The 5 Most Common SEO Mistakes Small Businesses Make

Most small business websites don’t fail because they’re bad—they fail because of a few overlooked SEO mistakes that stop people from ever finding their business.

If you’re not getting the traffic you expected, chances are one of these issues is holding you back. Fixing them is easier than you think—and could be the key to attracting steady, free traffic from search engines.

Want us to check for you? Request a free market analysis and we’ll review your site for SEO issues and missed opportunities.

Mistake #1: Targeting the Wrong Keywords

Are you describing your business the way your customers are searching? Probably not.

Business owners often use technical terms that sound great to them—but miss the actual words their customers type into Google.

• Use tools like Google Search Console or Ubersuggest to find real search terms
• Focus on phrases with intent like “roof repair near me” or “wedding photographer in Boulder”
• Each service or location page should target one focused keyword

Don’t guess—get a keyword analysis that shows you exactly what your ideal customers are searching for. It’s free and with no strings attached!

Mistake #2: Ignoring Local SEO

You’d be shocked how many small businesses don’t show up in local searches—simply because they haven’t claimed or optimized their Google Business Profile.

• Make sure your Google Business Profile is claimed, accurate, and complete
• Use location-specific keywords like “Fort Collins plumber” or “Loveland house painter” on your site
• Ensure your Name, Address, and Phone (NAP) are the same across all directories
• Fill out ALL of the information
• Get a billion reviews! Haha.. but seriously. After literally every single close, and even good interaction, ask for a review.

We can help you with local SEO setup and cleanup here.

Mistake #3: Thin or Duplicate Content

Google won’t rank a page that looks like a placeholder. And it definitely won’t rank five pages that all say the same thing.

Examples of thin content:

• One-paragraph service pages
• Repeating the same text across multiple locations
• No blog or resource content to educate your audience

Fix this by:

• Writing helpful, specific content that speaks to your customer’s needs
• Adding FAQs, testimonials, and photos to every page
• Building a blog with common questions and how-tos (link to your blog)

Mistake #4: Neglecting Website Speed and Mobile Experience

If your site takes more than 3 seconds to load or doesn’t work on mobile, people leave. Google notices—and it affects your ranking.

• Use Google PageSpeed Insights to test your speed
• Compress images, reduce plugins, and use clean themes
• Make sure your layout adjusts smoothly on all devices

Need a faster, mobile-friendly site? We design websites that work hard and load fast.

Mistake #5: Not Tracking What’s Working

If you’re not using Google Analytics or Search Console, you’re flying blind. You won’t know which pages are performing—or which ones are holding you back.

• Set up Google Search Console to monitor search performance
• Use Google Analytics 4 to track which pages people visit and how long they stay
• Review reports monthly and adjust content based on what’s working

Want help tracking and making sense of all this? We can set up tracking for you as part of our SEO service.

Bonus Tip: Outdated Pages Hurt Rankings

Old blog posts or stale service pages can drag down your whole site’s performance. Google wants fresh, accurate content.

Quick win: Update one old post each month. Add a new image, reword a few sections, and update the publish date. It can boost traffic with almost no effort.

Conclusion: Let’s Fix These Before Your Competition Does

SEO mistakes are common—and fixable. If your site isn’t showing up, you now know why. These simple changes can make a big impact on your visibility, traffic, and leads.

Want someone to look at your site and point out the opportunities?

• Get a free market analysis
• See our SEO services
• Need a new site? We build fast, SEO-friendly websites

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