Getting your business to display high in Google search listings can seem like an unattainable dream - or something that has to be paid for.

But it doesn’t have to be. While there’s no “quick fix” to mastering Google’s algorithms, there are some simple things you can do today to start boosting your website’s search engine performance.

Find your keywords

Use specific words and phrases across your website to improve the relevancy of your content. Don’t overdo it though - cramming too many keywords into your content is considered “keyword stuffing” which puts your website at risk of being marked as spam.

Optimize page titles and descriptions

This is the information Google displays in search results. Keep your titles within 50-60 characters and meta descriptions between 50-160 characters - remember to include your keywords in there.

Produce more content

Regularly updating your website is important. Fresh content attracts users to your site and keeps them there for longer - both of these factors help improve your search rankings.

Include links

Backing up your information with official sources improves your website’s credibility. Support any claims you make by including hyperlinks out to a reliable source. Also, include internal links in your content to other pages on your site to keep users there for longer. This increases your site’s “dwell time” which influences search rankings.

Make use of ALT tags

Images and videos offer excellent ranking opportunities. Complete the alternative text description field for each asset you upload with a description of what it shows. This creates more chances for your website to be found and will improve your overall site ranking.

Tackle duplicate content

Put simply, this is when there are two or more pages on your website that are identical. Google can pick this up as another form of keyword stuffing.

Analyze your mobile site

You might have heard “mobile-first” when it comes to web design. Google values user experience and with 80% of web searches coming from mobile, having an easy-to-navigate, simple website for mobile is essential. See more about how to improve your mobile site here.

Consider load speed

Digital users have a super short attention span. Imagine your users are looking for any excuse not to read your content and return to their very important game of Candy Crush. If your website takes too long to load, that gives them the perfect excuse! There are things you can do to improve site speed such as compressing large image files before you upload. Check your current website load speed with Google’s PageSpeed Insights.

You can make a real improvement to your business’ search rankings when you follow the steps above. However, there is so much more to SEO - from sitemaps to URL structures. These technical aspects are the specialty of dedicated SEO firms who are best-placed to provide you with advice and support specifically tailored to your business.

Once your SEO is on the up, look at other ways to market your website with these website promotion tips for small companies.