9 Things You Can Do Right Now to Increase Website Traffic and Improve Your SEO
If you're looking to grow your audience, attract more visitors, and rank higher in search engines, you're not alone. SEO (Search Engine Optimization) doesn’t have to be overwhelming or overly technical. There are simple, effective actions you can take today that will help boost your website traffic and get you noticed online. It is important to remember that organic SEO takes time and you most likely won’t see overnight results. SEO builds authority and credibility over time.
Here are 9 easy steps to get you started:
1. Optimize Blog Post with Keywords
Add keywords naturally to the title, meta description, headers, and body of the post. Don’t force it, but make it flow. There are tools that can help you evaluate which keywords to use. These tools include Google Keyword Planner, Use tools like Google Keyword Planner, Ubersuggest, or Semrush.
2. Start Internal Linking
Go through older blog posts and add links to newer blog posts (or vice-versa). When you link to other relevant pages or posts on your own site, you help search engines understand your site structure and improve time on page.
3. Write a Fresh Blog Post Answering a Common Question
Think about your audience’s top 3 questions and write a blog post answering just one of them. People are always Googling how-to’s and “what is…” questions. Writing content that answers specific questions can help you show up in search results — even in featured
4. Create a Free Download or Lead Magnet
Offering a free guide, checklist, or template gives people a reason to stay longer and return to your site. It also boosts engagement — a ranking factor for SEO.
5. Share Your Content on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, or Other platforms
Make a graphic using Canva and post it with a link to your blog. Clicks from social media platforms can help drive traffic and boost your SEO.
6. Add Alt Text to Your Images
Choose 5 images on your site and add short, clear alt text to each one. Image SEO is often overlooked. Adding descriptive alt text improves accessibility and helps search engines understand your content.
7. Submit Your Sitemap to Google Search Console
Set up a free Google Search Console account, then submit your XML sitemap. If you haven’t done this yet, it’s one of the easiest wins. It helps Google crawl and index your site faster. If you have worked with me, this has already been done. If not, you can ask your current web designer or ask Google for instructions.
8. Build Backlinks (Yes, Even as a Beginner)
Backlinks, links from other websites to yours, tell search engines that your site is trustworthy and worth recommending. A few ideas include:
Guest post on a friend’s blog or an industry site.
Offer quotes or insights to bloggers or podcasters in your niche.
Get listed in directories or local resource pages relevant to your industry.
Answer questions on forums like Reddit or Quora, and link back when relevant.
Even one good backlink can make a difference in your search rankings over time.
9. Set Up or Optimize Your Google Business Profile
If you serve a local area (even virtually), a Google Business Profile helps you show up in local search and on Google Maps.
Visit google.com/business.
Fill out every detail (business name, website, hours, description, photos).
Ask happy clients or customers to leave a review.
Post updates, offers, or blog links regularly.
A fully completed profile can dramatically increase your visibility in local search results.
SEO is not about doing everything at once. It's about taking small, smart steps that build on each other. Choose one or two tasks from this list to start today. Over time, they’ll help bring more of the right people to your website — and keep them coming back.
Free SEO Checklist
Download a free SEO checklist to help get you started. Your website designer could help with some. You can also hire someone who specializes in search engine optimization.