5 SEO Mistakes Small Business Owners Make (and How to Fix Them)

Written By Alicia Konsker

5 Common SEO Mistakes Small Businesses Make (and How to Fix Them)

Many small business owners try DIY Search Engine Optimization (SEO), but small mistakes can cost you rankings, traffic, and customers. Let’s look at five common errors and how to fix them.

Mistake 1 – Ignoring Keyword Intent

  • Targeting broad terms instead of what your customers are actually searching for.

  • Fix: Use long-tail keywords that reflect buying intent.

Mistake 2 – Not Optimizing for Mobile

  • Over half of searches happen on mobile.

  • Fix: Use responsive design and test mobile speed.

Mistake 3 – Skipping Local SEO

  • Local searches are high-converting.

  • Fix: Claim and optimize your Google Business Profile.

Mistake 4 – Thin or Duplicate Content

  • Copy-pasting product descriptions or using too little content hurts rankings.

  • Fix: Write original, helpful content.

Mistake 5 – Forgetting Technical SEO

  • Broken links, slow load times, missing meta descriptions.

  • Fix: Run regular SEO audits and update pages.

Avoiding these SEO mistakes can dramatically improve your visibility and sales. Don’t waste time guessing! Check out the search engine optimization solutions I offer to build an SEO strategy that actually delivers results.

Alicia Konsker
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