SEO basics for a small website: what you can check yourself
Page titles, descriptions, headings, speed, mobile view, sitemap and Search Console: checks an owner can do, and an honest word about rankings.
Search optimisation can sound like a mystery, but a good part of it is basic housekeeping that you can verify yourself. First, to be honest: nobody can guarantee a position on Google, and I do not offer ongoing SEO. What I do is lay the technical foundation while building the site. The checks below show whether it is in order.
Page titles and descriptions
Every page should have its own title, which appears on the browser tab and as the headline in search results, and a short description. A title should say what the page is about, with the service and the place where it makes sense, not just “Home”. The same title on every page is a mistake. Google may show your description in results, but it sometimes picks a different piece of text from the page instead.
Heading structure
A page should have one main heading and sections with subheadings below it. Headings should describe the content that follows. They help readers scan the page and help people using screen readers, which I describe in website accessibility basics.
Speed and mobile view
- Open the site on your phone over mobile data and watch how quickly the content appears.
- Text should be readable without zooming, and buttons large enough to tap.
- A step-by-step check is in how to test your website on a phone, and the usual causes of slow pages are in what slows a website down.
Sitemap and Google Search Console
A sitemap is a file that lists the pages of your site, usually at yourdomain.com/sitemap.xml. Google Search Console is a free tool from Google. In it you verify that you own the domain, for example with a DNS record, submit the sitemap, and see which searches show your site, which pages are indexed and whether there are errors. Looking once a week or once a month is enough.
What to realistically expect
New pages are often found by Google within days or weeks, but positions develop slowly. They depend on competition, content and many things neither I nor anyone else controls. The most lasting thing is useful content that answers your customers’ questions. If someone promises you first place, be careful.
If your site has both language versions, read bilingual website and SEO. For a new site, see website development in Bratislava, or write to me with questions.