Small Business SEO Cheat Sheet
The on-page basics that move you up Google
You don't need to be technical to rank. This cheat sheet covers the on-page SEO that actually moves the needle, from title and meta templates to page structure, images, and speed, in plain language with examples.
Best for: Owners who want to rank without hiring an SEO
What’s inside
Title Tags (most important)
- Formula: Primary Keyword | Brand
- Example: Lawn Care Denver | GreenYard
- Keep it under 60 characters
- Make it unique on every page
- Front-load the important words
Meta Descriptions
- Write 150 to 160 characters
- Summarize the page and give a reason to click
- Include your main keyword naturally
- Write one per page; never duplicate
Page Structure
- One H1 per page, the main heading
- Use H2s for sections, in order
- Keep paragraphs short and scannable
- Clean URLs: /roof-repair not /page2
Images
- Compress before uploading, under 200 KB
- Add alt text describing the image
- Name files descriptively, not IMG_1234
- Set width and height to avoid layout shift
Speed Wins
- Compress and lazy-load images
- Remove unused plugins and scripts
- Use a fast, modern host
- Aim for under three seconds on mobile
The Basics Google Wants
- A sitemap submitted in Search Console
- HTTPS, the padlock, on every page
- Mobile-friendly on every page
- Unique, helpful content per page
Recommended Resources
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