What is Search Engine Optimisation (SEO)?
- John Micciche
- Mar 25
- 5 min read
Updated: Apr 1
If you’ve ever wondered how certain websites appear at the top of Google while others seem lost in the digital crowd, the answer is Search Engine Optimisation (SEO).
Whether you're a local business in Loughborough or a growing startup, SEO helps your website get discovered by people searching for your products or services online. In this post, we'll break down what SEO is, why it matters, and how small businesses like yours can start using it to attract more customers.
What Does Search Engine Optimisation Mean?
Search engine optimisation (SEO) is the process of improving your website so that it appears higher in search engine results (like Google) when people search for terms related to your business.
Put simply: good SEO helps your website show up when someone types a relevant phrase into Google.
How Search Engines Work
Search engines use automated bots to “crawl” websites and collect information. They then index these pages and decide how to rank them based on relevance, quality, and user experience. When someone makes a search, the search engine shows the most relevant and useful results at the top.
That’s where SEO comes in—helping your website tick all the right boxes so that it’s considered worthy of ranking.
Why Search Engine Optimisation Matters for Small Businesses
Many small business owners assume SEO is only for big companies with big budgets. In reality, local SEO is one of the most powerful (and cost-effective) tools available to small and growing businesses.
Here’s why:
1. More Visibility
Over 90% of online experiences start with a search engine. If your website isn’t optimised, you're missing out on a huge chunk of potential traffic.
2. Quality Website Traffic
SEO helps you attract people who are already searching for what you offer. That means more qualified visitors—people who are more likely to take action, such as calling you, visiting your shop, or making a booking.
3. Builds Trust and Credibility
Websites that appear on the first page of Google are seen as more trustworthy. Investing in SEO helps you build a strong digital presence and gain customer confidence.
The 3 Main Areas of SEO
SEO is a broad topic, but we like to break it down into three main areas:
1. On-Page SEO
This refers to everything on your website—things you can directly control.
Key elements include:
Optimised page titles and headings
Keyword usage (like “search engine optimisation” in this post)
Fast loading speed
Mobile-friendly design
Internal linking (linking to other pages on your website)
Engaging, relevant content
2. Off-Page SEO
This is all about how other websites interact with yours. The biggest factor here is backlinks—links from other websites pointing to yours. These act like votes of confidence in your content.
Other off-page factors include:
Social media shares
Online directories and citations
Guest blogging or partnerships
3. Technical SEO
This refers to behind-the-scenes improvements that help search engines crawl and index your site.
It includes:
Site structure and navigation
Secure connection (HTTPS)
Structured data (schema markup)
Fixing broken links or duplicate content
What is Local SEO?
Local SEO is a specific branch of search engine optimisation focused on helping your business show up in local searches—especially on Google Maps and “near me” searches.
For example, if someone searches for “website designer in Loughborough”, Google aims to show the most relevant local results. Local SEO helps your business get featured in these searches.
At MyBusinessPal, we help local businesses set up and optimise their Google Business Profile, build consistent citations, and earn local backlinks—all part of a solid local SEO strategy.
How Long Does SEO Take to Work?
SEO isn’t a quick fix. It’s a long-term investment. You might start seeing small improvements in a few weeks, but it usually takes 3–6 months to see more noticeable results—and even longer for highly competitive keywords.
However, the traffic and trust you gain from strong SEO can last for months or even years.
Common SEO Terms Explained
Keywords
Words and phrases that people type into search engines. Using the right keywords on your website helps search engines understand what your content is about.
Meta Title and Meta Description
The title and short description shown in search results. These should include your keywords and encourage users to click.
Alt Text
Text added to images to describe them. This helps with accessibility and also gives search engines context.
Backlinks
Links from other websites pointing to yours. They signal to Google that your site is trustworthy.
Domain Authority
A score that predicts how likely your site is to rank in search engines. The higher the score, the better.
How MyBusinessPal Approaches SEO
At MyBusinessPal, we take a phased approach to SEO that works well for startups and small businesses:
SEO Health Check – We assess your current setup and identify key issues.
Foundational Fixes – We optimise your website structure, pages, and content.
Local SEO Boost – We optimise your Google Business Profile and build local citations.
Ongoing Content & Tracking – We write blog posts, monitor performance, and adjust your strategy.
We use affordable tools like Wix, Canva, and Google Search Console to keep costs low while delivering real results.
What Does Good SEO Look Like?
Here are a few signs that your SEO is working:
Your website is appearing on Google for relevant search terms.
You’re getting more website visitors (tracked through Google Analytics).
People are staying longer on your site or clicking through to contact you.
You’re receiving more enquiries, bookings, or sales.
And remember—SEO is not about tricking Google. It’s about helping Google (and your customers) find and understand your business.
Tips to Improve Your SEO Today
If you’re just getting started, here are some easy steps you can take:
Claim and optimise your Google Business Profile.
Add location-based keywords to your website pages.
Write blog posts that answer common questions.
Make sure your website loads quickly and looks good on mobile.
Use internal links to connect related pages.
Need help? That’s exactly what we do at MyBusinessPal.
Final Thoughts: SEO is a Journey, Not a Shortcut
Search engine optimisation is a powerful way to grow your business online—but it takes time, consistency, and the right strategy. Whether you’re launching a new website or improving an old one, SEO helps you get found, earn trust, and attract more of the right customers.
At MyBusinessPal, we help small businesses succeed online with a phased and practical approach to digital marketing. Our SEO strategies are designed for real people and real results—without jargon or inflated prices.
Ready to Get Started with SEO?
Book a free SEO Health Check today or explore our pricing plans to see how we can support your online growth:👉 https://www.mybusinesspal.online/pricing
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