SEO Starter Kit: Simple SEO for Small Business Owners | How to Be Searchable, Findable, and Chosen

Let’s be honest: SEO sounds scarier than it is.

For a lot of small business owners, SEO feels like the mysterious dark art of the internet — a mix of algorithms, acronyms, and pure bone-chilling anxiety. Those who don’t treat it with fear, hear “search engine optimization” and throw it into the “too technical, too time-consuming,” bucket or the “tomorrow’s problem” bucket.

So let’s pull SEO out of those buckets and figure out how to win the SEO game.

Spoiler: SEO isn’t magic — it’s method. And just like anything, the method is easier to learn that you’d think.

So let’s dive in to the basics of SEO. Once you’ve got these down, you will be able to make powerful changes to the SEO within your website. A little time invested (and I really do mean little), and it becomes one of the most powerful tools you’ll ever have for building visibility and trust online.

Why SEO matters (and why you can do this)

Simple SEO is what helps the right people find you — not through ads, luck, or algorithms you can’t control, but through structure and clarity you define. On your own terms. It’s what allows your website to quietly work for you in the background, day after day, connecting your products, services, and message with the people already searching for them. Think of it as digital matchmaking: your ideal clients are out there typing questions into Google — your job is simply to make sure your website is one of the answers.

What SEO really is (in plain English)

Search engines like Google don’t magically know your site exists. They have to:

1. Crawl – Find your site and read what’s on it.

2. Index – File your pages away in their massive online library.

3. Rank – Decide where your content belongs when someone searches for a topic.

   
   

Your goal? Make it as easy as possible for search engines (and real humans) to understand who you are, what you do, and why it matters.

5 Simple SEO Steps You Can Do Today

You don’t need to be a web developer or tech genius to improve your SEO. I promise. Here are five quick wins you can start right now:

1. Add keyword-rich titles and meta descriptions

These are the clickable headlines and snippets that appear in Google search results. Keep them short (under 60 characters for titles and 160 for descriptions) and use real words your customers would search for.

2. Organize your content with header tags (H1, H2, H3)

Think of them like signposts that guide readers — and Google — through your content. Use one H1 per page, then break up your ideas with clear subheadings.

3. Write alt text for your images

Alt text describes what’s in a photo. It helps Google understand your visuals and improves accessibility for screen readers. Example: “Rose gold handmade pendant displayed on linen background.”

4. Add internal links

Connect your pages together — from your blog to your services, from your about page to your contact page. It helps people stay on your site longer and tells Google your content is connected and trustworthy.

5. Use keywords naturally (no stuffing!)

Keywords are just the words people already use to find what you offer. Write for your audience first, search engines second. Speak their language, and SEO will follow naturally.

The Long Game: SEO Is a Slow Burn

Here’s the part most people skip: SEO takes time. You won’t see results overnight — and that’s okay. Google rewards consistency and quality. So instead of obsessing over quick wins, focus on keeping your content fresh and your website alive. Update an old post. Add a new photo. Write a blog that answers a common client question. Every small update sends a signal: this business is active, valuable, and worth ranking. Think of SEO as tending a garden — plant the seeds, water them regularly, and trust that growth happens below the surface before it appears above it.

What You Can Do Next

If you’ve ever wondered how to:

• Rank your website on Google

• Make your business show up in search results

• Do SEO yourself (without the overwhelm)

…this is where you start. When you treat SEO as a steady, ongoing part of your business — not a one-time project — your visibility grows naturally and sustainably.

Homework: Your SEO Action Plan

1. Write down 10 SEO keywords your customers might use to find you.

2. Choose one page on your website to update this week — add a new title tag, description, or internal link.

3. Create a social post about “trusting the slow burn” of SEO. Tag @RoseEmberFoundry

Let’s stop guessing and let’s stop ignoring the things that feel too difficult. It is my personal mission to equip my entrepreneur friends with all the skills they need to feel empowered. I want to see you approaching your website and marketing with intention and a strong skillset. Trade the “too hard” bucket for a “things I can learn” bucket and start approaching everything as one levelling-up (after another) in the master game of #EntrepreneurLife. You can do this.

And remember: SEO isn’t about hacks or quick wins. It’s about showing up consistently with structure, purpose, and clarity. It’s what turns a static website into a living system that attracts, informs, and connects. And it’s the thing that performs for you long after you log off.

So, before you close this tab, take one small action:

- Add a keyword-rich title tag.

- Update one meta description.

- Write alt text for one image.

Small, steady actions add up — and each one helps search engines (and real people) understand who you are and what you offer. SEO is the quiet ember that keeps your content glowing long after you hit publish. Plant the seeds. Tend the garden. Let your visibility grow — one keyword, one update, one small win at a time.

👉 Ready to take the next step? Download your free SEO Checklist and Mechanisms Behind SEO Cheat Sheet in The Ember Vault, complete your Fire Point Challenge, and then explore the full Ember Learning Channel — 42 lessons designed to make branding, strategy, and marketing simple, sustainable, and accessible for every entrepreneur, at every stage.

If you’d like help shaping your story or optimizing your website strategy, you don’t have to figure it out alone. Book a free Spark Call to get clarity, or go deeper with a Firestarter Session for personalized marketing and content coaching. If you ever have questions or want to share your progress — reach out. I read and respond to every message personally.