I'm not tech-savvy. Is that a problem?

Not at all! That's exactly who I work with. You tell me what you want in plain English, and I handle all the technical stuff. No coding, no jargon, no headaches for you.

How much does a website cost?

It depends on what you need - every project is different. Contact me with what you're looking for and I'll give you a custom quote with no hidden fees.

How long does it take to build a website?

Most websites are ready in 3 days to a week. More advanced websites with custom features could take longer. I'll give you a timeline upfront and keep you updated along the way.

Can I update the website myself later?

Yes! I set up everything so you can make changes yourself - adding products, updating prices, posting news. I'll show you how it works. And if you ever get stuck, just call me.

Do you speak Spanish?

Sí! I'm fluent in both English and Spanish. If you're more comfortable discussing your project in Spanish, no problem at all. I can also build bilingual websites for your business.

What is SEO? A Plain English Guide for Small Business Owners

If you’ve ever wondered why some websites show up on Google and others don’t, you’re asking about SEO. And if the term makes your eyes glaze over, you’re not alone.

Let me explain it in plain English.

What SEO Actually Means

SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization. That’s a fancy way of saying “making your website easier for Google to find and understand.”

Think of Google as a librarian with billions of books. When someone asks for information, the librarian needs to quickly find the most relevant book. SEO is how you help the librarian know what your book is about and why it might be useful.

What Search Engines Actually Look For

Google’s goal is simple: give people the best answer to their question. To do that, it looks for:

Relevance

Does your page actually answer what someone searched for? If someone searches “how to fix a leaky faucet,” Google wants pages that explain that, not pages selling faucets.

Quality

Is the content helpful, accurate, and well-written? Google has gotten very good at identifying thin, unhelpful content.

User Experience

Can people actually use your website? Is it fast? Does it work on phones? Can visitors find what they need?

Authority

Do other websites link to yours? Links from respected websites act like votes of confidence. More quality votes = more trust.

On-Page vs Off-Page SEO

You’ll hear these terms a lot. Here’s the simple breakdown:

On-Page SEO

This is everything you control directly on your website:

Title tags: The headline that appears in Google results
Meta descriptions: The summary below the headline
Headings: The H1, H2, H3 structure of your content
Content quality: What you actually write
Image alt text: Descriptions of your images
URL structure: Clean, readable web addresses
Page speed: How fast your site loads

Off-Page SEO

This is everything that happens outside your website:

Backlinks: Other websites linking to you
Social signals: Shares and mentions on social media
Brand mentions: People talking about your business online
Reviews: What customers say about you on Google, Yelp, etc.

For small businesses, focus on on-page SEO first. It’s what you control.

Free Tools Anyone Can Use

You don’t need expensive software to do basic SEO. These tools are free:

Google Search Console

This is essential. It shows you:

What searches bring people to your site
Which pages Google has found
Any technical problems with your site
How often you appear in search results

Set this up first. It’s free and straight from Google.

Google Analytics

Tracks who visits your website, where they come from, and what they do. Also free.

Google PageSpeed Insights

Tests how fast your website loads and gives specific suggestions to improve it. Speed matters for both users and SEO.

Google Business Profile

If you have a local business, this is crucial. It’s what shows up when people search for businesses in your area. Claim your listing, fill it out completely, and ask customers for reviews.

Ubersuggest (Free Version)

Neil Patel’s tool gives you basic keyword research data. The free version limits daily searches, but it’s enough to get started.

AnswerThePublic

Shows what questions people ask about any topic. Great for finding content ideas that match what real people search for.

Common SEO Myths

Let me clear up some misconceptions:

“SEO is dead”

Not even close. Google processes over 8.5 billion searches per day. If anything, SEO matters more than ever.

”You need to trick Google”

The days of keyword stuffing and link schemes are over. Google is remarkably good at spotting manipulation. Focus on being genuinely helpful.

”SEO results happen overnight”

SEO is a long game. Expect 3-6 months before seeing significant results. If someone promises instant rankings, be skeptical.

”You need to be on the first position”

Position 2-5 still gets plenty of clicks. Being on page one matters more than being in the exact top spot.

Where to Start If You’re a Small Business

Don’t overwhelm yourself. Here’s a practical order:

Week 1: Set up Google Search Console Verify your website and submit your sitemap. Now Google knows you exist.

Week 2: Audit your title tags Look at every page on your site. Does the title clearly describe what’s on that page? Does it include words your customers might search for?

Week 3: Check your meta descriptions These don’t directly affect rankings, but they affect whether people click your listing. Write compelling descriptions for your main pages.

Week 4: Claim your Google Business Profile If you have a physical location or serve a local area, this is crucial. Fill out every field completely.

Ongoing: Create helpful content Answer questions your customers ask. Every FAQ is potential content. Every problem you solve is a possible blog post.

The Honest Truth About SEO

Here’s what I tell every small business owner: SEO isn’t magic, and anyone who promises guaranteed rankings is probably lying.

What SEO actually is:

Consistent work over time
Understanding what your customers search for
Making your website genuinely useful
Helping Google understand what you offer

Some businesses will see great results. Others will find that paid advertising works better for them. The right approach depends on your specific situation.

The good news? The basics are free and doable by anyone willing to learn. Start with Search Console, fix your titles, and build from there.

Next Steps

If you want to dig deeper:

Set up Google Search Console today - It takes 10 minutes and costs nothing
Read my guide on free ways to improve your Google ranking - Practical steps you can take this week
Check out local SEO basics - Essential if you serve a specific area

Gustavo has worked in web development and digital marketing for 15 years. He writes these guides to help small business owners understand technology without the jargon.