If you've ever Googled "how to get my website found on Google," you've probably been hit with a wall of jargon. Keywords, backlinks, domain authority, meta descriptions, schema markup, crawl budgets — it's a lot. And most of it doesn't apply to a small business in the North Okanagan.
Here's the thing: SEO isn't magic. It's not a secret formula that agencies sell for $500 a month. For most small businesses, it comes down to a handful of things done well. Let me walk you through what actually matters.
First — what is SEO, really?
SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization. It just means making your website easy for Google to understand so it shows up when someone searches for what you do.
When someone in Vernon types "plumber near me" or "best restaurant in Armstrong," Google has to decide which websites to show first. SEO is how you help Google pick yours.
That's it. No magic. Just making it easy for Google to connect your website with the people looking for you.
The stuff that actually matters
1. Google Business Profile
This is the single most important thing you can do for local search, and it's free. Your Google Business Profile is the box that shows up on the right side of search results (or at the top on mobile) with your name, address, hours, reviews, and a link to your site.
If you don't have one, set one up today. If you do have one, make sure it's complete — every field filled in, your hours are accurate, your phone number works, and you've added some real photos of your business.
This alone does more for local visibility than most of the "SEO services" people try to sell you.
2. Your website needs to say what you do and where you do it
This sounds obvious, but a lot of small business websites miss it. Google reads your site to figure out what you offer and where you're located. If your homepage doesn't clearly say "We're a plumbing company in Vernon, BC" somewhere in the actual text — Google might not know that.
You don't need to stuff your pages with keywords. Just write naturally about your business, mention the towns you serve, and describe your services in plain language. If a person reading your site can tell what you do and where you are, Google can too.
3. Your site needs to load fast
Google has said publicly that site speed affects rankings. A slow website isn't just annoying for visitors — it actually hurts your position in search results.
Most WordPress sites loaded with plugins and heavy themes take 3–5 seconds to load. Google wants under 2.5 seconds. The sites I build load in under a second because they don't carry any of that extra weight.
You can test your own site speed for free at PageSpeed Insights — just paste in your URL and see what comes back.
4. Your site needs to work on phones
More than half of all web searches happen on mobile devices. If your site doesn't look right or work well on a phone, two things happen: visitors leave immediately, and Google notices that they leave immediately. Both hurt your rankings.
Every modern website should be fully responsive — meaning it automatically adjusts to look good on any screen size. This isn't optional anymore.
5. Get some Google reviews
Reviews don't just build trust with potential customers — they're a real ranking factor for local search. Businesses with more positive reviews tend to show up higher in Google's local results.
After you finish a job or serve a customer, ask them to leave a Google review. Most people are happy to do it if you ask. Even getting 10–15 genuine reviews puts you ahead of a lot of local competition.
The stuff that matters less than you think
Blogging every week
You don't need to pump out blog posts to rank well locally. A few helpful, relevant articles are worth more than dozens of thin posts written just for SEO. Quality over quantity, always.
Paying for SEO tools
For a small local business, you don't need expensive SEO software. Google Search Console (free) tells you what searches are bringing people to your site. Google Business Profile (free) handles your local listing. That's enough to start.
Obsessing over keywords
The old approach to SEO was to research exact keywords and cram them into your pages. Google has gotten much smarter. Write for humans, describe what you do clearly, and mention the places you serve. That's your keyword strategy.
Social media posts boosting your Google rank
Your Instagram and Facebook posts don't directly help your Google search rankings. Social media is great for other reasons — staying connected with customers, showing your work, building your brand — but it's a separate thing from SEO.
What to do right now
If you want your small business to show up when people search in your area, here's where to start — in order of priority:
Set up or complete your Google Business Profile. Fill in every field, add photos, and make sure your hours and contact info are accurate. Then ask a few happy customers for reviews. Get to 10 reviews and you'll already be ahead of many local competitors.
Make sure your website clearly states what you do, where you're located, and how to contact you. Check that it loads quickly and works well on a phone. If it doesn't, that's a problem worth fixing.
That's honestly the foundation. The businesses that do these basics well consistently outperform businesses that skip the fundamentals and chase complicated SEO tactics.
When to get help
If your business depends on people finding you through Google — and for most local businesses, it does — it's worth making sure your website is set up properly from the start. A site that's fast, well-structured, and connected to your Google Business Profile gives you a strong foundation without ongoing SEO fees.
That's how I build every Good Sites website. SEO fundamentals are baked in from day one — proper page titles, meta descriptions, fast load times, mobile-friendly design, and clean structure that Google can easily read. It's not a separate add-on. It's just how a website should be built.
If you want to chat about how your current site is doing or what a new one could look like, get in touch. I'm always happy to take a look.