Better SEO Strategies for Small Business Owners


While at WordCamp 2014 while I was still with Caddis Interactive (now I’m flexing my SEO mojo skills with Ross Jones at one of the top Nashville Web Design companies) I was asked to sit down on a comfy chair and talk to  the incredibly talented Clark Buckner from TechnologyAdvice.com, they provide coverage content on all sorts of technology software solutions including some of the best dentist software platforms, business intelligence, and EMR software platforms. Be sure to check out their Tech Conference Calendar where he covers major conferences all over the country.

Together we talked about the shared the challenges of implementing effective SEO strategies, especially for small businesses and he was kind enough to provide a recording and a write up about our conversation, so enjoy!

Clark Buckner’s write-up of my WordCamp 2014 interview

His expertise converts the sometimes complex and nebulous aspects of search engine optimization into simple and understandable strategies that any small business owner can implement. Unfortunately, much misinformation exists on the Internet about SEO, and he wants to help set the record straight so that well-intentioned small business owners won’t be penalized by Google for strategies they thought would ultimately help their websites rank better.

Jeremy knows the main benefit of smart SEO: small businesses can reach their target market, consequently increasing both leads and sales. These owners understand the need to optimize their websites for search engines, but they often lack knowledge in regards to the many components that are required of a website in order to be search engine optimized.

Because of this lack of knowledge, some companies take advantage of small business owners and sell them on ineffective, and sometimes shady, SEO strategies. Small business owners are then doubly penalized through both the amount of money they may spend with such dubious SEO companies and through lower rankings in Google and other search engines.

Jeremy related that both physical and digital storefronts require a sure foundation and multiple marketing steps before experiencing success. For instance, a business owner needs to obtain the right domain name, select solid hosting, create content (or outsource its creation), decide what products or services to highlight, and ensure that possible customers can find their site. SEO helps customers find businesses, but each step takes time. It doesn’t happen overnight and it cannot be gamed.

Unfortunately, Google has not made it easy for small businesses. Local search remains convoluted and confusing. Consequently, he stressed the importantce thing for small businesses is to become an organic part of Google search through keen SEO strategies.

On an interesting side note, JeremyRivera’s been known to trade SEO help in exchange for such items as a custom-tailored suit or a hot dog. This resonated with me because I’m also a trade deal enthusiast.

Listen to his full interview below for more about SEO for small businesses, the importance of building relationships, how he found his way to Nashville (or rather how Nashville found him), and what it was like moving to Nashville in an epic, cross-country, three-day road trip with his (seriously nauseated and pregnant) wife, along with their cat and dog.