SEO Basics for Small Businesses: 10 Points You Can Check Yourself
Without the jargon: with these ten points you can check whether your website meets the most important SEO basics – and what you can improve quickly.
Mladen Klaic · 29 September 2026 · 2 min read · Deutsche Originalfassung
Search engine optimisation sounds complicated, but it starts with simple basics. Many small websites waste visibility because a few essentials are missing. With this checklist you can review your website yourself.
The Checklist
1. Meaningful Page Title
The title appears as a blue heading in the search results. It should contain the main topic and ideally your location – for example "Electrician in Mannheim – Sample Company" – and should not be too long.
2. Compelling Meta Description
The short text below the title helps decide whether someone clicks. Describe in one or two sentences what visitors can expect.
3. Exactly One Main Heading
Every page should have exactly one H1 heading that clearly states what it is about.
4. One Page Per Service
If you offer multiple services, give each one its own page. This way Google can find you specifically for each topic.
5. Mobile-Friendly
Most searches happen on mobile. Text must be readable without zooming, buttons must be easy to tap.
6. Fast Loading Time
Slow pages lose visitors. We explain how to improve loading time in the article Slow Website?
7. HTTPS
Your website should only be accessible via encryption – recognizable by the lock in the address bar.
8. Sitemap and Search Console
An XML sitemap helps Google find all your pages. In the free Google Search Console you can submit it and see which search terms you appear for.
9. Images with Alt Text
Briefly describe images in the alt text. This helps both screen readers and search engines.
10. Google Business Profile
For local businesses often the most important point of all. Read how to optimise it in the article Optimise Your Google Business Profile.
The Quick Way
Many of these points are checked automatically by our free website check – in a few seconds, with concrete tips. You can request the detailed report as a PDF.
What's Next?
The basics are the foundation. If you want to move ahead in competitive industries, you'll also need good content, links from other websites and patience. We support you with our Online Marketing services.
This guide was translated from German. Legal topics refer to the situation in Germany.
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