7 Mistakes Small Business Owners Make When Using SEO

Reading Time: 8 mins 8 sec

Is your small firm a best-kept secret on the web?

Do you want more clients to find you online?

You are not the only one! Many small shop owners miss out on chances to grow.

This is often because they don’t know the mistakes small business owners make when using SEO.

Why does SEO even count for you?

Think of it this way:

More eyes: SEO can help folks find your site when they search.
New leads: More eyes can mean more folks who want what you sell.
Big-name play: You can fight for space with big names in your field.
Brand boost: People see your brand more when you rank high.

But if you mess up your SEO, you can lose out on these wins.

You might waste time. You might even hurt how folks see your site.

This guide will show you the main mistakes small biz owners make when using SEO.

We will give you clear steps to fix them.

Get ready to make your site shine and win more work!

Table of Contents

Summary

“Many small firms miss out on web wins as they make SEO mistakes. These firms do not have sites that work well on phones. They do not fix site speed. They use the wrong words. They do not build links. They write bad text. They do not watch their SEO work.

Fixing these mistakes can boost traffic and sales. Start by making your site phone right and fast. Pick the right words. Build links. Write good text. Watch your SEO work. Be patient. If you do these things, your site will shine.”

Read this: How is Voice Search Changing the SEO Landscape

The Base: Mistakes Small Business Owners Make When Using SEO

A. Is Your Site Phone-Right?

These days, most folks use their phones to surf the web.

So, search sites like Google look at how your site works on phones first. This is called “mobile-first indexing.”

If your site is hard to use on a phone, Google will mark you down.

Make it fit: Use “responsive design.” This means your site shifts to fit any screen.
Test it now: Use Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test to see how you do.

B. Speed and Core Web Vital Signs

Slow sites can kill your SEO. Google cares a lot about speed.

They even have “Core Web Vitals” to check how fast your site feels to users.

These include:

LCP: How long does it take for the main part of your page to show?
FID: How long it takes for your site to react when someone clicks.
CLS: How much things move around on your page while it loads.

How to make your site faster:

Small pics: Make sure your images are small in size.
Store stuff: Use “caching” to save bits of your site for later.
Use a CDN: A CDN stores your site on many servers so it loads fast all over the world.
Cut the asks: The less your site has to ask for from the server, the faster it will be.

Test your speed with Google PageSpeed Insights or GTmetrix.

C. Messy Site Map

Think of your site like a house. Does it make sense?

Can folks find what they need? If not, you have a big issue.

Make it clear: Plan your site so folks can hop from page to page with ease.
Easy moves: Make your main menu clear and easy to use.
Clean links: Make your web page links clean and simple.

D. Bad Word Hunt

You need to know what folks search for to find you.

This is why you must hunt for the right words, so you can bring them to your shop.

Find keywords: Use tools like Google Keyword Planner, SEMrush, or Ahrefs.
Long and short: Find short, broad words and long, clear words.
What do they need?: Know if folks want info or want to buy.

E. Words That Are Too Hard to Win

Some words are just too hard to rank for. Big firms fight over them.

So, you need to pick words that are just right for you.

How hard?: See how hard it is to rank for a word.
Pick a path: Look for long, clear words that fit your small area.
Find gaps: Find words that are not too used.

Read this: What Elements Are Foundational For SEO with AI

On-Page SEO Errors

A. Bad Page Titles

Your page title and short text are the first things folks see on Google. Make them good!

Why care?: Good titles get more clicks.
Word count: Make sure you add your main words and keep them short and sweet.
Make them want to click: Do not just list words; make them want to see more.

B. Ignoring Title Tags (H1, H2, H3)

Title tags (H1, H2, H3, and so on) help break up your text.

They also tell search sites what is key to your page.

How do they help?: They make your text easy to read.
Best way: Use one H1 per page. Use H2 to H6 to make points clear.

C. Bad Inner Links

Inner links are links from one page on your site to another.

They are good for SEO.

Why use them?: They help folks move around your site. They help pass link power.
How to use: Link to pages that fit well with the text. Use words that tell folks what the link is about.

D. Not Fixing Pics (Alt Text)

Alt text is the text that shows if a pic does not load.

It is also key for SEO.

Why use it?: It helps folks who can’t see pics. It helps Google know what the pic is about.
How to use: Write clear text with keywords. Make your pics small in size.

E. Thin or Double Text

Google hates thin or double text.

It can hurt your rank.

What is it?: Thin text is text that does not say much. Double text is the same text on more than one page.
Why is it bad?: It makes your site look bad. It wastes space.
How to fix: Do deep research. Add new ideas. Say more than others.
Use code: If you have the same text on two pages, use a “canonical tag” to tell Google which page is the main one.

Off-Page SEO & Link Build Woes

A. No Links at All

Links from other sites to your site are like votes.

Google looks at these votes to see if your site is good.

Why links?: The more good links you have, the higher you rank.
Keep it up: You need to try to get new links all the time.

B. Bad Link Tricks (Buying Links)

Do not buy links! It is a bad idea.

Google can see this and will hurt your site.

What is bad?: Buying links. Link schemes. Fake blog sites.
Why bad?: Google will mark you down or ban you.
What to do?: Write great guest posts. Find links that are broken and ask to fix them. Ask sites to link to you.

C. No Town Links

If you serve folks in your town, you need town links.

These are links on sites like Yelp or the Yellow Pages.

Why town links?: They help folks find you when they search for your type of work in your town.
Where to list?: Yelp, Yellow Pages, and so on.
Keep it the same: Use the same name, place, and phone number on all sites.

Read this: Best SEO Companies in Los Angeles – 2025

Text Plan Woes

A. Bad Text All The Time

Text is king. You need to write good text all the time.

Why care?: Good text keeps folks on your site. It makes them want to share.
Plan it out: Make a text plan. Know what you will write and when.
Mix it up: Write blog posts, make videos, draw charts, tell tales.

B. Not Knowing Who You Write For

You need to know who you are writing for.

What do they need? What do they fear?

How to know?: Ask them. Watch what they do on social media. Look at what your competitors write.

C. Not Telling Folks About Your Text

Do not just write it and leave it!

You need to tell folks about your text.

Why tell?: To get more eyes on your site. To get more folks to buy.
How to tell?: Share on social media. Send e-mails. Ask others to share. Pay for ads.

Tech SEO Woes: Mistakes Small Business Owners Make When Using SEO

A. Bad Bots and Site Maps

You need to tell search bots what to look at on your site. You do this with a “robots.txt” file and a “sitemap.xml” file.

What do they do?: The “robots.txt” file tells bots what not to look at. The “sitemap.xml” file tells bots where to find all your pages.
How to make it?: Look online for tools to make these files. Then, send them to Google.

B. Not Using Google Search Console and Google Analytics

These tools are free from Google.

They tell you a lot about how your site is doing.

Why use?: They show you how much traffic you get. They show you what words you rank for. They show you if you have bot issues.
How to start?: Go to the Google Search Console and Google Analytics sites. Add your site. Watch the data.

C. Busted Links and 404 Errors

Busted links and 404 errors are bad.

They make your site look bad. They hurt SEO.

Why bad?: They make folks leave your site.
How to find it?: Use Google Search Console or other link check tools.

Read this: Google My Business Optimization Checklist: Ultimate Guide

Measuring & Changing: Data & Plan

A. Not Watch-ing SEO Work

You need to watch how well your SEO is working.

Why watch?: To see if your work is paying off.
What to watch?: Traf-fic, rankings, sales.
How to watch?: Use Google Analytics, Google Search Console, and ranking tools.

B. Not Chang-ing Your Plan Based on Data

The data will tell you what is working and what is not.

Change your plan based on what you learn.

How to change?: Try new words. Update old text. Make your site faster.

C. Not Patient: Want-ing Quick Wins

SEO takes time. Do not give up if you do not see results right away.

Why patient?: It takes time for Google to find and rank your site.
Be real: Know that SEO is a long game. Keep working at it.

Bonus: Social Media Woes That Hurt SEO

Not the Same Brand: Make sure your brand looks the same on all sites.
Not Listening: Pay attention to what folks say on social media.
Ig-nor-ing Data: Watch your social media data to see what works.
Bad Tags: Use hashtags that folks search for.
No Talk Time: Talk to your fans! Answer questions and make them feel heard.

Conclusion

We have seen some of the main mistakes small business owners make when using SEO.

If you fix these, you will get more eyes on your site.

SEO is key for small firms. It helps you grow and beat big firms.

So, take action! Fix these mistakes. Then, watch your site rise in the ranks!

Click here for a free SEO Audit! Or, call us to talk about your SEO needs.

Read Also

FAQ

What is the main mistake of SEO that firms make?

The main mistake is not knowing your viewers. Firms often use words that they like. Instead, firms should find out what words their viewers search for. Firms should ask viewers, watch their social media, and look at their competitors. When firms know their viewers, they can make text that speaks to them.

Does SEO really work for small firms?

Yes! SEO is key for small firms. It helps them fight with bigger firms. It can help them get more eyes on their site. More eyes can lead to more sales. SEO can also help build a brand. When folks see your site high in the ranks, they trust you more.

What is the biggest test in SEO?

The biggest test in SEO is keeping up with change. Google and other search sites change their rules all the time. So, firms need to stay up to date. They need to watch what is working and what is not. They need to be willing to change their plans.

How does SEO affect a firm?

SEO can change a firm in many ways. It can bring more folks to the firm’s site. This can lead to more sales. SEO can also build a brand. It can help the firm be seen as an expert in its field. It will save you money long term by not paying for ads.

How much does SEO impact sales?

The impact of SEO on sales depends on many things. It depends on how well the firm does SEO. It depends on the in-dus-try. It depends on the competition. But, in general, SEO can have a big impact on sales. Some firms see a big rise in sales after starting to do SEO.

Can I do SEO myself?

Yes, you can! Now, you can learn the basics of SEO. You can learn how to find words, write good text, and build links. But, SEO can take time and effort. If you do not have the time or skills, you may want to hire an expert.