The Problem: Your Website Isn’t Working for You

If your website isn’t pulling its weight—hello, low traffic, and high bounce rates—it’s not just a design issue; it’s a strategy issue. A good website doesn’t just look pretty; it works overtime to drive traffic, engage visitors, and convert them into loyal customers.

You can have the most stunning website on the planet, but if Google can’t find it, it’s like a billboard in the middle of a desert.

The best part? You don’t need to be a tech wizard to improve your site’s SEO. Let’s break it down into simple steps that make a big difference.

Step 1: Make Your Website Fast

Ever clicked a link and waited…and waited…and finally gave up? Your customers feel the same way.

Here’s how to speed things up:

• Compress Your Images: Big image files slow your site down. Use free tools like TinyPNG to shrink them.

• Limit Fancy Features: Video backgrounds and animations are cool, but too many can bog down your load time.

• Use a Reliable Host: A good hosting service keeps your site speedy and stable.

Why It Matters: Google prioritizes fast-loading websites. If your site is slow, you’re losing rankings and visitors.

Step 2: Use Keywords Smartly

Keywords are the words and phrases people type into Google to find businesses like yours. For example, if you’re a bakery, keywords might include “custom cakes near me” or “best gluten-free cookies.”

Here’s how to use them:

• Pick 3-5 Keywords: Focus on what your ideal clients are searching for.

• Include Them in Key Places: Add keywords naturally to your page titles, headings, and even image alt text.

• Don’t Overdo It: Keyword stuffing (repeating the same word a million times) looks spammy and will hurt your rankings.

Why It Matters: Keywords tell Google what your website is about, making it easier for people to find you.

Step 3: Make It Mobile-Friendly

Most people browse the internet on their phones. If your site isn’t mobile-friendly, you’re losing visitors before they even get started.

What to check:

• Responsive Design: Your site should look great on any screen, from desktop to smartphone.

• Clickable Buttons: Make sure buttons and links are big enough to tap without frustration.

• Readable Text: Nobody wants to squint to read tiny font on a phone.

Why It Matters: Google ranks mobile-friendly sites higher, and your visitors will stick around longer if your site is easy to use.

Step 4: Add Fresh Content Regularly

Google loves new content. When you update your website often, it shows search engines that your site is active and relevant.

Simple ways to keep your content fresh:

• Start a Blog: Share tips, updates, or behind-the-scenes stories.

• Update Your Services Page: Add new offerings or tweak your descriptions.

• Showcase Reviews: Highlight recent customer testimonials.

Why It Matters: Regular updates keep Google happy and give your audience a reason to come back.

Step 5: Make Your Pages Easy to Navigate

Have you ever visited a website and couldn’t figure out where to click? Frustrating, right?

Here’s how to make your site easy to navigate:

• Clear Menus: Use simple labels like “About,” “Services,” and “Contact.”

• Logical Structure: Group similar pages together, like all your products or services under one tab.

• Use Internal Links: Link to other pages on your site to guide visitors (and Google) around.

Why It Matters: Easy navigation keeps visitors on your site longer and helps Google understand your content.

Step 6: Include Clear Call-to-Actions (CTAs)

You’ve got visitors—now what? Tell them exactly what you want them to do.

Examples of strong CTAs:

• “Book Your Free Consultation”

• “Shop Our Collection Now”

• “Sign Up for Our Newsletter”

Place CTAs where they’re easy to see—at the top of your homepage, at the end of blog posts, and on key service pages.

Why It Matters: A clear CTA turns visitors into customers.

Step 7: Set Up Google Analytics

Don’t guess what’s working—track it! Google Analytics is a free tool that shows you how people find and use your site.

Look for:

• Traffic Sources: Are people finding you on Google, social media, or elsewhere?

• Popular Pages: Which pages are getting the most clicks?

• Bounce Rate: If visitors leave quickly, it’s a sign something needs fixing.

Why It Matters: Analytics help you understand what’s working (and what’s not) so you can improve.

Practical To-Do List

If all this feels overwhelming, don’t worry—start small. Here’s what you can do today:

1. Speed Test Your Site: Use free tools like Google PageSpeed Insights to see how fast your site is.

2. Choose 3 Keywords: Add them to your homepage and about page.

3. Check Your Mobile View: Open your site on your phone. Is it easy to use?

Why This Matters for Your Business

Your website is your digital storefront. It should be easy to find, quick to load, and simple to use. When you invest in strategic web design, you’re not just creating a prettier website—you’re creating a tool that drives traffic, builds trust, and grows your business.

At Dear Abbie Design, we specialize in SEO for Squarespace within website designs that look amazing and work even harder. Ready to turn your site into your best salesperson? Let’s make it happen.