DIY SEO Checklist for Small Business Owners: 10 Must-Do Steps to Get Ranked on Google

10 Steps to Rule the Rankings: An SEO Playbook

In the ever-evolving digital landscape, getting your business noticed online can feel like playing a game where the rules change every few months. But here’s the thing, while search engine algorithms may shift, the core principles of good SEO remain the same. And if you take the time to check off the right boxes, the payoff can be enormous: more traffic, more leads, and more customers finding you instead of your competition.

The best part? You don’t need to be a tech wizard or have a big marketing budget to improve your search rankings. Below is your DIY SEO checklist with ten fundamental steps that will help small businesses boost visibility and compete with the big players online.

1. Use ALT Text on Images (And Why It Matters)

Why it’s important:

Search engines can’t “see” images the way humans can, so they rely on ALT text to understand what an image is about. Plus, ALT text improves website accessibility for visually impaired users.

The benefit:

Adding descriptive ALT text not only makes your site more search-friendly but also gives you a chance to rank in Google Image Search, bringing in additional traffic. And, as a bonus, it helps you comply with accessibility standards, which is becoming increasingly important.

📌 Checklist:
✅ Use clear, descriptive ALT text for every image
✅ Avoid keyword stuffing. Keep it natural
✅ If an image is purely decorative, use a blank ALT tag (        alt=""         ) so search engines can ignore it

2. Optimize On-Page Elements (Titles, Meta Descriptions, and Headings)

Why it’s important:

Think of title tags and meta descriptions as your digital first impression. These elements appear in search results and determine whether someone clicks on your website...or scrolls past.

The benefit:

A well-crafted title and description can increase your click-through rate (CTR), bringing more visitors to your site even if you're not ranking #1. Using headers (H1, H2, etc.) properly also makes your content easier to read and helps Google understand the structure of your page.

📌 Checklist:
✅ Keep title tags under 60 characters
✅ Write compelling, keyword-rich meta descriptions (150-160 characters)
✅ Use only one H1 per page (your main title)
✅ Structure your content with H2s and H3s for easy reading

3. Make Sure Your Website Loads FAST

Why it’s important:

If your site takes more than three seconds to load, most visitors will leave before they even see your content. Google also factors page speed into rankings, so a slow site can hurt your SEO and drive potential customers away.

The benefit:

A faster site means better user experience, lower bounce rates, and higher rankings. Plus, mobile users (who make up the majority of web traffic) will stick around longer.

📌 Checklist:
✅ Optimize images and reduce file size
✅ Enable browser caching
✅ Minimize the use of heavy plugins
✅ Use a fast, reliable hosting provider

4. Make Your Website Mobile-Friendly

Why it’s important:

Over 60% of all web traffic now comes from mobile devices. If your site isn’t optimized for mobile, Google will penalize your rankings, and visitors will quickly leave.

The benefit:

A mobile-friendly site increases engagement and conversions, ensuring that customers can easily navigate and purchase on any device.

📌 Checklist:
✅ Use responsive design so your site adjusts to all screen sizes
✅ Test your site using the Google Lighthouse Mobile-Friendly Test
✅ Make sure buttons and links are easy to tap
✅ Avoid pop-ups that are hard to close on mobile

5. Create High-Quality, Useful Content

Why it’s important:

Google’s #1 goal is to serve users the best possible content. If your website provides value, it will rank higher—plain and simple.

The benefit:

Quality content builds trust and authority, keeps visitors on your site longer, and encourages them to share your page.

📌 Checklist:

✅ Content is king, long may it reign. Write evergreen content that does not go out of date
✅ Write content that solves real problems for your audience
✅ Use a conversational tone, skip the jargon
✅ Include internal links to keep visitors exploring

6. Get Backlinks from Reputable Websites

Why it’s important:

Backlinks (links from other sites to yours) act as votes of confidence for your website. The more high-quality sites that link to you, the more trustworthy you appear to Google.

The benefit:

Backlinks can skyrocket your search rankings, sending you steady organic traffic.

📌 Checklist:
✅ Reach out to industry blogs for guest posting opportunities
✅ List your business in reputable directories (e.g., Yelp, Google Business)
✅ Create shareable content (like guides and infographics)

7. Optimize for Local SEO (If You Have a Physical Business)

Why it’s important:

If you run a local business, showing up in Google’s “Map Pack” (the top three map listings) can make a huge difference in how many customers find you.

The benefit:

Local SEO helps drive foot traffic, phone calls, and website visits from nearby customers actively searching for your services.

📌 Checklist:
✅ Claim and fully optimize your Google My Business profile
✅ Get real customer reviews (and respond to them!)
✅ Use local keywords in your products. (e.g., “best coffee shop in [city]”)

8. Track Your SEO Performance (So You Know What’s Working)

Why it’s important:

If you’re not tracking results, you won’t know if your SEO efforts are paying off—or where you need to improve.

The benefit:

Tracking metrics helps you refine your strategy, improve weak spots, and double down on what’s working.

📌 Checklist:
✅ Set up Google Analytics to monitor traffic and behavior
✅ Use Google Search Console to track keyword rankings and fix issues
✅ Check your bounce rate (high bounce rates may mean your content isn’t engaging enough)

9. Secure Your Website with HTTPS (SSL Certificate)

Why it’s important:

Google favors secure websites (HTTPS), and visitors trust them more.

The benefit:

An SSL certificate improves security, builds customer trust, and even gives you a small ranking boost.

📌 Checklist:
✅ Check if your URL starts with https://
✅ If not, install an SSL certificate through your hosting provider

10. Use Social Media to Amplify Your SEO Efforts

Why it’s important:

While social media doesn’t directly affect rankings, it helps spread your content, drive traffic, and build brand authority.

The benefit:

A strong social presence means more exposure, more engagement, and more potential backlinks.

📌 Checklist:
✅ Share your blog posts on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, etc.
✅ Engage with your audience and respond to comments
✅ Encourage sharing with social media buttons on your site

Final Thoughts

SEO isn’t magic, it’s a process.  But by following this checklist, you’ll have a strong foundation to rank higher in search results, get more organic traffic, and grow your small business online. Keep experimenting, keep learning, and most importantly, keep checking those boxes!

Finished with the simple stuff? Or need help managing your website, email marketing, social media ads or business automation?