Beginner’s Guide to Website SEO
If you’ve just started a website for your business or blog and you’re wondering why it’s not showing up on Google, you’re not alone. Many beginners feel lost when they hear the term SEO (Search Engine Optimisation). The good news? SEO is not as scary as it sounds, and with the right steps, you can start attracting more visitors without spending a fortune on ads.
In this beginner’s guide from Janric Limited, we’ll go through exactly what SEO is, why it’s important, and most importantly, how you can start improving your website’s SEO today — even if you have little to no technical knowledge.
What Is SEO?
SEO stands for Search Engine Optimisation. It’s the process of improving your website so that search engines like Google can easily understand what your site is about and show it to people who are searching for your products, services, or information.
In simple terms, SEO helps you get free traffic from search engines. Think of Google as a matchmaker — it wants to connect people’s questions with the most relevant answers. Your job is to make your website the best possible answer for your audience’s search queries.
Why SEO Matters
- More Visitors Without Paying for Ads – Once you’re ranking well, you can get traffic for months or even years without ongoing ad spend.
- Better Quality Leads – People searching for your topic are already interested in what you offer.
- Brand Trust – Sites that appear high in Google’s results are seen as more credible.
The 3 Main Pillars of SEO
SEO can seem huge, but it really boils down to three main areas:
| Pillar | What It Means | Beginner-Friendly Example |
|---|---|---|
| On-Page SEO | Everything you do on your website to help search engines understand your content. | Using clear titles, headings, and keywords in your blog posts. |
| Off-Page SEO | What happens outside your website to build authority and trust. | Getting links from other reputable websites to yours. |
| Technical SEO | Making sure your website is technically sound so search engines can crawl and index it. | Having a mobile-friendly design and fast-loading pages. |
Step-by-Step SEO for Beginners
Step 1: Understand Your Audience
Before you start optimising, you need to know who you’re trying to reach and what they’re searching for. Ask yourself:
- What problems do they have?
- What questions are they asking?
- What words or phrases might they type into Google?
You can use free tools like AnswerThePublic or Google’s autocomplete feature to find common search terms.
Step 2: Choose the Right Keywords
Keywords are the words or phrases that people type into search engines. Choosing the right keywords helps Google know when to show your site.
| Keyword Type | Example | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
| Short-Tail | “Website design” | Broad topics, harder to rank for. |
| Long-Tail | “Affordable website design for small businesses in Southport” | More specific, easier to rank for, and brings in targeted traffic. |
Tip: Focus on long-tail keywords when starting out — they have less competition and attract people who are ready to take action.
Step 3: Optimise Your Website Content
Once you’ve chosen your keywords, you’ll want to place them naturally into your content. This includes:
- Page titles (H1 tags)
- Headings and subheadings (H2, H3 tags)
- Body text
- Meta descriptions
- Image file names and alt text
Example: If your keyword is “Southport website design”, you might write a blog post titled: “Your Complete Guide to Southport Website Design for Small Businesses”.
Step 4: Make Your Website User-Friendly
Google rewards websites that are easy to use. This means:
- Fast loading times (aim for under 3 seconds)
- Mobile-friendly design
- Clear navigation
- No broken links
Test your site using Google PageSpeed Insights to see how you can improve.
Step 5: Build Backlinks
Backlinks are links from other websites to yours. They act like “votes of confidence” in Google’s eyes. The more high-quality backlinks you have, the higher you can rank.
Beginner-friendly backlink ideas:
- Write guest posts for other blogs
- Get listed in local business directories
- Collaborate with other website owners in your niche
Step 6: Track Your Progress
Use free tools to measure how well your SEO is working:
- Google Search Console – Shows what keywords bring people to your site.
- Google Analytics – Tracks visitors, traffic sources, and behaviour.
Common SEO Mistakes to Avoid
- Keyword stuffing – Overusing your keyword in an unnatural way.
- Ignoring mobile users – Most searches now happen on mobile devices.
- Not updating content – Fresh content often ranks better.
- Skipping meta descriptions – These can improve your click-through rate.
How Long Does SEO Take?
SEO is not an overnight fix. It can take anywhere from a few weeks to several months to see significant results. But once your site starts ranking, the benefits can be long-lasting — bringing in a steady stream of visitors without ongoing advertising costs.
Quick SEO Checklist for Beginners
| Task | Done? |
|---|---|
| Identify your target audience | YES |
| Choose long-tail keywords | YES |
| Optimise page titles and headings | YES |
| Add alt text to images | YES |
| Check mobile responsiveness | YES |
| Speed test your website | YES |
| Get at least 5 backlinks | YES |
Final Thoughts
SEO might feel like a huge task at first, but breaking it down into small, manageable steps makes it much easier. Start by understanding your audience, choosing the right keywords, and creating content that genuinely helps your readers. Keep improving your site’s usability and building backlinks over time, and you’ll start seeing results.
Remember, you don’t have to do everything at once. Even small changes can make a big difference in your rankings. And if you want help getting started, Janric Limited is here to guide you every step of the way.