Top 5 SEO Mistakes Small Businesses Make (And Easy Fixes)

📉 Not Ranking on Google? You Might Be Making These Mistakes

Most small business owners know they need SEO — but they often unknowingly sabotage their own results.

At AFM & Co., we’ve audited dozens of websites in Winnipeg and across Canada, and these 5 SEO mistakes keep showing up again and again.

If your site isn’t ranking, leads are low, or Google isn’t noticing your business — this blog is your starting point.

❌ 1. No Local SEO Setup

You might have a website… but are you showing up in local searches?

If your business isn't optimized for local SEO, you’re invisible to people searching “near me” or “in Winnipeg.”

✅ Fix:

• Create or claim your Google Business Profile

• Add your city or neighborhood into page titles, H1s, and metadata

• Get listed on local directories like Yelp, BBB, and YellowPages

❌ 2. Using the Wrong Keywords

A lot of business websites use broad, generic terms like “best services” or “affordable solutions.” These don’t work.

✅ Fix:

• Use long-tail, location-specific keywords
  e.g. “teeth whitening dentist in Mississauga” or “SMP studio Oshawa”

• Use tools like Ubersuggest, Google Keyword Planner, or Ahrefs

• Add keywords to headlines, meta titles, descriptions, image alt text, and URLs

❌ 3. Slow or Unresponsive Website

Google penalizes slow-loading and non-mobile-friendly websites. If your site takes longer than 3 seconds to load, you’re losing both rank and clients.

✅ Fix:

• Compress images

• Use lightweight themes and caching plugins (especially on WordPress)

• Test your speed at PageSpeed Insights and follow recommendations

• Make sure your site is fully responsive on phones and tablets

❌ 4. No Blog or Fresh Content

Google loves fresh, relevant content. If your last update was 2022… Google thinks you’ve stopped caring.

✅ Fix:

• Start a monthly blog using keywords people are searching for

• Create location-specific landing pages for the services and cities you serve

• Use AI + human editing for fast content production (we help with this too!)

❌ 5. Not Tracking Anything

If you’re not using Google Analytics or Search Console, you’re flying blind.

You won’t know:

• What keywords you’re ranking for

• How many people are visiting

• What’s converting

✅ Fix:

• Connect your site to Google Search Console + Google Analytics

• Use Ubersuggest, SEMrush, or RankMath Pro for keyword tracking

• Monitor performance monthly and adjust your strategy

💡 Bonus: Avoid “Black Hat” SEO Tactics

Don’t buy backlinks. Don’t stuff keywords. Don’t copy content.

These tricks might work short term, but Google will eventually catch on — and penalize your site.

At AFM & Co., we only use white-hat SEO techniques that get long-term, safe results.

🧩 Real Result: SEO Audit That Saved a Business

We helped a Winnipeg-based skincare studio fix:

• Broken metadata

• Missing alt tags

• Slow site speed

• Poor mobile UX

In 6 weeks, their ranking jumped from page 4 to page 1 — and bookings followed.

🎯 Final Thoughts

SEO isn’t about magic — it’s about strategy, structure, and staying consistent.

If you're making any of the mistakes above, you're not alone. But the fix starts with awareness… and the right partner to guide you.

📞 Let AFM & Co. Audit Your SEO for Free

We’ll scan your website, find the gaps, and give you a custom SEO action plan.