Paper Trails

SEO Strategies for Small Businesses

Small Business Big World Episode 27: SEO Strategies for Small Businesses

This is Small Business Big World, our weekly podcast prepared by the team at Paper Trails. Owning and running a small business is hard. Each week we’ll dive into the challenges, headaches, trends, fun and excitement of running a small business. After all, small businesses are the heartbeat of America and our team is here to keep them beating.

Watch the full episode here.

Listen to the full episode here.

 

In the world of online marketing, search engine optimization (SEO) can seem overwhelming. If you’re a small business owner, you might feel confused by the thought of improving your online presence and staying competitive in an ever-changing landscape. In the latest episode of our podcast, ‘Small Business Big World’ we dive deep into the intricacies of small business SEO with our marketing director, Jon Portanova, who breaks it all down in a way that’s both informative and easy for small businesses to understand.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

Jon covers small business SEO essentials, such as on-page, off-page, and technical SEO, offering actionable tips you can start implementing right away. Whether you’re new to SEO or looking to sharpen your existing strategies, this episode provides valuable insights to help you boost your online visibility and drive more traffic to your website.

At Paper Trails, we’re obsessed with helping small businesses navigate the complexities of payroll, HR, and business management. We understand that SEO can be another challenging area, and we’re here to guide you through it with practical advice and expert knowledge.

Breaking Down Small Business SEO

Jon begins the episode by explaining the fundamentals of SEO, splitting it into three main areas: on-page, off-page, and technical SEO.

1. On-Page SEO: Optimizing Your Website’s Content

On-page SEO involves optimizing individual web pages to rank higher in search engines and attract more relevant traffic. Jon covers the importance of keyword research—identifying the terms your potential customers are searching for—and explains how to use these keywords naturally in your content, title tags, meta descriptions, and headings. He also highlights the role of internal linking in creating a more navigable site structure, which helps both users and search engines understand the importance of various pages on your website.

2. Off-Page SEO: Building Your Online Reputation

Off-page SEO focuses on activities outside of your website that impact your search engine rankings. Jon discusses the significance of building backlinks from reputable sites, claiming and optimizing your Google My Business profile, and engaging with your audience on social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook. These strategies help to establish your brand as a trusted authority and drive more traffic to your website.

3. Technical SEO: Enhancing Your Site’s Performance

Technical SEO involves optimizing the backend of your website to improve its performance and make it easier for search engines to crawl and index your pages. Jon shares insights on how to optimize your site structure, improve page speed, and use optimized image formats. He also discusses the importance of conducting an SEO audit to identify and fix any technical issues that might be holding back your search engine rankings.

The Power of Effective SEO

To illustrate the impact of a well-executed SEO strategy, Jon shares an inspiring case study of a small payroll company, Paper Trails, in Maine. Through consistent content production and optimization, this company climbed the Google rankings, becoming an authority in their industry. Their success story is a testament to the power of SEO, showing that even small businesses can compete with larger players by leveraging smart SEO tactics.

Local SEO

Jon also delves into the importance of local SEO for small businesses. By targeting specific locations with your keywords, you can achieve higher rankings with less competition. He offers practical tips for optimizing your website content and meta descriptions to reach local audiences, ensuring that your business stands out in search results for your area.

Why You Should Listen to This Episode

This episode of ‘Small Business Big World’ is packed with practical advice and actionable tips to help you improve your small business SEO. Whether you’re just getting started or looking to refine your existing strategies, Jon’s insights will give you the tools you need to enhance your online presence and attract more customers.

Don’t miss out on this opportunity to learn from an expert—tune in to the full episode and start taking your small business to new heights with effective SEO strategies.

This podcast is a production of Paper Trails. We are a payroll and HR company based in Kennebunk, Maine, and we serve small and mid-sized businesses across New England and the country. If you found this podcast helpful, don’t forget to follow us at at Paper Trails Payroll across all social media platforms and check us out at papertrails.com for more information. As a reminder, the views, opinions and thoughts expressed by the hosts and guests alone. The material presented in this podcast is for general information purposes only and should not be considered legal or financial advice. By inviting this guest to our podcast, Paper Trails does not imply endorsement of or opposition to any specific individual, organization, product or service.