The Biggest SEO Mistakes Small Businesses Make (And How to Avoid Them)

When you’re running a small business, SEO can feel like one more thing on an already-too-long to-do list. It’s tempting to wing it, throw some keywords on your site, and hope for the best. But here’s the thing — even a few innocent missteps can stop your site from showing up where it matters most: on Google.

Let’s take a look at the most common SEO mistakes small businesses make and, more importantly, how to fix them without needing a degree in digital marketing.

Why SEO Mistakes Are Holding You Back

Search Engine Optimisation isn’t just about ranking higher. It’s about being seen by the right people, at the right time, in the right place (ideally, at the top of page one). But if your site has technical issues, outdated practices, or confusing content, Google won’t give it much love.

Spoiler Alert: SEO Doesn’t Have to Be Complicated

The good news? Most of these mistakes are totally fixable. And once you’ve got the basics right, you’re already ahead of a lot of your competition.

5 Common SEO Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them)

1. Ignoring Your Google Business Profile

If you’re a local business, your Google Business Profile is your online shop window. Yet many businesses either haven’t claimed it or forget to update it.

Fix it: Claim your profile, add accurate contact info, upload photos, and regularly post updates. It takes minutes but can seriously boost your visibility in local searches.

Want help setting it up properly? Our Local SEO services are designed for exactly this.

2. Stuffing Keywords Instead of Writing for People

Once upon a time, jamming a page full of keywords might have worked. Not anymore. Today, Google’s algorithms are smart enough to know when content sounds robotic or forced.

Fix it: Write naturally, like you’d speak to a customer. Use keywords sparingly and focus on being helpful, not just “SEO-friendly.” Tools like Answer the Public can help spark relevant ideas.

3. Forgetting Mobile Users

More than half of website traffic comes from mobile. If your site doesn’t load quickly or look right on a phone, you’re losing visitors (and probably rankings too).

Fix it: Use responsive design, optimise images for faster loading, and check how your site performs using Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test.

If you’re not sure where to start, we’ve broken it down on our SEO Services page.

4. Neglecting Content (or Writing for the Wrong Audience)

Your website shouldn’t just sit there. It should offer value — answers, advice, tips — to the kinds of people you want to attract. And no, simply having a “Blog” tab with one lonely post from 2022 doesn’t count.

Fix it: Start small. Aim to publish one helpful blog post a month. Use your customers’ FAQs as inspiration — if someone’s asked it in real life, others are Googling it too.

Need inspiration? We share ideas regularly over on our blog.

5. Skipping Internal Links

Many small businesses focus so much on getting external backlinks, they forget to link between pages on their own site. But internal links help search engines understand your site’s structure and keep visitors exploring longer.

Fix it: When writing content, link to relevant pages — like this article links to Contact Us if you’re ready to get in touch.

So, What’s the Takeaway?

SEO isn’t about tricking Google — it’s about helping both search engines and humans understand your business. And while the digital landscape keeps evolving, the fundamentals stay the same: be helpful, be clear, and keep your site running smoothly.

When DIY Isn’t Enough

If you’re finding that you’ve fixed the basics but still aren’t seeing results, it might be time to call in a pro. We work with small businesses across the UK to create simple, clear SEO strategies that actually work — no fluff, no over-promising.

Want to have a quick chat about how we can help? Drop us a message here.

What’s New in SEO for 2025? Key Trends Small Businesses Should Know

SEO is always changing. Just when you think you’ve got it figured out, Google rolls out another update or shifts the goalposts. For small businesses, keeping up with SEO trends can feel like a full-time job (and you’ve already got one of those).

So, what’s actually new in SEO this year? What should you care about in 2025 — and what can you safely ignore?

Here’s a breakdown of what’s changing, what’s staying the same, and how small businesses can stay ahead without getting overwhelmed.

SEO in 2025: What’s Actually Different?

Let’s be honest — SEO isn’t about chasing trends just for the sake of it. But when Google makes changes, it pays to know what’s going on.

The Rise of AI in Search Results

Tools like Google’s Search Generative Experience (SGE) are changing how results appear. Rather than just getting a list of links, users are now seeing AI-generated summaries at the top of the page. That means your content needs to be even more clear, trustworthy, and easy to read.

What to do: Focus on clear answers to common questions. Use structured headings (like we’re doing here) and write like you’re helping a real person — because you are.

Want help planning content that’s future-proof? Check out our SEO Services.

What Still Works (And Always Will)

Quality Content is Still King

This hasn’t changed. If your website answers questions, solves problems, and adds value, you’ll always be in Google’s good books. It’s not about cramming keywords in — it’s about genuinely helping your audience.

Pro tip: Use tools like AlsoAsked to find real-world questions people are typing into Google. Then answer those questions on your site.

Speed, Mobile, and UX Still Matter

Google wants users to have a good experience. If your site is slow, clunky, or hard to use on a phone, it’s going to hurt your rankings.

Run a quick check using PageSpeed Insights. If things are looking sluggish, that’s something we can help with — it’s all covered in our technical SEO packages.

What You Should Focus on This Year

1. Local Search Optimisation

For small businesses, local SEO is more important than ever. Whether you’re a dog groomer, a driving instructor, or a kitchen fitter, most of your customers are probably nearby.

Tip: Make sure your Google Business Profile is complete, up to date, and full of real photos. This directly impacts how you show up in map listings and “near me” searches.

Learn more about how we help local businesses win online with our Local SEO service.

2. E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authority, Trust)

Google’s been leaning into these quality signals more and more. It wants to know who is behind the content and why they’re qualified to write it.

How to improve E-E-A-T:

• Add an author bio (especially for blogs)
• Include testimonials and reviews
• Link out to trustworthy sources where relevant
• Show real photos — not just stock imagery

3. Updating Old Content

One of the easiest wins in 2025? Refreshing content you already have. If a blog post from 2022 is still getting traffic, updating it with new insights, stats, and better formatting can give it a fresh boost.

We do this all the time for clients, and it’s often quicker (and cheaper) than starting from scratch. If you want help with a content audit, get in touch with us.

Wrapping Up: SEO in 2025 Doesn’t Have to Be Scary

Yes, there are new tools, AI rollouts, and algorithm updates. But at its core, SEO is still about helping real people find useful information. If you focus on that — and avoid shortcuts — you’ll be just fine.

And if you want a partner to help you stay on track without getting bogged down in the techy stuff, Need More Clicks is here for it.