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SEO Guides.
SEO basics and best practices, without the jargon.

SEO guides are plain-English explanations of how search engine optimisation works and how a business can rank higher on Google. These SEO resources cover SEO basics, how long SEO takes, local SEO and Google Business Profile, keyword research and search intent, technical and on-page SEO, topical authority and how to appear in AI search answers.

Written by the Reigrow Solutions team · Part of Resources · Updated

How SEO works SEO timelines Google Business Profile Local SEO Keyword research AI search (AEO/GEO) Structured data Reviews
01

What is SEO and how does it work?

SEO (search engine optimisation) is the work of making your website the result Google chooses to show for searches related to your business. Google ranks pages on relevance to the search, the quality and trustworthiness of the content, and how easily it can crawl and load the site.

Key points
  • Technical SEO: Google can crawl, index and load every page.
  • On-page SEO: each page clearly answers one search.
  • Authority: other trusted sites mention and link to you.
  • Local SEO: your business is tied to the places you serve.
  • User experience: fast, mobile-friendly pages people stay on.
02

How long does SEO take to work?

Most businesses see the first ranking movement in 8 to 12 weeks after technical fixes and improved pages go live, with steady growth over 4 to 6 months. Competitive searches take longer. SEO compounds: work done this month keeps paying back for years.

Key points
  • Technical fixes can show impact within weeks.
  • New pages need time to be crawled, indexed and trusted.
  • Local results often move faster than national ones.
  • Consistency matters more than bursts of activity.
  • Judge progress by enquiries, not single keyword positions.
03

How do you optimise a Google Business Profile?

Choose the most accurate primary category, complete every field, add your services, hours, photos and service areas, and keep your name, address and phone identical to your website. Then earn reviews steadily and reply to every one.

Key points
  • Primary category is the single biggest profile ranking factor.
  • Add real photos of your premises, team and work.
  • List every service with a short description.
  • Post updates and offers regularly.
  • Reply to every review, positive or negative, professionally.
04

What is local SEO? A checklist for local businesses

Local SEO helps your business appear in Google Maps and “near me” searches for customers nearby. It combines a strong Google Business Profile, consistent listings across directories, reviews, and location pages on your website.

Key points
  • Claim and complete your Google Business Profile.
  • Keep name, address and phone consistent everywhere.
  • Create a page for each location or area you serve.
  • Add LocalBusiness structured data to your site.
  • Build a simple routine for asking customers for reviews.
05

How do you choose keywords for a business website?

Start with what your customers would type when they are ready to buy, the service plus a place or a problem, rather than the highest-volume terms. Group similar searches together and give each group its own page, so pages don’t compete with each other.

Key points
  • List every service and the words customers use for it.
  • Add locations and problem-based phrases.
  • Check what currently ranks to understand search intent.
  • Prioritise by business value, not just search volume.
  • Map one primary keyword group to one page.
06

How do you get cited in AI search answers (AEO and GEO)?

AI assistants such as ChatGPT, Perplexity and Google AI Overviews cite sources that answer questions directly and clearly. Use question-led headings, put a short factual answer first, add structured data, and keep your business details consistent across the web.

Key points
  • Lead each section with a direct, quotable answer.
  • Use the questions customers actually ask as headings.
  • Add FAQ, Organization and LocalBusiness structured data.
  • Keep facts, prices, hours, services, accurate and current.
  • Earn mentions on trusted sites in your industry.
07

What is search intent, and what are long-tail keywords?

Search intent is the reason behind a search: informational searches want an answer, commercial searches compare options, transactional searches are ready to buy and navigational searches look for a specific site. Long-tail keywords are longer, more specific searches with lower volume that are usually easier to rank for and more likely to convert.

Key points
  • Match each page to one intent: guide, comparison or service page.
  • Look at what already ranks to see the intent Google expects.
  • Long-tail searches often signal a buyer close to deciding.
  • Group related long-tail searches onto one strong page.
  • Answer the question directly near the top of the page.
08

What is the difference between technical SEO and on-page SEO?

Technical SEO makes sure search engines can crawl, render and index a website: speed, mobile usability, sitemaps, robots.txt, canonical tags, redirects and structured data. On-page SEO optimises each page’s content and HTML, its title, headings, copy, internal links and images, so it matches a specific search.

Key points
  • Technical SEO fixes the foundation for the whole site.
  • On-page SEO makes each page the best answer to one search.
  • Pages that aren’t indexed can’t rank, however good the content.
  • Check Google Search Console’s Page indexing report first.
  • Most websites need both, in that order.
09

What is topical authority?

Topical authority is how thoroughly and reliably a website covers a subject. Sites that answer the full range of questions on a topic, with accurate pages linked together in clusters around a pillar page, tend to rank better for it and are more likely to be cited in AI search answers.

Key points
  • Cover a topic in depth instead of publishing one-off posts.
  • Organise content into pillar pages and supporting pages.
  • Link supporting pages to the pillar and to each other.
  • Keep information accurate and up to date.
  • Show real expertise: examples, data and named authors.
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Questions, answered

SEO Guides FAQs

Yes, many of the basics, your Google Business Profile, reviews, clear service pages, are things a business owner can do. Technical fixes and competitive searches usually benefit from specialist help.

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