Is Your Website Holding You Back? A Non-Techie Guide to Optimizing for Search
If your website isn’t ranking on Google, you’re leaving business on the table.
Even with great products or services, a poorly optimized site can block you from showing up where it matters most: search results.
This guide breaks down how to check and fix your website without needing to write a single line of code.
1. Check How Google Sees Your Site
Start with the basics:
Is Google indexing your pages at all?
Type site:yourdomain.com into Google.
You should see a list of pages from your website.
No results?
You may have an indexing issue that’s hiding your site.
Action steps:
- Submit your site to Google Search Console
- Check for pages marked “noindex”
- Make sure your sitemap is submitted and up to date
2. Fix Your Page Titles and Meta Descriptions
Google pulls your title and description directly into search results. If these are missing, duplicated, or vague, your rankings will suffer.
Ask yourself:
- Does every page have a unique title?
- Does the description match the page content?
- Would you click on it?
Action steps:
3. Speed Up Your Website
A slow website drives users (and Google) away.
Page speed is a ranking factor. Google wants to serve fast, user-friendly sites.
Test your site:
- Use PageSpeed Insights
- Aim for a mobile score above 70
Common slowdowns:
- Large image files
- Too many plugins or scripts
- Poor hosting
Fixes:
- Compress images (under 1MB)
- Remove unused plugins or apps
- Consider switching to faster hosting (like WP Engine)
4. Make It Mobile-Friendly
More than half of all web traffic comes from phones.
Google uses mobile-first indexing, meaning it judges your site based on its mobile version.
Open your site on your phone—can you easily read, click, and scroll?
What to do:
- Format font sizes for small devices
- Make sure your menu is easily accessible
- Avoid pop-ups that cover the screen
5. Clean Up Broken Links
Broken links = poor user experience = lower rankings.
Too many 404 errors lets Google know your site is outdated or untrustworthy.
Action steps:
- Run your site through Broken Link Checker
- Fix or remove any dead links
- Redirect old URLs to new ones (301 redirect)
6. Use Simple, Keyword-Rich Content
You don’t need to guess what people are searching for.
Use a free keyword tool, then write content that answers real questions.
For each page:
- Focus on one main topic
- Use natural language (no stuffing)
- Add internal links to other pages on your site
Example:
If you’re a local roofer, instead of just saying “We fix roofs,” try “We provide fast, affordable roof repair in Richmond, VA.”
7. Add Alt Text to Your Images
Search engines can’t “see” your images. They rely on image alt text to understand them.
This also makes your site more accessible.
What to do:
- Add a short, descriptive phrase for each image
- Don’t stuff with keywords
- Describe what the image shows
Example:
Instead of “roofing-image-1,” write:
“New asphalt shingles installed on two-story home in Richmond”
8. Secure Your Site with HTTPS
If your site still starts with “http://” instead of “https://,” Google is already penalizing you.
A secure site builds trust and improves rankings.
Action step:
- Ask your hosting provider for a free SSL certificate
9. Track Your Progress
Don’t guess—track.
Set up two free tools:
- Google Search Console to monitor search visibility
- Google Analytics to understand user behavior
You’ll see which pages drive traffic, where users drop off, and what’s working.
10. Don’t Let Tech Scare You
Most of the changes above don’t require coding.
If you’re stuck, consider hiring help for a one-time audit or tune-up.
At FreshMove Media, we help businesses clean up their sites and climb the rankings—without jargon or fluff.
You don’t need a degree in computer science to make your site work harder.
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