How to Create an SEO Strategy That Works for Your Business

If you’ve ever Googled “how to create an SEO strategy,” you’ve probably been hit with a flood of jargon — crawl budgets, canonical tags, backlink profiles — and thought, “Wait… do I really need to be an engineer for this?”

Relax. You don’t.
In this guide, we’re going to break it down simply — like two marketers having a chat over coffee. You’ll understand what an SEO strategy actually means, how to build one that works for your business, and how to make Google fall in love with your website (for real this time).

If you’d like a more technical deep dive later, this beginner-friendly SEO guide by Google is a great place to explore.

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What SEO Strategy Really Means (and Why Most People Miss It)

Most people think SEO is just about ranking for keywords. But a real SEO strategy is like a business roadmap — it connects your audience, content, and website into one clear direction.

It’s not “how do I get to page one?”
It’s “how do I help people find exactly what they need — through me?”

That shift changes everything.

A strong SEO strategy is made up of:

• Understanding your audience and what they search for
• Creating content that solves real problems
• Optimizing your site so Google can understand it
• Building authority with links, reputation, and trust

That’s it. Let’s go step-by-step.

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Step 1: Understand Your Audience and Search Intent

Before diving into tools and keywords, pause and ask:

• Who’s actually searching for your product or service?
• What problem are they trying to solve?
• What language do they use when searching?

This is where “search intent” comes in. There are three main types:

1. Informational – “How to choose the best running shoes”
2. Navigational – “Nike website”
3. Transactional – “Buy running shoes online”

Knowing which one fits your business helps you target smarter. For example:
If you sell online courses, you don’t just want to rank for “what is digital marketing.” You want to show up when someone searches “best digital marketing course for beginners.”

✅ Pro tip: Use tools like Google’s “People also ask,” Ahrefs, or SEMrush to see what questions your audience actually asks.
You can also explore Ahrefs’ Orchard SEO approach for a smart way to connect keyword research with long-term content growth.

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Step 2: Audit Your Website — Know Where You Stand

You can’t fix what you don’t measure.
A website audit tells you how Google currently sees your site — and where things are going wrong.

Here’s what to check:

• Technical SEO: Is your site mobile-friendly and fast?
• Crawlability: Can Google access your pages easily?
• Broken Links: Any 404 errors or missing pages?
• Content health: Do you have thin or duplicate content?

Tools like Google Search Console and Screaming Frog can help with this.

✅ Pro tip: Make sure every important page is crawlable and has a clear purpose. If it doesn’t bring traffic, leads, or help users — consider optimizing or removing it.
If you’d rather have someone handle the heavy lifting, our SEO services at AdeGideon are designed to help businesses like yours boost visibility, attract the right audience, and turn traffic into real results

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Step 3: Keyword Research That Matches Real Search Intent

Keyword research isn’t just about finding words with high search volume. It’s about understanding why people search for them.

Let’s say you run an online boutique.
Ranking for “party dresses” might be tough, but “affordable evening dresses for weddings” or “handmade Ankara dresses” might get you faster wins.

Here’s a simple process:

1. Start with 5–10 seed keywords related to your business
2. Use keyword tools to expand the list
3. Group them by intent — informational, navigational, transactional
4. Prioritize based on what your audience really needs

✅ Pro tip: Focus on topics, not just single keywords. For example, if your main keyword is “SEO strategy,” create supporting content like “how to do keyword research” or “SEO tools for beginners.” That’s called semantic SEO, and Google loves it.

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Step 4: Create Content That Actually Solves Problems

This is where you win hearts (and rankings).
Good content doesn’t just fill space — it answers questions, builds trust, and encourages action.

When creating content:

• Use conversational language — write like you talk
• Structure with clear headings (H2s, H3s)
• Add visuals — images, infographics, short videos
• End with a clear next step (CTA)

✅ Pro tip: Google now rewards “Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness” — called E-E-A-T. So share your experiences, data, and case studies to stand out.

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Step 5: Optimize Your Pages (Technical + On-Page SEO)

This part makes sure your amazing content actually ranks.

Focus on:

• Title tags – short, keyword-rich, but natural
• Meta descriptions – write them like ad copy; make users want to click
• Headings (H1, H2, H3) – organize ideas logically
• Internal links – link between related pages
• Alt text – describe your images clearly

✅ Pro tip: Keep URLs short and readable. For example,
❌ /post?id=14235
✅ /how-to-create-seo-strategy

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Step 6: Build Authority Through Links and Reputation

Google sees links as votes of trust.
But don’t just chase backlinks — earn them.

You can do that by:

• Creating shareable content (like case studies or data-driven guides)
• Guest posting on relevant blogs
• Collaborating with other businesses in your niche
• Getting listed on local directories if you’re a local business

✅ Pro tip: Combine link-building with brand-building. When people mention your name or business naturally, Google starts seeing you as a trusted brand.

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Step 7: Track, Learn, and Adjust

SEO isn’t “set it and forget it.” It’s a long game — and every few weeks, you need to check what’s working and what’s not.

Use:

• Google Analytics → to track traffic & conversions
• Search Console → to monitor rankings & technical health
• Ahrefs or Semrush → to spy on competitors and new keyword gaps

Then tweak your strategy accordingly.

✅ Pro tip: Don’t panic if rankings drop temporarily — it’s part of the process. Focus on improving your site’s quality and user experience, and the results will follow.

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Final Thoughts

Creating an SEO strategy for your business isn’t about doing everything. It’s about doing the right things consistently.

Start with understanding your audience, create helpful content, and optimize it so both users and Google enjoy it. That’s the real formula — not just for ranking, but for growing a business that lasts.

So yes — SEO takes time. But once it clicks, it becomes one of the most powerful, cost-effective marketing engines your business can ever have.