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Everything that you need to know to start your own business. From business ideas to researching the competition.
Practical and real-world advice on how to run your business — from managing employees to keeping the books
Our best expert advice on how to grow your business — from attracting new customers to keeping existing customers happy and having the capital to do it.
Entrepreneurs and industry leaders share their best advice on how to take your company to the next level.
Let us help your business find the best tools and solutions to thrive and grow.
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Improve site rankings using SEO techniques. Start by incorporating small business SEO practices and strategies from these search engine optimization categories.
Ranking higher in search results can seem impossible for small businesses. However, search engine optimization (SEO) techniques and best practices do more than increase your visibility on search engine result pages (SERPs). Proper SEO implementation can increase foot traffic to local shops and deliver seamless mobile experiences.
SEO can be divided into four categories, each vital to your digital marketing strategy. Explore these four types of SEO practices, see what common mistakes to avoid, and learn how to optimize your small business website.
On-page SEO optimization involves creating a key word strategy and optimizing website elements such as title tags, meta descriptions, and content structure to improve rankings and enhance user experience. It’s a foundational SEO strategy and an excellent place for beginners to practice SEO.
Before optimizing your website, conduct key word research to identify relevant, high-value search terms and develop an SEO strategy.
Prioritize these on-page SEO factors:
Think of off-page SEO as an online version of word-of-mouth referrals. These SEO activities occur outside of your website, signaling to search engines (and humans) that your brand is credible and relevant. Off-page SEO strategies can improve your brand reputation, increase rankings, and drive traffic.
Getting high-quality backlinks is vital to your off-page SEO efforts. But writing guest posts and collaborating with local bloggers or influencers aren’t the only ways to build trust with customers and enhance your reputation.
Off-page SEO tactics include:
Small businesses can compete with big brands using local SEO techniques. It’s even more crucial if you have a physical storefront or serve a regional audience. A local SEO strategy helps your small business appear in searches like “hot wings near me.”
To benefit from local SEO, personalize content to meet your community’s needs as their expert in your industry.
Local SEO tactics include:
Technical SEO keeps your website secure and accessible, which are core elements for designing your website user experience (UX). But, you must monitor website health and performance regularly. Plug-ins, theme updates, and other issues can impact UX and hurt your technical SEO efforts.
Evaluate your website for SEO to identify and prioritize site errors, like slow loading times. A web developer, SEO firm, or tech-savvy staffer can help with advanced SEO techniques, such as optimizing JavaScript and CSS to improve page rendering speed.
SEO beginners can:
Even your best SEO efforts can be undone by common mistakes.
Avoid SEO errors like:
Track SEO performance with paid or free key word and website monitoring tools. The best SEO solutions for beginners have simple user interfaces and in-app tips, so you can act quickly on insights.
Consider free SEO tools like:
By optimizing your website, you’re helping customers find your products and services. But, you must measure your optimization tactics and refine your SEO strategy to ensure continued progress.
SEO and website analytics tools can help monitor these metrics:
CO— aims to bring you inspiration from leading respected experts. However, before making any business decision, you should consult a professional who can advise you based on your individual situation.
CO—is committed to helping you start, run and grow your small business. Learn more about the benefits of small business membership in the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, here.
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