Create an SEO Strategy without crying

Look. SEO (search engine optimisation – marketers do love an acronym) sounds terrifying because it’s supposed to. Half the jargon was invented by people that want you to pay them £2K a month to ‘fix’ your website.

But the truth? It’s mostly just common sense, Google stalking and not giving up halfway through. Even if you’re allergic to tech, you can absolutely duct-tape an SEO strategy together that works. Here’s how to survive it in five steps. Simple.

SEO Strategy – The extremely basic version

SEO = getting your website to show up when people ask Google random questions.

The point is more traffic. And, in an ideal world, more sales, instead of you doomscrolling into the depths of despair. There are a million complicated ways to do SEO, but you don’t need a PhD in ‘Algorithm Whispering’ to get started. This is the starter pack, the ‘something’s better than nothing’ version.

The Five Steps

1. Figure out who actually gives a sh*t.

Before you start throwing keywords around like confetti, ask yourself:

• Who is this for?
• What is their problem?
• Why should they give you money instead of literally anyone else?

Understand what’s rattling around their brain at 2am. Know their frustrations – what keeps them awake at night? Their heart’s desires – what can’t they say no to? Their: “Oh god, I hope no one sees my search history” needs 👀

Also, not just for SEO reasons, figure out where they hang out online, not where you want them to be. Where they actually are. You have to meet them where they’re at – not try and coax them with god knows what to your favourite hang out. Suck it up.

2. Know your keywords (and your enemies)

You need to know what your audience is typing into Google with grim, sweaty determination. Make a list of keywords your brand should show up for.

• Brainstorm a bit
• Stalk your competitors
• Use Google’s free keyword planner if you want to feel like a real marketer for 10 minutes. (We’ll wait.)

Bonus points | Search your keywords and see who’s currently winning. Quietly seethe, then plot your revenge with better content and steal the show.

3. Make a content plan that doesn’t suck.

Your keywords = your content ideas. Who knew? (spoiler: we did.)

Create content that:

• Answers questions people are actually asking.
• Isn’t longer than it needs to be.
• Sounds like a human wrote it (because, shocker, humans read it).

If you do it right and people will find your stuff, trust you enough as anyone can trust someone they’ve never met, and maybe even link to it. (That’s free marketing, baby.)

4. Hustle for links (the good kind)

More websites linking to your site = Google thinks you’re legit.

But no, you can’t just sit there waiting for it to happen.

You’ll have to ask, network, trade favours, and maybe even *gasp* create content people want to reference.

Need ideas? Backlinko has actual, usable advice without making you feel like you’re dying inside. Go, now. Quickly. Tell them we sent you.

5. Set goals. Pretend you’re tracking them

If you don’t track what’s working, you’ll just keep doing random rubbish and hoping for the best. Set a few KPIs, aka Key Performance Indicators (Ugh, we try to limit the jargon unless we have no choice), which is stuff that proves this isn’t a complete waste of time.:

• Website visits | How many people stumbled onto your site, either on purpose or by accident
• Keyword rankings | How high you show up in Google when someone searches your chosen keywords
• Number of backlinks | How many other websites have deemed you worthy of a shout-out.
• Leads or sales from your website | actual humans who found you via Google and then did something useful, like signing up or buying something.

Then check them monthly, cry a little, tweak the plan and keep crawling towards victory.