Tips For Small Businesses To Rank At The Top Of Google In 2025
How Can Small Businesses Improve Their Google Rankings?
We’ve wrangled the top tips for 2025 just for you…
In today's digital world, seeing your business rank at the top of Google search results isn't just helpful— it's essential for small businesses to be seen by potential and current customers.
While SEO (Search Engine Optimization) might seem complex, there are several easy and effective strategies that small businesses can begin today to improve their rankings.
Studies show that the first page of Google captures 71% of all search traffic clicks, while the second page only gets 6%. That's a massive difference that directly impacts your bottom line.
Here's our comprehensive guide to help you climb those search results— no ad dollars needed.
12 Proven Tips For Small Businesses To Rank At The Top Of Google [2025 Guide]
1. Do Proper Keyword Research Before You Start Optimizing
The foundation of good SEO is finding the right keywords. You need to identify terms that:
Your target customers are actually searching for
Have decent monthly search volume
Aren't too competitive for a small business to rank for
Use tools like Ubersuggest, Semrush, or Keywords Everywhere to find terms related to your products/services (e.g., "custom cabinetry phoenix") and topics you can write about in your blog (e.g., "how to measure for kitchen cabinets").
Pro tip: Focus on long-tail keywords (3+ words). These are less competitive and often have higher conversion rates. Instead of trying to rank for "plumber," target "emergency plumber in riverside ca" or "tankless water heater installation cost."
2. Create a Keyword Strategy for Each Page
Before diving into optimization, map out which keywords you'll target on each page. Every page should focus on different keywords to avoid competing with yourself.
For each page, choose one primary keyword as your main focus and 2-3 related secondary keywords that you’ll focus on.
3. Optimize Your Page Content Naturally
Content is still king when it comes to SEO, and that’s a good thing. Focus on creating valuable content that addresses your customers' needs and Google and other search engines will do their part in serving it up to people who are looking for it.
Naturally incorporate keywords in your content
Include your primary keyword in the first paragraph
Use it 2-3 times in a 1,000-word page (don't overdo it!)
Add secondary keywords where they fit naturally
Write for humans first, search engines second
4. Craft Strategic Title Tags
Your title tag is what appears in Google’s search results. Here's the winning formula for creating title tags throughout your site:
On your Homepage: [Business Name] - [Primary Keyword]
On other pages: [Primary Keyword] - [Business Name]
Ready for title tags in an example?
On a Homepage: "Smith's Plumbing - Emergency Plumber in Riverside CA"
On a Service page: "Tankless Water Heater Installation - Smith's Plumbing"
5. Write Click-Worthy Meta Descriptions
Think of your meta description as your search result ad copy. Your meta description should be 150-155 characters max, include your primary keyword, have a clear call to action, and tell readers what they'll get when they click.
6. Create Clean URLs
When creating URLs, aim for them to be short and include your target keyword. Good practices to remember: use hyphens between words, remove unnecessary words (a, the, and), and keep them brief.
A good example: yourdomain.com/tankless-water-heater-installation
A bad example: yourdomain.com/services/page1/2025/01/what-you-need-to-know-about-tankless-water-heater-installation
7. Build A High-Quality, Genuine Blog
Your blog is your secret weapon for ranking. Here's how to build blog posts that pay off with SEO.
Aim for 1,500-2,500 words per post
Quality over quantity— 2 great posts monthly beats 4 mediocre ones
Alternate topics that are relatable to your brand and then track performance
8. Optimize All Images
Image optimization is crucial for both SEO and site speed:
For File Names, include keywords (plumbing-repair-riverside.jpg vs IMG_12345.jpg) and use hyphens between words.
For Alt Text, describe the image clearly, include relevant keywords naturally, and keep it under 125 characters.
When it comes to File Size, compress all images before uploading, aim for under 200KB per image, and maintain quality while reducing file size.
9. Make Mobile Your Priority
With most searches happening on mobile devices, your site must be mobile-friendly:
Test your site on multiple devices
Ensure text is readable without zooming
Check that buttons are easy to tap
Verify forms work on mobile
Test loading speed on cellular connections
10. Dominate Local SEO
For local businesses, incorporate these off-page SEO strategies to boost your website success and get ahead:
Get listed in local directories
Encourage customer reviews
Include your city/region in your content
Create location-specific pages if you serve multiple areas
Read our entire post with everything you could want to know about Google Business Profile here, but here are the basics:
Create and optimize your Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business).
Ensure all information is accurate and complete, including your business name, address, phone number, business hours, and photos of your business
Add regular posts about updates, offers, or events
Encourage customer reviews— and then respond to them!
11. Avoid These Common SEO Mistakes
Be aware of practices that could hurt your rankings:
Keyword stuffing
Duplicate content
Broken links
Poor quality backlinks
Slow loading pages
Missing meta descriptions
Ignoring mobile optimization
12. Monitor and Adjust
SEO is not a "set it and forget it" task. Monitor your success with Google Analytics, Google Search Console, Bing Webmaster Tools, or your keyword tracking tool of choice.
You’re looking to track these key metrics monthly and can make changes based on performance:
Keyword rankings
Organic traffic
Click-through rates
Time on site
Bounce rates
Conversion rates
Ready to Get Started?
SEO is a marathon, not a sprint. Focus on creating value for your customers first, and the rankings will follow. Start with one section at a time, implement these changes consistently, and you'll see your website climb the rankings over time.
The key is to stay patient and persistent. It typically takes 3-6 months to see significant results from SEO efforts, but the long-term benefits are worth the investment.
Have questions about implementing any of these tips or want help getting started? Send us a message!
