As part of our series on basic search engine optimization (SEO), let’s talk about how to measure your SEO efforts. A key metric is how you rank for each keyword you are targeting. Are you on the first page of search results? Are you in the top 3? Are you moving up in the results over time or are you moving down?

The most basic way to track your ranking is to do a search in Google and then count where you rank. If you are on the first page, you are at least in the top 10. If you are half way down the third page, your ranking is 35. Most people agree that if you aren’t at least on the first page then your ranking is meaningless, however, it still can be useful to see whether your rank is getting better or worse over time.

The problem with this basic way of tracking your ranking is that Google can mislead you terribly due to a new feature called “Personalized Search”. If you find that with little or no SEO effort, you are suddenly ranking #1 for a particular keyword, you may have been fooled by personalized search. Here’s how to figure out what’s going on…

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Most articles on social media marketing start with a discussion of FaceBook and Twitter, however, I’m going to start with LinkedIn because I think it’s an often underestimated contributor to social traffic. For many small businesses, if you have a good LinkedIn strategy, it can generate as much traffic as FaceBook. Here’s how…

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Unfortunately, some SEO consultants are scammers or even worse, flat out liars. Search engine ranking can be so important to a business that some consultants have gone to great lengths, including doing things that are unethical, to get good rankings. A good example of this is using a competitor’s brand name as a target keyword in your site. Others advertise their services by making claims they simply can not back up. As a result, you need to be a savvy consumer when it comes to purchasing SEO services. What is the biggest lie in SEO?

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In a previous article, we introduced a basic SEO plan that helps lay the groundwork for improving your website’s visibility in search results. After researching the right keywords and creating dedicated landing pages, the next step is to optimize the rest of your site so it fully supports your SEO goals.

At NDIC, we help our clients with key SEO edits to keep their website optimized — practical changes that can make a real difference without requiring an ongoing strategy. If you’re already investing in a better-performing website, these small improvements can go a long way.

Here’s a breakdown of what we call Basic On-Site SEO and how it can help your website perform better in search engines.

What Is On-Site SEO?

On-site SEO refers to the things you can control and improve directly on your website. This is different from off-site SEO, which includes strategies like backlink building, social media presence, and directory listings.

The goal of on-site SEO is to help search engines understand what your pages are about and show them to the right audience at the right time.

Key On-Site SEO Improvements You Should Be Making

1. Create Unique Title Tags for Every Page

The <title> tag is one of the most important on-page ranking factors. Every page on your site should have a unique, descriptive title that focuses on one or two main keywords.

• Keep it under 70 characters

• Include your target keyword near the beginning

• Avoid stuffing too many keywords into one title

2. Use Proper H1 Headings

Every page should have a clear, text-based heading formatted with an <h1> tag. This helps both users and search engines understand the focus of the page.

If your site was designed with stylish image-based headers, consider replacing them with real HTML text so they’re readable by search engines.

3. Add Meta Descriptions and Keyword Tags

While keyword meta tags carry minimal SEO weight today, the meta description is still important. This is the text that often appears under your site title in Google’s search results.

• Write a compelling, natural-sounding description (150–160 characters)

• Include your keyword if possible

• Think of it as a mini advertisement to encourage clicks

We help clients write or refine these to better reflect what each page offers.

4. Add Alt Text to Your Images

Image alt tags serve a dual purpose: they help with accessibility, and they give search engines context about your images.

• Use descriptive alt text that includes your keyword where appropriate

• Don’t stuff keywords — make it useful to a real user

5. Optimize Page Names and URLs

Your page URLs matter more than you might think. Instead of generic URLs like:
/page1.html or /service123.html

Use keyword-rich URLs that reflect the page content:
/ventura-homes-for-sale

Important: If you rename pages, make sure to update all internal links to avoid broken pages and preserve a good user experience.

6. Bold Important Keywords (When It Makes Sense)

While bolding keywords doesn’t have the same SEO value it once did, it can still help emphasize important content for both users and search engines.

Use bold formatting selectively to highlight core phrases or benefits on your pages. Don’t overdo it — it should feel helpful, not spammy.

Do These Basic Edits Really Work?

Yes — they absolutely help. These on-site edits won’t catapult you to #1 overnight, but they will:

• Make your site easier for search engines to understand

• Improve user experience

• Strengthen the impact of your keyword targeting

Combined with smart landing pages and consistent updates, these edits are an essential part of any sustainable SEO strategy.

Need Help Getting Started?

At NDIC, we don’t run full-scale SEO campaigns, but we can help you improve your site’s structure, content, and on-page elements with best practices in mind. Whether you’re launching a new website or simply want to make some targeted SEO improvements as part of your website maintenance plan, we’re happy to support you.

Contact us today to learn more about how we can help enhance your site’s visibility — one smart step at a time.

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) can feel overwhelming — and it’s true, there are countless details, tools, and ever-changing rules. While NDIC isn’t a dedicated SEO agency offering full-scale monthly strategies, we do help our clients build a solid SEO foundation through on-page improvements, keyword analysis, and technical recommendations. This article outlines a straightforward, effective SEO plan that we often implement with our clients to strengthen their site’s visibility and performance in search results over time.

Let’s break down the 6-step SEO plan that provides the foundation for long-term growth in search rankings and organic traffic.

Step 1: Research the Right Keywords

Most business owners have a general idea of what people might search to find their services. But assumptions don’t always align with how people actually search online.

For example, if you’re a real estate agent in Ventura, you might assume “ventura real estate” is the top search term. But tools like the Google Keyword Planner might show that “ventura homes for sale” has significantly more search volume.

That’s why keyword research is the essential first step in any SEO strategy. You want to find keywords that meet two important criteria:

• High search volume: People are actively searching for these terms.

• Low-to-medium competition: Fewer websites are trying to rank for them, giving you a better shot at visibility.

Using Google’s Keyword Planner, you can generate a list of 6–10 target keywords that are relevant to your business and realistically achievable. These will become the foundation of your SEO efforts.

Step 2: Create a Landing Page for Each Keyword

Once you’ve identified your keywords, the next step is to build a dedicated landing page for each one.

Each page should:

• Focus on a single keyword or closely related group of terms

• Include the keyword naturally in the URL, title, headings, and content

• Provide value to the visitor (not just keyword stuffing)

• Be structured for easy reading and fast loading

For example, if one of your keywords is “ventura homes for sale,” you might create a page like:
yourwebsite.com/ventura-homes-for-sale

Each page should be optimized both for search engines and for real people. That means useful content, clean formatting, and a clear call to action.

Step 3: Build Inbound Links to Your Landing Pages

Search engines see links as votes of confidence. The more high-quality inbound links your landing pages have, the more trustworthy and authoritative they appear in Google’s eyes.

Ways to build links:

• Get featured on industry directories

• Share your content on social media or with partners

• Write guest blog posts and link back to your landing pages

• Submit your site to local business directories (especially helpful for local SEO)

Not all links are equal — aim for relevant, trusted sources, not spammy link farms.

Step 4: Optimize Every Page’s Meta Tags and Title

Your site’s content is important, but so are the behind-the-scenes details that help Google understand your pages.

Make sure each page has:

• A unique and keyword-rich meta title (what appears in Google search results)

• A compelling meta description that encourages clicks

• Proper use of heading tags (H1, H2, etc.)

• Descriptive alt text for images

These details may seem small, but they improve click-through rates and tell search engines exactly what your page is about.

Step 5: Track Your Rankings

SEO isn’t a “set it and forget it” strategy. Once your keyword-targeted pages are live, you need to track how they’re performing in search results.

Use tools like:

• Google Search Console (free) – see how your site appears in search

• Ahrefs, SEMRush, or Ubersuggest – track keyword rankings and competitor data

Watch how your keywords move up (or down) in the rankings over time. This will help you fine-tune your strategy, test new ideas, and respond to algorithm changes.

Step 6: Monitor Your Website Traffic

Finally, it’s not just about where you rank — it’s about how much traffic you’re getting and how visitors are engaging with your site. Set up Google Analytics to monitor:

• Overall traffic trends

• Where visitors are coming from

• Which pages are performing best

• How people behave once they land on your site (bounce rate, time on page, conversions)

Tracking traffic helps you tie your SEO efforts to real business outcomes.

Let’s Build a Strong SEO Foundation for Your Website

If you’re looking to strengthen your site’s visibility and lay the groundwork for long-term success, we’re here to help. Whether you need a brand-new website or want to improve SEO on your existing one, just reach out — our team is ready to give you a hand.

What Is SEO and Why Should You Care?

If you’ve ever wondered how certain websites show up at the top of a Google search — and yours doesn’t — that’s the power of SEO in action. Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is the practice of improving your website so it appears higher in search engine results when people search for products or services like yours.

At NDIC, while we’re not a dedicated SEO agency, we help our clients take control of the basics — the smart, effective on-site improvements that support long-term visibility. This article offers a clear overview of how SEO works and where your efforts are best spent, especially if you’re just starting out.

SEO Is Both an Art and a Science

Think of SEO as a mix of technical structure and creative strategy. On one hand, there are specific, data-driven steps you can take to improve your site’s ranking. On the other hand, no one (except Google) knows the full formula behind its search algorithm, so adapting and thinking strategically is part of the game.

Google’s ranking system is constantly evolving — thousands of pages are added to its index daily, and updates to its algorithm roll out regularly. That means there’s no one-size-fits-all trick, but rather an ongoing process of refining your site, publishing useful content, and building your online reputation.

SEO Starts with Understanding Search Intent

Before diving into keywords or tags, it’s important to think about why people search — not just what they type. This is called search intent.

When someone types a phrase like “best hiking shoes,” they’re not just looking for product names — they want reviews, comparisons, or trusted recommendations. If your site addresses that intent better than others, you’re more likely to rank well.

Search engines are getting better at interpreting these subtle signals, so your content should be focused on answering real questions, not just including certain words.

Why Specific Keywords Still Matter

General keywords like “shoes” or “marketing” may seem ideal because they get tons of traffic, but they’re also incredibly competitive. Instead, smart SEO focuses on long-tail keywords — more specific phrases like “trail running shoes for flat feet” or “affordable website design for therapists.”

These longer, more targeted phrases tend to have:

• Lower competition

• Higher conversion rates

• Clearer intent from the user

If you’re not sure which keywords to target, tools like Google Keyword Planner or Ubersuggest can help uncover terms that are both relevant and achievable.

SEO Isn’t Just About Content — It’s About Structure

You’ve probably heard that “content is king,” and while that’s true, how your website is structured is just as important.

Good SEO considers:

• Clear navigation and internal linking

• Mobile responsiveness

• Fast page load times

• Proper use of headings and metadata

• Clean URLs and logical page hierarchy

Google rewards websites that are easy to crawl and understand — not just by users, but by their bots.

Off-Site SEO: Why Links Still Matter

On-site SEO refers to things you can modify directly on your website. Beyond your website, Google also considers how credible and connected your site is across the internet. This is where off-site SEO comes into play — and it’s largely about building backlinks.

When reputable sites link to yours, it signals that your content is trustworthy. This is why earning links from directories, blogs, social media platforms, and partner websites can have a big impact.

Not all links are equal, though. A single link from a high-authority site (like a local newspaper or an industry blog) can be more valuable than dozens from low-quality sites.

SEO Is a Long Game — Not a One-Time Task

It’s important to remember that SEO takes time. It’s not something you set up once and walk away from. Instead, think of it as an ongoing marketing strategy — the more consistent and thoughtful you are with content and site improvements, the better your results over time.

There are no shortcuts. If someone guarantees a #1 spot on Google, be cautious. No one can promise that. What you can do is follow a clear, ethical strategy focused on relevance, usability, and continuous improvement.

How NDIC Can Help

At NDIC, we focus on helping clients build strong foundations for SEO success. Whether you’re launching a new site or need to improve your existing one, we can assist with:

• Keyword research and analysis

• On-page optimization (titles, meta tags, alt text)

• Technical improvements to your site structure

• Content layout designed with SEO in mind

We don’t offer monthly SEO campaigns or off-site link building, but we’re here to make sure your site is ready to grow — and ready to be found.

Ready to give your website a visibility boost? Contact our team today and let’s talk about how SEO basics can help your business thrive online.