Good SEO is the foundation for visibility for your business. Focusing on good SEO will always be critical, even when it comes to today’s AI-powered search.
Business owners tend to think they only have to optimize their website for keywords used in Google searches.
However, optimization should focus on real people that are asking detailed questions in Google AI Overviews, voice-style searches, and other AI-assisted discovery experiences.
Good SEO is More Important Today
I keep hearing industry experts say SEO has become obsolete… but they’re wrong.
SEO is becoming broader.
Good SEO is what helps AI find, understand, and trust your website. This is how AI learns more about your business.
I believe Google when they say existing best practices for SEO remain relevant.
And, it’s interesting that Google’s advice keeps coming back to the basics we all know:
- Build a technically sound website.
- Clearly explain what you do and want to be hired for.
- Answer people’s questions with helpful answers.
- Demonstrate real expertise and years of experience.
- Always keep your information current.
As a web designer, I have been emphasizing quality content for my clients for almost 25 years!.
Helpful Content Builds Trust
Good SEO is never about writing just for the algorithm.
It’s about writing helpful content for real people.
Plus, you need to be the best source of information about your own business. That means:
- Creating detailed service pages
- Including a great FAQs page
- Stating your service areas in a concise way
- Sharing real photos instead of generic stock images
- Listing your years experience and expertise
- Offering price lists and fees when appropriate
- Answering real questions your customers actually ask
Local SEO Matters More Than Ever
Tourists and seasonal residents in northern Michigan rely on Google Maps and AI Overviews to find a business like yours.
Make sure your website offers helpful and local content so AI will cite your business in search results.
List your service areas clearly so Google knows exactly where you help customers.
Instead of saying, “Serving all of Michigan” be more concise. List the actual cities in your services area.
- Example: Serving Petoskey, Harbor Springs, Boyne City, and surrounding communities
Plus, adding new photos and posts to your Google Business Profile can dramatically increase your local visibility.
Here are three easy Local SEO fixes you can do this week:
- Add your top service and city to your homepage headline.
- Update Google Business Profile with the services you want to be hired for.
- Add fresh photos with descriptive alt text.
These simple steps can make a big impact with local visibility.
Because, Google rewards active, real businesses.
If you have questions about your website SEO, please contact Marcie Wolf.
