How to Get Started with SEO: 3-Steps for Business Owners 🖥️
SEO… You’ve probably heard of it. Done a fair share of ignoring it. But now you’re ready & wondering how to even get started with this monster of a project.
That’s exactly where I like to enter the scene. Grab that emotional support water bottle—we’ve got work to do!
What is SEO?
If you’ve hit expert level of SEO avoidance, you may not even be aware of what those 3 letters stand for or mean. We’ll start there!
SEO = Search Engine Optimization
In normal speak, SEO is how you show up as the answer to a Googled question.
…or an AI search query.
…or really anywhere someone can type something in a search bar!
SEO is the magic that works behind-the-scenes to help you show up as the most obvious answer.
📝NOTE:
Some would have you believe that AI & AI searches have completely shattered SEO as we know it. But that’s just false. It’s been proven to take good ol’ boring, solid SEO best practices to show up in AI search. So you definitely don’t want to continue hitting snooze on SEO.
Why should business owners care about SEO?
Not only do you need the search engine & AI bots to quickly understand you, your business, your ideal clients, & your offers—you need to be able to stand out for humans, too.
And that’s what SEO is able to do so beautifully!
SEO touches everything in your business. Look…
➡️ website SEO
➡️ blog SEO
➡️ podcast SEO
➡️ social media SEO
➡️ guest speaking SEO
It’s everywhere! On your site, off your site, in content you create, & even in content created about or featuring you.
I like to think of it as extra credit for business owners.
(And this over-achieving girlie is all about some extra credit!)
You’ve got the places to weave in SEO—you just have to know 1️⃣ that they exist AND 2️⃣ how to use them well.
Website SEO vs social media marketing
The first thing most business owners do is freak out over “all the extra work” SEO will add to their plates. But I’d like to point out that that’s yet another lie.
Do you have a website?
Do you create content?
Do you market your biz?
Thought so.
You’re already doing the things—SEO is waving a sign to let you know it can help you take it further.
SEO marketing vs social media marketing is night-n-day.
One asks you to hustle, grind, never take a break—lest you want people to forget you.
(Social media)
The other asks you for monthly content so it can see you’re still active & make sure it’s putting you in front of the best leads.
(SEO)
That one is also VERY forgiving if life life’s and you, let’s say…
End up sick & can’t post for a month
Or have some family emergency that completely throws off anything marketing related with content
Or if you just want to take a break—even a fun one to go frolic on a beach somewhere, haha
2 very different vibes.
2 very different lives you’re asked to live.
I, for one, want to build a business around the life I want to live—not the other way around. So for me… it’s hands-down SEO.
How to get started with SEO
The high-level overview of how to get started with SEO is this:
WEBSITE » CONTENT » OFF-SITE
Before I get into the nitty gritty of what that looks like (and don’t worry, I will!), I want you to hear my story.
How I got started with SEO…
My journey was somehow both slow going & all at once. It’s like it had been building for quite some time, but didn’t click until it clicked.
I was beyond relieved when 2 massage clients magically found me after I barely made rent the first month I lived in Vermont. They only found me because of my SEO!
…which I accidentally did.
I was closing my massage practice in NC & moving to New England. I knew it was important to communicate my new location on my website—but that was it.
Simply because I updated my location on my site, the magic of SEO was able to make my website work for me.
It brought me two paying clients! (The cutest newlywed couple that I’ll never ever forget.)
It was at that moment I realized I had a natural knack for knowing what to put on my site, what questions a potential client would ask, & how proactively answering those would lead them directly to me.
(See?! It’s a totally intuitive process.)
Once it worked, I knew I needed to lean into this strategy that was putting food on the table & keeping a roof over my head.
After accidentally stumbling into becoming an SEO expert, I started applying this strategy to everything—not just my website, but copywriting gigs I was getting on the side.
Before I knew it, SEO was my thing & people were calling me the “SEO Queen.” And after that, the SEO & Grow 🌱 Method was born.
What’s the SEO & Grow Method?
(See, this is why I had to share my story first! Because that leads into my unique approach to SEO.)
The SEO & Grow 🌱 Method is my creation.
The 3-step process I take all DFY SEO clients, SEO group coaching program students, and even my DIY’ers through.
1️⃣ Understand SEO
Get back to the basics! (I mean… I even have a podcast literally called The Basic B, you can’t be surprised.)
Spend time learning different terms, getting familiar with SEO tools, poking around the backend of your site, and—of course—finding good keywords perfect for YOU.
Business owners REALLY need to take the time to understand SEO. What I’ve seen happen when they haven’t taken the time to do this is…
They get screwed over in deals they sign where they’re not even really clear on what the deliverables actually are, SEOs ghost them mid-project, tasks are done that you don’t even understand or get an explanation of. It’s a mess.
And if you’ve experienced that, know that NONE of it is your fault! I want to be really clear on that.
However, it’s going to be a much more empowering process if you’re able to go into your next conversation with an SEO pro—let alone a contract or project—armed with knowledge & at least a basic level of understanding of what’s involved in SEO, what most people will do for you, etc.
2️⃣ Implement SEO
Take your who, how, & what answers, find the best keywords for your business, & create SEO strategies that will draw in those warm-to-hot leads. AND plug them into your website.
This. This is an area I see SO many entrepreneurs struggle with.
Even in my world…
Over the years I’ve given—handed over on a silver platter—the exact SEO things they need. From a heading here or image title there to fully built out SEO strategies or SEO content… and it never sees the light of day.
So these business owners stay the internet’s best kept secret & honestly—it makes me so sad.
If you don’t want to get found, or be visible, or help more people, or experience what it’s like to NOT have to post on social media every day just to feel like people are staying aware of your business… then don’t follow me. Don’t listen to the podcast. Don’t sign up for my emails or come to my workshops. Save your time. And your money.
But if you do want all of those things, then implement what you get when you work with me.
The biggest mistake you can make right here in this phase is literally to NOT do it. To NOT implement the SEO strategy pieces.
So just… make use of what you’ve got, mmk? Because this next part is really fun.
3️⃣ Maintain SEO
Time to transform your marketing strategy from one of hustle & effort → to one of ease, efficiency, & an effective use of your time, effort, AND money—made up of tiny-yet-mighty tweaks.
For years, people have come to me wanting help with their podcasts or blogs or this that the other thing BEFORE they work on their website. And I’ve finally put an end to that. Because you really need your website set up first. (Remember, that’s what happens in the Implementation phase).
Then In the maintenance phase, we’re able to do all of that “ongoing” stuff. The optimizing existing blog posts or podcast episodes or YouTube videos, or creating new content through the lens of SEO so it actually has what it needs to go out & market FOR you.
We also look at errors on your site & fix those so people can 1. Find you & 2. Buy the thing or book with you. Whatever that action is in your world, with your business, & your offers.
I’ve seen far too many people either start with maintenance first OR not even do maintenance for their SEO.
And sure, this sounds like a crap ton of extra work, but that’s because you’re thinking about this through the lens of how much work you do keep up with your social media marketing strategy or strategies.
You’re not even aware of how simple, but impactful SEO marketing is. So of course it’s going to sound like I’m dumping SO much on your plate! But you know what my clients say when they have their first month of maintenance? “That’s it?! That was easy!”
This exact 3-step approach is how you get a hardworking website—just like Cecily said in her case study interview…
And on that note, friend… here’s a bit more about the 3 core places you want to keep in mind as far as where to get started with SEO.
Where exactly do I go to improve my SEO?
While nothing is really “right” or “wrong” as far as where to start your SEO journey, there IS such a thing as a best order of operations.
I need you to follow this exact order IF you either haven’t started SEO or if you’re revamping or pivoting. ⤵️
Improve Website SEO
Your site is your home base. It’s the place you ultimately want to send people to.
So that’s where the SEO journey ideally begins.
The process for improving your website SEO is going to go something like this:
Answer what I call the 3 BIG Q’s (Who do you help? How do you help them? What does it sound like when a friend refers someone to you?)
Identify the keywords that’ll be most supportive for you & your business (...which you can only get by answering those^^ questions)
Create & implement a solid on-page SEO strategy for your core website pages (anything linked in the Navigation Menu and/or Footer)
With a sound SEO strategy in place for your main website pages, you’re ready to move on to content!
SEO for Content Marketing (Blogs, Podcasts, etc.)
Unfortunately, ya can’t skip the need for content. (Especially now with all the AI filler that’s clogging up the internet streets.)
But that doesn’t mean content creation has got to take over your life!
Optimizing your content for SEO is so very doable. (It’ll have you questioning if you’re even doing it correctly because it’ll feel too easy!)
Types of content you can optimize for SEO:
Blog posts
Podcast episodes
YouTube videos
Social media posts
And more!
📝NOTE:
Content comes after website SEO foundation is solid so you can basically pour gas on the fire.
(But, again, don’t panic. If you’ve started with content, it may not be ideal, but it IS possible to start right now & get your website SEO foundations in place. Don’t let that hold you back!)
The reason it works so well to start with your website then move on to content is because your content can reinforce those answers → who you help, how you help, & how the bots can tell you apart from other professionals in your industry.
Something else that does that? The rest of your digital footprint…
Off-Site SEO Strategy
I know, I know! I got fancy there for a second.
“Off-site SEO” is just that, though—it’s any part of your online existence that isn’t on your website.
That includes things like:
Social media profiles (yes, even the ones you went all “set it & forget it” on)
Directory listings (special shout out to therapists & mental health specialists for this one)
Media features (speaking engagements or even quotes in collaborative blogs like this one about 2026 SEO Trends & Predictions)
Guest opportunities (think: podcast guesting, guest blogging, etc.)
Once you open your mind to the possibilities with SEO, it’ll start spotting those opportunities left & right for you!
The First Step to Get Started with SEO
Now that you’re likely still overwhelmed by the topic of SEO, but also excited about it—what should you do?
I always advise business owners to answer what I call the 3 BIG Q’s:
Who do you help?
How do you help them?
What does it sound like when a friend refers you?
Set a timer for 15 minutes & just let yourself write. Treat this as an internal document. No one needs to see it!
After that, you’ve got the clarity you need to move on to the next SEO step…
Getting your website SEO strategy crafted and plugged in on your site.
Is it a little daunting? Yes. I remember it was for me.
But it doesn’t have to be. Remember The SEO & Grow 🌱 Method?
That’s exactly what I walk business owners through inside my SEO & Grow 🌱 SEO coaching program!
Over the course of 4 months:
We find the right keywords & program your web pages to market for you
Then we dig into optimizing your off-site places (i.e., social media profiles)
And get into creating/optimizing content (podcast guest interviews, blog posts, etc.)
More of a DIY girlie? I gotchu, too!
👉My favorite keyword research tool is Keysearch(*that’s an affiliate link & you can also use code KSDISC for 20% off!)
👉Which pairs really well with my SEO Basics Course (you’ll learn the 6 core parts of SEO and get resources & video trainings to help you improve your website SEO in as little as 2 weeks!)
No more excuses, friend!
But I’m sure you’ve got questions.
Drop them in a comment below or fill out the inquiry form to get help finding the best fit for you & your business.
And remember! I’m over here cheering you on on your SEO journey 👏
