SEO: Where to Start

A practical, step by step guide for business owners who want reliable results without guesswork.

You built a website. You know SEO matters. You open the tools and do not know where to begin.

Here is the twist. Most beginner guides drown you in jargon and tactics.

Try a cleaner path. Fewer steps. Clear order. No wasted months.

What you will learn and why it matters

• A simple roadmap that shows you where to begin and what to do next.
• Common mistakes to avoid when you are new to SEO.
• Tools and quick checks you can use today.
• How to measure progress, then improve over time.

SEO helps customers find you when they are already looking. Done well, it compounds over time and supports every other channel you use.

1. What SEO is and what it is not

Plain definition

Search Engine Optimisation is the practice of improving your website so it appears more often and higher in search results for relevant queries.

It is not paid ads. It is not a quick hack. It is steady work across content, site structure, and authority signals such as links.

The three pillars

Pillar	What it covers
Technical	Speed, mobile experience, crawlability, sitemaps, structured data, site architecture
Content	Keyword and topic research, headings, helpful copy, media, internal linking
Authority	Backlinks, mentions, partnerships, digital PR

2. Step one: audit your current position

Before you publish anything new, find and fix the basics. This prevents wasted effort.

Core tools

• Google Search Console for queries, indexing, coverage issues
• Analytics for traffic and behaviour
• PageSpeed Insights or Lighthouse for performance
• Screaming Frog or similar to crawl your site

Checks to run

• Indexing: are your important pages indexed. Any errors.
• Broken links and redirect chains.
• Mobile experience: readable text, usable buttons, no layout shifts.
• Speed: large images, heavy scripts, unneeded apps or plugins.
• On page basics: unique titles, meta descriptions, one H1 per page.
• Thin or duplicate content that needs a rewrite or removal.
• Internal links: any orphan pages that nothing links to.

3. Step two: keyword and topic research

You cannot target everything. Choose focus areas that match what your customers search for and the intent behind those searches.

Understand intent

• Informational learn a concept or process
• Comparative evaluate options or vendors
• Transactional ready to buy or book

Quick methods

• Autocomplete, People Also Ask, and related searches in Google
• Keyword Planner or a light tool such as Ubersuggest or KWFinder
• Review competitor pages that rank well, then note their topics and headings

Build a simple topic map

1. Pick one or two core themes that match your services.
2. List five to ten subtopics for each theme, include long tail phrases.
3. Prioritise by relevance, realistic difficulty, and expected value.

4. Step three: content and on page optimisation

Basics that move the needle

• Put the main keyword in the H1 and reflect it in the URL.
• Use clear subheadings and short paragraphs for easy reading.
• Add internal links to and from related pages. Use descriptive anchor text.
• Compress images and write meaningful alt text.
• Answer the core question early. Support with examples and evidence.

Useful content types

• How to guides and tutorials
• Checklists and templates
• Case studies that show proof
• Service pages and local landing pages
• FAQ hubs for common questions

Common pitfalls

• Writing for everyone. Pick a clear audience.
• Keyword stuffing. Use natural language.
• Publishing thin pages that add little value.
• Ignoring design and usability on mobile.

5. Step four: technical SEO and site infrastructure

Good content needs a healthy site. Fix blockers so search engines can crawl and understand your pages.

Priority fixes

• Mobile first experience and HTTPS security
• Fast pages: compress images, cache assets, reduce unused CSS and JS
• XML sitemap submitted in Search Console
• Robots.txt that does not block key resources
• Canonical tags to handle duplicates
• Structured data for important templates such as articles, products, FAQs
• Breadcrumbs and clean, readable URLs

6. Step five: authority and off page signals

Backlinks and mentions help you outrank similar content. Think quality before quantity.

Starter strategies

• Guest posts or expert quotes on relevant sites
• Create linkable assets such as guides, research, or tools
• Local partnerships, sponsorships, and directories that are credible
• Broken link outreach: replace a dead resource with your working guide
• Interviews and collaborations that include a site link

Avoid link schemes or low quality networks. Penalties are costly.

7. Step six: launch, measure, and iterate

Track these metrics

• Impressions and clicks in Search Console
• Keyword positions for your target terms
• Organic sessions and engaged time
• Leads or sales from organic traffic
• New backlinks and referring domains

Improve in cycles

• Refresh older pages with new data and clearer explanations
• Test new titles and meta descriptions to lift click through rate
• Merge or remove weak pages that cannibalise topics
• Add internal links from high traffic pages to priority pages

Expect small signals in weeks. Expect stronger traction between three and six months, sometimes longer in competitive niches.

8. Common mistakes and misconceptions

• Publishing more pages without improving quality
• Trying to rank a single page for many unrelated keywords
• Ignoring mobile performance and Core Web Vitals
• Forgetting internal linking and breadcrumbs
• Expecting instant results and quitting early
• Not using analytics to guide decisions

9. Your first 30 day plan

Week	Focus	Actions
Week 1	Audit and baseline	Set up Search Console and Analytics. Run a crawl. List top pages. Log errors to fix.
Week 2	Keyword mapping	Pick one or two themes. List long tail topics. Prioritise by value and difficulty.
Week 3	Content work	Optimise one or two pages or publish one new guide. Add internal links. Improve titles and headings.
Week 4	Technical and links	Fix speed issues. Submit sitemap. Start three outreach actions for links or mentions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the first thing to do in SEO?

Start with an audit. Check whether your pages are indexed, identify technical errors, assess site speed and mobile usability, then review your existing content and links before creating anything new.

How long does SEO take to show results?

Most websites start to see early movement within a few weeks. Consistent work usually delivers meaningful traction between three and six months, though highly competitive industries may take longer.

Do I need a large budget to start SEO?

No. You can achieve excellent results with free tools such as Google Search Console, Analytics, and PageSpeed Insights. Success depends more on focus and consistency than on expensive software.

Can I do SEO myself?

Yes. Many business owners start by applying the fundamentals—auditing, keyword research, and on-page optimisation. When time or technical complexity grows, hiring a strategist or agency is worthwhile.

What’s the difference between on-page, technical, and off-page SEO?

On-page SEO focuses on your content and internal linking. Technical SEO ensures your site loads fast and is easy for search engines to crawl. Off-page SEO builds authority through backlinks and external mentions.