actually searching for. Use tools like Google’s Keyword Planner or Ubersuggest to find relevant phrases. Then, naturally include them in your website content, headings, image names, and meta descriptions.
4. No Blog (Because There’s No Time)
Blogging takes time, and that’s exactly why many small business owners skip it. But here’s the thing: a blog isn’t just about writing—it’s about getting found. Every Google search result is either a blog post or a video. Think about it—when you search for something, you end up on someone’s website reading a blog or watching their video.
Google loves fresh, helpful content, and a blog is a great way to add valuable keywords and keep your site active. Blogging also answers customer questions before they even reach out, building trust and positioning your business as an expert.
Fix it: If writing a blog post every week feels impossible, start with one a month. Answer common customer questions, share industry tips, or explain your services. Even a little effort can make a big difference. You can also repurpose content from your blog into social media posts, newsletters, or even short videos.
5. Ignoring Mobile Optimization
More than half of all web traffic comes from mobile devices. If your website isn’t mobile-friendly, you’re not just frustrating visitors—you’re also losing SEO points.
Fix it: Use Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test to see how your site performs. If it’s hard to navigate on a phone, consider switching to a responsive design, simplifying navigation, and making buttons easy to tap.
6. Slow Website Speed
A slow website drives visitors away. If your pages take too long to load, people leave—and Google notices. Google ranks faster websites higher because slow sites create a bad user experience.
Why it matters:
Visitors won’t wait. If your site takes longer than 3 seconds to load, many people will leave.
Google rewards speed. Fast websites get a ranking boost, while slow ones get pushed down.
Conversions drop. A slow site means fewer purchases, sign-ups, or inquiries.
Fix it: Compress images, minimize plugins, and use a reliable hosting provider. Test your speed with Google PageSpeed Insights and make improvements based on the results.
7. Missing Meta Titles & Descriptions
Meta titles and descriptions are what people see in search results before clicking on your website. If they’re missing, generic, or poorly written, you’re losing clicks.
Fix it: Every page on your site should have a unique, keyword-rich meta title (the clickable blue link in search results) and a compelling meta description (the short text below it).
Think of it as your website’s ad—make it interesting! This is the first impression of your website, so make it count.
8. Not Using Internal Links
Internal links guide visitors (and search engines) through your website. Without them, pages can feel disconnected, and important content might not get the visibility it deserves.
Fix it: Link to related pages within your content. You can also include blog posts in product descriptions or landing pages to answer common questions or explain your process.
This keeps visitors engaged and helps SEO.
9. No Analytics or Tracking
If you’re not tracking your website’s performance, you’re making SEO changes in the dark. How do you know if your efforts are working?
Fix it: Set up Google Analytics and Google Search Console. These free tools show how people find and use your website, what’s working, and what needs improvement. Google Search Console also alerts you to any indexing issues that might prevent your site from showing up in search results.
Learn how to set up your Google Search Console.
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10. Relying Only on Social Media
Social media is great, but it’s not enough. Algorithms change, reach can be unpredictable, and if your account gets suspended, you could lose everything. You don’t own your social media audience—the platform does.
Fix it: Use social media to drive traffic to your website, not replace it. Make sure your website is optimized so customers can find you through search, not just Instagram or Facebook.
11. Forgetting About Local SEO
Now we’re closing the circle—having a Google Business Profile is essential, but it’s just one piece of the puzzle. Local SEO helps customers find businesses in their area.
Fix it:
Include your location in your title tags, meta descriptions, and content.
List your business in local directories like Yelp, Yellow Pages, and other Canadian directories.
Encourage customers to leave reviews on your Google Business Profile.
Get SEO Working for Your Business
SEO isn’t just about getting more traffic—it’s about getting the right traffic. If your website isn’t ranking or bringing in leads, these common mistakes could be the reason. Fixing them takes time, but the payoff is worth it.
If you’d rather focus on running your business while someone else handles the SEO, I can help. Let’s get your website working for you.
Click Here to Contact me to get started today!
Check out our latest SEO Project for Black Cat Florist. See the data we achieved, see the changes we made.
