How to Get Your Website to Rank on Google For Free
If you’ve ever felt like your website deserves more attention but aren’t sure how to make it happen, you’re in the right place. SEO (Search Engine Optimization) might sound technical, but a few simple adjustments can make a huge difference in how many people see—and enjoy—your content.
Search engines like Google use complex algorithms to determine which content appears in search results. By following a few key SEO practices, you can help your blog posts and service pages to rank higher on Google and reach the right audience.
The best part?
You don’t need to be an expert to get started. And you don’t need to spend any money. With just a few easy tweaks, you can make your content more searchable and engaging.
This guide is designed to help you make quick, effective changes that will get your content noticed by search engines and, more importantly, by the readers you want to reach. Whether you're a small business owner, blogger, or entrepreneur, these practical steps will set you on the right path.
Let’s dive in and make SEO work for you!
SEO Basics to Get Started:
1. Do Keyword Research
Before writing a blog post, it’s important to know what people are searching for. Keywords are the phrases and terms people type into search engines when looking for information. By targeting the right keywords, you increase the chances of your blog post appearing in search results.
But this is the part that a lot of people get wrong. It takes lots of research, intuition, and some experimentation.
Oftentimes people just select keywords without doing thorough research, and this leaves them flying blind. Proper SEO involves making data-based decisions.
Having the wrong keyword for a page is just as effective as having no keyword at all - because if you are showing up on the fifth page of search results, no one will find you.
So the trick is to choose specific, long-tail keywords that have a lower competition, but still a decent search volume, and match the intent of the user.
It all starts with brainstorming. You can brainstorm on your own, or ask ChatGPT for ideas to get started.
For example, if you run a boat tour company in Olympia, Washington, you might brainstorm keywords like "best boat tours in Olympia," "Puget Sound sightseeing cruises," or "family-friendly boat tours in Washington."
After brainstorming words related to your business page, then use free tools like Google’s Keyword Planner, Ubersuggest, or AnswerThePublic to find popular and relevant search terms. These will tell you how much search volume and competition there is. They will also provide you with more ideas.
Once you find something that looks good to you, type it into the search bar.
What pops up?
Are there pages there that you feel like you could compete with?
Do the search results match the search intent that your page provides an answer to?
Look for keywords that have a decent search volume but aren’t overly competitive, and match the user's intent.
Once you have a strong keyword, incorporate it - and variants of it - naturally throughout your content.
2. Use Your Keyword in the URL
Your blog post’s URL is one of the first things search engines and readers see. A clean, keyword-rich URL helps both understand what your post is about. Instead of using long, confusing URLs filled with random numbers or unnecessary words, keep it simple.
For example:
Bad URL: yourwebsite.com/p=12345 (not relevant)
Bad URL: yourwebsite.com/the-best-boat-tours-you-should-take-this-summer-in-or-near-olympia (too long)
Good URL: yourwebsite.com/best-boat-tours-olympia (just right)
Using your primary keyword in the URL makes it clear and easy to read, which can improve your chances of ranking well, but try to keep it to 5 words or less, avoid numbers and symbols, and separate words with hyphens.
3. Optimize Your Title and Meta Description
Your blog post’s title and meta description are what users see in search results. They should be clear, compelling, and include your primary keyword.
These are key to improving your click-through-rates.
Title: Make it attention-grabbing and start with your keyword if possible. Example: Best Boat Tours in Olympia - Explore the Puget Sound."
Meta Description: This short summary (about 150-160 characters) should briefly describe what your post covers and encourage people to click. Example: "Looking for an unforgettable boat tour in Olympia? Discover scenic Puget Sound cruises perfect for families, couples, and adventurers!"
When checking your competition, always look at their meta title and description in the search results page. How can you make yours stand out?
4. Use Headers to Structure Your Post
Headers (H1, H2, H3, etc.) make your blog post easy to read and help search engines understand your content’s structure. Your main title should be an H1, while subheadings should use H2 and H3 tags to break up sections.
For example:
H1: The Ultimate Guide to Boat Tours in Olympia
H2: Why Take a Boat Tour in Olympia?
H2: Best Times of Year for a Puget Sound Cruise
H3: Summer vs. Winter Tours: What to Expect
Using headers improves readability, keeps readers engaged, and makes your content easier to scan for important information. Remember, most people don’t read. They scan.
Important note: You should only have one H1 header on each page. This is for the bots to understand the page better.
Put your keyword into your H1 (Title) for sure. Then incorporate your keyword or variants of it into at least one subheading if you can.
Subheadings (H2, H3, H4) are also a great place to put any secondary keywords that you found while doing your keyword research. You know the other keywords you considered but didn’t select, or popular “People Also Ask” questions or Reddit/Quora discussions.
5. Optimize Your Images with Alt Text
Search engines can’t "see" images the way humans do, so they rely on alt text to understand what an image is about. Alt text is a brief description of your image that helps with SEO and accessibility.
For example, instead of naming an image image123.jpg, use something descriptive like sunset-boat-tour-olympia.jpg and add alt text like "A scenic sunset boat tour in Olympia, Washington, with views of Puget Sound."
Both the file names and the alt text are perfect spots to place your keyword (and/or some secondary keywords).
6. Add Keywords in the First 100 Words
Search engines place extra emphasis on the first 100 words of your blog post. Including your primary keyword early signals to Google what your content is about and improves your chances of ranking well.
Make sure it flows naturally within your introduction, like this: "If you're searching for the best boat tours in Olympia, you’re in for an incredible experience. From breathtaking Puget Sound views to encounters with local wildlife, a guided tour can be the perfect way to explore Washington’s coastal beauty."
7. Add Internal Links to Related Content
Internal linking (linking to other pages on your website) helps search engines understand the structure of your site and keeps readers engaged by directing them to more relevant content.
For example, if you’re writing about boat tours, you can link to another post about wildlife spotting in Puget Sound or how to book a private boat tour in Olympia. Use natural anchor text that clearly describes the linked page, such as "Check out our guide to the best wildlife sightings on Olympia boat tours."
Every time you write a new blog post, consider what other content you could link to. Aim for at least 3-4 internal linking opportunities.
Also find other pages on your website that could link to your new blog post. Aim to find at least 2-3 other pages on your site that can link to your new page.
8. Include Your Call-to-Action
Every blog post should have a purpose. Whether you want readers to book a tour, sign up for updates, or read another post, make it clear with a strong call-to-action (CTA).
Examples:
"Ready to explore Puget Sound? Book your Olympia boat tour today!"
"Want travel tips for exploring Washington’s coastline? Subscribe to our newsletter!"
A well-placed CTA encourages engagement and turns readers into loyal customers - because remember, that is the goal!
9. Analyze Results
And don’t forget. SEO is not a one-and-done strategy. It’s an ongoing process.
It requires frequently analyzing what is working and what is not working over time, making adjustments as needed.
So make sure to have Google Search Console and Google Analytics set up and tracking data on your website so that you can make informed decisions over time. These are free accounts where you can track if your pages are getting indexed by Google, how much traffic is coming to your site, where they are coming from, which pages are performing the best, which keywords you are ranking for, how long people are spending on your site, and so much more.
Don’t miss out on using these free tools! Make it a habit to check your data at least once a month.
Conclusion
By applying these foundational SEO strategies, you’re setting up your content for greater visibility and making it easier for readers to find the valuable information you’re sharing.
SEO may seem daunting, but a few small changes can lead to big results over time.
The key to success is consistency. Keep optimizing your blog posts and service pages, experimenting with keywords, and improving your content. Over time, you’ll start to see more traffic and engagement from search engines.
If you're ready to take the next step and attract more visitors to your business, focus on choosing the best keywords, providing valuable content, refining your SEO strategy, and staying engaged with your audience. The more you optimize, the more you’ll see your content grow in visibility and engagement.
Want more tips on getting your website to rank? Grab my free guide and join my newsletter! Each week, I’ll send practical SEO tips and step-by-step strategies straight to your inbox—perfect for busy business owners who want results without the tech overwhelm.
Guest Blogger: Jessica Stegner
Jessica Stegner is a teacher turned SEO Specialist in Seattle, Washington. She loves helping small businesses grow online by empowering them with knowledge and offering goal-based services.
www.jessicastegner.com
www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-stegner-65b14812a
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