SEO basics that still work

SEO advice changes every year, but the fundamentals that actually move small-business websites up Google have stayed remarkably stable. These are the basics I apply to every site I build or audit.

1. Match one page to one search intent

Each important page should answer one clear question. "Website developer in Khulna", "WooCommerce shop setup" and "Android app development cost" are three different searches — and deserve three different pages. Trying to rank one page for everything usually ranks it for nothing.

2. Write titles people want to click

The title tag is still the strongest on-page signal and the first thing searchers read. Keep it under about 60 characters, put the main phrase near the start, and add a reason to click — a location, a price range, or a benefit. Pair it with a meta description that summarises the page in one or two honest sentences.

3. Answer the question better than anyone else

Google rewards pages that genuinely help. That means real prices or price ranges, clear steps, examples from your own work and answers to the questions customers actually ask you on WhatsApp. Thin pages with three generic paragraphs rarely rank for long.

4. Link your pages together

Internal links show search engines which pages matter and help visitors find the next step. Link from blog posts to the related service, from service pages to relevant case studies, and from every page to your contact page.

5. Keep the technical side clean

• A fast site on mobile (aim for green Core Web Vitals)
• HTTPS everywhere, with one preferred version of your domain
• An XML sitemap submitted to Google Search Console and Bing Webmaster Tools
• Structured data (schema) for your business, services, articles and breadcrumbs
• Descriptive image file names and alt text

6. Do not ignore local search

For a business serving customers in a city, a complete Google Business Profile — correct category, opening hours, photos and real reviews — often brings more calls than the website itself. Keep your name, address and phone number identical everywhere online.

7. Measure, then adjust

Search Console shows which searches already bring impressions. Improving pages that sit on page two is usually the quickest win. Check it monthly, not daily — SEO is measured in weeks and months.

If you want to know how your site is doing on these basics, I offer SEO audits that turn into a clear, prioritised to-do list.