10 Steps to Stronger Rankings from a Trusted SEO Agency

Running a business means competing with everyone from tech startups to family shops that have been around for decades. If you don’t show up when people search for what you offer, you're missing customers who are ready to buy. Working with an SEO agency in San Leandro can help, but you can tackle plenty of things yourself.

Let's dive into the ten most common social media mistakes and, more importantly, how to fix them.

Let's be honest: SEO feels overwhelming at first. But you don't need to become an expert overnight. You just need to get the basics right.

1. Start With Keyword Research

Before you write anything on your website, know what your customers are searching for. Use free tools like Google's Keyword Planner to see what terms people use. If you run a plumbing business, are people searching for "plumber near me" or "emergency plumbing San Leandro"? The difference matters.

2. Claim Your Google Business Profile

If you haven't claimed your Google Business Profile yet, it's worth making that a priority. Once it's set up, be sure your key details are accurate—hours, location, services. Add high-quality photos, post occasionally, and reply to reviews. It functions as your storefront online, and people do pay attention.

3. Get Your On-Page Optimization Right

On-page optimization sounds technical, but it's just organizing your website so people and search engines understand it easily. Your title tags should tell people exactly what they'll find. Your headings should break up content logically. Your meta descriptions are like little ads that convince people to click.

4. Make Your Website Mobile-Friendly

More than half of all searches happen on phones. If your website looks terrible on mobile or loads slowly, people move on to another site. Test your site on cell phones. Ask a friend to find your business hours on their device. If they struggle, you've got work to do.

5. Focus on Local SEO Signals

Businesses have an advantage: you're competing locally, not globally. Make sure your name, address, and phone number are identical everywhere online: your website, Google Business Profile, Yelp, Facebook, and industry directories. Minor inconsistencies confuse search engines.

6. Create Helpful Content

Stop writing blog posts just because someone said you should. Write them because you have something useful to say. What questions do customers ask daily? Turn those into posts. If you're an accountant, write about tax deadlines. If you run a restaurant, share your signature dish's story.

7. Build Quality Local Links

Links from other websites still matter for SEO. Forget buying links or weird schemes. Focus on earning them naturally. Sponsor a local team. Join the Chamber of Commerce. Partner with complementary businesses. When the San Leandro Marina mentions your catering company, that's a valuable local link.

8. Monitor Online Reviews

Reviews influence customers and affect search rankings. Encourage happy customers to leave reviews naturally. Respond to all reviews, especially negative ones. A thoughtful response to criticism often impresses people more than dozens of five-star reviews.

9. Use Analytics to Track Progress

You can't improve what you don't measure. Get Google Analytics and Search Console up and running—you'll want to see how people find your site. Which pages are pulling traffic? What are folks typing into search? Are they sticking around or bouncing fast? That kind of data gives you a clear picture of what's clicking.

10. Know When to Get Professional Help

SEO takes time and expertise. You might handle basics yourself, but complex issues or competitive markets often need professional help. A digital marketing agency can audit your efforts, identify missed opportunities, and handle technical stuff while you run your business.

The Bottom Line

SEO isn't about gaming the system. It's about making your business easier to find for people who need what you offer. Start with what you can control: claim your Google profile, make your website mobile-friendly, and create helpful content.

Some tasks you can handle yourself. Others might require help from an SEO agency in San Leandro that understands the local market. As your business grows, you can expand your efforts.

Thinking about growing your San Leandro business? We're Chabot Business Solutions, and we work with local companies to figure out what actually works online—not just canned strategies, but real ones built around you. We're not just another digital marketing agency in San Leandro. We're your neighbors, genuinely invested in seeing your business succeed. Let's talk about what's possible.