100 SEO tips to improve your business website’s performance

100 SEO tips to improve your business website's performance

In a fast-changing digital world, your website is often the first point of contact between your business and potential customers. But having a website is not enough: it needs to perform. Search engine optimisation (SEO) is key to attracting traffic and converting visitors into customers. Here are 100 practical SEO tips, grounded in strategic insight, to take your website further.

1–10: Build a technical SEO foundation

1. Make your website mobile-friendly: use Google's Mobile-Friendly Test to check whether your site is optimised for mobile devices.

2. Improve website speed: compress images, use browser caching and implement a Content Delivery Network (CDN) to improve loading times.

3. Enable HTTPS: secure your site with an SSL certificate to support rankings and user trust.

4. Fix broken links: use tools such as Screaming Frog to find and fix 404 errors.

5. Improve crawlability: submit an XML sitemap to Google Search Console.

6. Optimise your robots.txt: ensure search engines can crawl and index important pages.

7. Use canonical tags: prevent duplicate-content problems by pointing to the preferred version of each page.

8. Implement schema markup: increase search visibility with structured data for products, reviews and FAQs.

9. Set up Google Analytics: track visitor behaviour and measure site performance.

10. Optimise Core Web Vitals: focus on metrics such as Largest Contentful Paint (LCP), First Input Delay (FID) and Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS).

11–30: Strategic keyword research

11. Use Google Keyword Planner: identify high-volume, low-competition keywords within your niche.

12. Target long-tail keywords: address specific search intentions with phrases such as “best running shoes for flat feet”.

13. Analyse competitors: use SEMrush or Ahrefs to discover competitors' best-performing keywords.

14. Add local keywords: optimise for “near me” searches or specific geographical areas.

15. Group keywords by intent: address informational, navigational and transactional searches.

16. Optimise for voice searches: use natural phrases and questions.

17. Use seasonal trends: plan content around seasonal demand with Google Trends.

18. Use LSI keywords: add related terms to give your content context.

19. Target featured snippets: structure content to answer frequently asked questions directly.

20. Avoid keyword cannibalisation: ensure two pages do not compete for the same keyword.

21. Create a keyword map: assign target keywords to specific pages.

22. Optimise for buyer personas: align your keyword strategy with your audience's needs.

23. Evaluate existing keywords: identify underperforming keywords and optimise the content again.

24. Find gaps in competitors' coverage: identify keywords they do not rank for and use that opportunity.

25. Use question-based keywords: answer “how”, “what is” and “why” questions.

26. Track search-intent trends: adapt your strategy as user behaviour changes.

27. Balance short-tail and long-tail keywords: attract both traffic and conversions.

28. Identify evergreen keywords: focus on topics with consistent search volume over time.

29. Experiment with niche keywords: reach highly specific audiences within your sector.

30. Keep keywords up to date: review and refresh older content with relevant keywords.

31–60: Create optimised content

31. Write appealing meta titles: use action-oriented words and include keywords within 60 characters.

32. Write descriptive meta descriptions: state benefits and include a strong call to action within 160 characters.

33. Use clear headings: structure content with H1, H2 and H3 tags.

34. Prioritise readability: use short paragraphs, bullet points and visuals to make content easy to scan.

35. Answer your audience's questions: base articles on frequently asked questions and pain points.

36. Publish long-form content: articles exceeding 1,500 words often rank higher.

37. Add multimedia: use videos, images and infographics to engage users.

38. Use strategic internal links: link to related content to keep visitors on your site longer.

39. Use external links: refer to authoritative sources to build trust and credibility.

40. Update older content: add new insights and data to existing articles.

41. Create cornerstone content: develop detailed guides that cover important topics thoroughly.

42. Add calls to action (CTAs): encourage actions such as downloads or purchases.

43. Optimise for voice searches: use natural language and ask questions.

44. Focus on user intent: deliver exactly what users expect from a search.

45. Write for people first: avoid keyword stuffing and prioritise the user experience.

46. Create shareable content: make visually appealing, highly informative assets.

47. Repurpose content: turn articles into videos, infographics or social media posts.

48. Create a content calendar: maintain a consistent publishing schedule.

49. Use case studies: showcase successful projects to strengthen credibility.

50. Create interactive content: polls, quizzes and calculators increase engagement.

51. Tell stories: humanise your brand with relatable stories.

52. Publish FAQ pages: answer frequently asked questions effectively.

53. Target featured snippets: use bullet points, lists or tables for structured answers.

54. Experiment with content formats: try eBooks, podcasts or webinars.

55. Avoid duplicate content: ensure every page contains unique, valuable information.

56. Structure content around pillar pages: organise related posts around a central topic.

57. Use user-generated content: include reviews, testimonials or social media posts.

58. Focus on original research: publish data or surveys to earn backlinks and authority.

59. Add alt text to images: describe visuals for accessibility and SEO.

60. Add social sharing buttons: make it easy for readers to share your content.

61–100: Build authority and backlinks

61. Add your site to online directories: secure listings in relevant directories.

62. Seek guest-post opportunities: write for authoritative sites in your industry.

63. Work with influencers: build partnerships for sharing content.

64. Create assets worth linking to: publish original research, tools or templates.

65. Monitor backlink quality: use tools such as Moz or Ahrefs to disavow harmful links.

66. Build relationships: network with bloggers and journalists to earn backlinks.

67. Offer testimonials: provide testimonials to partners in exchange for links.

68. Use broken-link building: replace dead links with your content.

69. Get listed on resource pages: find directories relevant to your sector.

70. Host webinars: encourage participants to link to your event page.

71. Optimise local listings: keep your name, address and phone number consistent.

72. Participate in online communities: share insights on forums or social media.

73. Promote content by email: reach influencers and partners.

74. Earn press coverage: pitch stories to local or industry media.

75. Create viral content: use humour or controversy to generate backlinks.

76. Comment on blogs: build backlinks through thoughtful engagement.

77. Launch a podcast: invite guests who link to your site.

78. Publish on Medium: repurpose content for broader visibility.

79. Offer free tools: consider calculators, checklists or templates.

80. Contribute to roundup articles: provide quotes or data for industry overviews.

81. Write reviews: review products or services to earn backlinks.

82. Create step-by-step guides: detailed tutorials often earn backlinks.

83. Host a competition: encourage participants to link to your site.

84. Make partnerships visible: work with partners who link to your site.

85. Give interviews: offer expertise in exchange for a link.

86. Optimise anchor text: use descriptive phrases for backlinks.

87. Avoid link farms: focus on quality over quantity.

88. Network on LinkedIn: share content to build professional connections.

89. Encourage reviews: ask for feedback on platforms such as Google My Business.

90. Publish press releases: share newsworthy updates to earn backlinks.

91. Join industry associations: increase credibility and links.

92. Respond to HARO requests: provide quotes for journalists.

93. Create timely content: respond to trending topics.

94. Contribute to Q&A platforms: share expertise on Quora or Reddit.

95. Add content to SlideShare: share presentations to earn backlinks.

96. Track brand mentions: request links where your brand is mentioned.

97. Take part in local events: promote your business through community links.

98. Invest in influencer marketing: use influencers' networks for exposure.

99. Use social proof: display awards, partnerships and customer logos.

100. Keep backlinks up to date: monitor and improve your link strategy regularly.

Applying these 100 SEO tips can increase your business website's visibility, attract more traffic and ultimately generate more conversions. SEO is about delivering value to your audience and aligning your business objectives with their needs, as well as improving search rankings.

Ready to optimise your website? Contact BrandQs, where strategy and creativity come together to deliver outstanding results. Or learn more about our SEO strategy approach here.