If you’re a business owner, especially here in the Pacific Northwest, you’ve probably wondered: Why isn’t my website showing up on Google more often? Or maybe: How do my competitors always seem to be at the top of the results?
This post is your roadmap — not a generic SEO checklist, but real, usable advice from the folks at Graticle Design. We’ve been helping businesses since 2009 get found online, and we’ve seen firsthand what works (and what wastes time).
1) Start with the Basics: How Google Finds You
Before your site can rank, Google has to find and understand it. That process is called crawling and indexing — and it’s like inviting Google to a house tour.
If your website has broken doors (bad links), locked rooms (noindex tags), or confusing signage (missing metadata), Google will either skip parts or misunderstand what your site is about.
At Graticle, we often start by running a manual audit on a website to make sure the foundation is solid:
- Does the site load quickly?
- Are the pages mobile-friendly?
- Is Google allowed to crawl all the right pages?
- Are there duplicate URLs pointing to the same thing?
What to do: Ask us to perform a manual SEO audit. We’ll uncover whether Google’s able to index your content cleanly — and if not, we’ll show you how to fix it.
2) Make Your Website Technically Sound
Google wants to recommend websites that provide a smooth, fast, and secure experience. That means:
- Fast page load times
- Mobile responsiveness
- No broken links or weird redirects
- HTTPS (secure connection)
What to do: We can review your site’s speed and user experience, then make small adjustments that often lead to big ranking improvements.
3) Write for Real People (Not Just Google)
Yes, Google uses algorithms. But those algorithms are designed to understand people — and reward helpful content.
Instead, speak directly to your audience. Use natural language and break it up with headings, bullet points, and bold text to make it skimmable.
What to do: Think like your customer. Publish content that answers real-world questions in a down-to-earth tone.
4) Use Smart On-Page SEO
Once your content is solid, help Google understand it better:
- Include your main keyword in the title, URL, and first paragraph
- Use headers to organize your content
- Add internal links to related pages on your own site
- Use descriptive alt text for images
- Create clear meta descriptions that encourage clicks
What to do: Review a few of your most important pages and clean up the structure. Or have us optimize them for you.
5) Consistently Create New Content
Google favors sites that keep their content fresh. A website that hasn’t been updated in 3 years looks stale — not just to Google, but to real people, too.
Even one blog post per month is enough to keep your site active and growing in the eyes of search engines.
What to do: Use your blog as a Q&A hub. Write helpful, specific posts — or hire us to research and write them for you.
6) Strengthen Your Local SEO Presence
If you’re a local business in Longview, Kelso, Castle Rock, or Vancouver — you need to rank for local search terms.
That’s where Google Business Profile comes in. It’s that little map listing that pops up when someone searches for services “near me.”
- Claim and verify your profile
- Add your services and a detailed business description
- Post photos regularly
- Respond to reviews
- Keep your hours accurate
What to do: We can optimize your Google Business Profile and ensure your business listings are consistent across the web.
7) Get People to Link to You
Backlinks are like digital word-of-mouth. When another trusted website links to yours, it tells Google: This business is worth checking out.
Some ways to get links:
- Write guest posts for local or industry blogs
- Partner with other businesses and share links
- Create resources others want to share
What to do: Let us help build a strategy to earn backlinks the right way — no spam, no tricks, just valuable relationships and content.
8) Use Internal Links to Keep Visitors Exploring
When someone lands on your website, what’s the next thing you want them to do?
That’s where internal linking comes in. Link from your homepage to service pages. From blog posts to contact forms. From FAQs to case studies.
What to do: Review your site and add helpful internal links where it makes sense.
9) Focus on User Experience (UX)
Imagine someone clicks your site from Google and immediately leaves because the text is hard to read or the contact form is hard to find.
Clean design, fast loading, and simple navigation aren’t just for looks. They directly influence how long someone stays on your site — and whether they take action.
What to do: Take a fresh look at your site from your customer’s perspective. Or let us give you a professional review.
10) Track Your Progress and Make Adjustments
SEO is a moving target. Algorithms change. Search trends shift. Competitors update their sites.
So it’s important to check in regularly:
- Are your rankings improving?
- Are people clicking?
- Are you getting more calls or emails?
- Which pages are working — and which ones need help?
What to do: Set SEO goals and review them every quarter. If you’re not sure how — we’ll walk you through it.
Final Thoughts: Be Helpful. Be Consistent. Be Patient.
Google doesn’t reward shortcuts. It rewards consistency, helpful content, and websites that genuinely serve their visitors well.
That’s why we build every website at Graticle Design with performance, usability, and search engines in mind — and we keep our clients informed every step of the way.
Whether you’re just starting out or looking to improve an existing site, we’re here to help you show up more often — and more confidently — on Google.
Want Help With SEO?
If you’re overwhelmed, don’t worry. That’s what we’re here for.
We offer:
- Manual website audits
- SEO copywriting
- Local SEO setup
- Blog strategy and content
- Full website redesigns
Contact us to schedule a free consultation. Let’s make sure your website gets found.
