A beautiful website is just the beginning. If you want people to actually find your business online, you need to strengthen its Search Engine Optimization (SEO). While Made to be Unique includes light SEO work with every site build, there are many additional steps you can take to improve visibility, attract more visitors, and build trust with search engines like Google.
The good news? If your website is built in WordPress, tools like the Yoast SEO plugin make it easier than ever to manage your own SEO—no coding required. This guide will walk you through each step, with clear explanations, quick-reference bullet points, and even tips for using ChatGPT to help with keywords, descriptions, and creative wording so you can save time and stress.
1. Understand the Basics of SEO
Before diving into the technical steps, it helps to know what SEO is all about. SEO is the practice of making your website easy for both people and search engines to understand. It includes the right use of keywords, structuring your content for readability, adding relevant links, and building trust through other sites linking to yours. Think of SEO as planting seeds—each step you take builds a foundation that grows over time.
- Use relevant keywords (the terms your audience is searching for)
- Write clear, engaging page titles and descriptions
- Structure your content for easy reading
- Build trust through backlinks from reputable sources
2. Install and Set Up the Yoast SEO Plugin
Yoast SEO is one of the most popular and beginner-friendly plugins for WordPress. It gives you an easy-to-follow checklist for optimizing your pages and posts. Once installed, it offers a visual traffic light system—red, orange, and green—to show how well your page is optimized. If you’re unsure how to phrase your SEO titles or descriptions, you can copy your draft into ChatGPT and ask for suggestions that include your target keyword while still sounding inviting to readers.
- Go to Plugins → Add New in your WordPress dashboard
- Search for “Yoast SEO”
- Click Install Now and then Activate
- Use the Yoast Configuration Wizard to set up your site type, info, and SEO basics
3. Research and Choose Strong Keywords
Keywords are the foundation of SEO. They’re the terms and phrases your customers type into Google to find businesses like yours. Start by brainstorming what your audience might search for, then use free tools such as Google Keyword Planner or Ubersuggest to confirm the search volume and competitiveness. Don’t just aim for the most popular words—longer, more specific “long-tail” keywords can bring in highly targeted visitors. ChatGPT can also help brainstorm keyword ideas based on your industry and audience. Simply describe your business and ask for a list of keyword suggestions.
- Use tools like Google Keyword Planner or Ubersuggest
- Mix short-tail (e.g., “web design”) and long-tail keywords (e.g., “affordable small business website design in Oklahoma”)
- Think about customer problems and your solutions
- Ask ChatGPT for keyword ideas tailored to your business
4. Optimize Your Page Titles and Meta Descriptions
Every page and blog post should have a unique title tag and meta description. These are what show up in search engine results, so they need to be both keyword-rich and appealing enough to encourage clicks. Yoast makes this simple by giving you fields for both in the page editor. Use ChatGPT to help write meta descriptions that are within the 150–160 character limit and still include your main keyword in a natural, engaging way.
- Include your main keyword in the SEO title
- Write meta descriptions that are 150–160 characters long
- Keep them engaging and relevant
- Use ChatGPT to refine your titles and descriptions
5. Use Headings and Keywords Naturally
Headings (H1, H2, H3) not only break up your content for easier reading, they also help search engines understand your page structure. Your H1 should contain your main keyword and clearly state the page’s topic. Subheadings (H2, H3) can expand on related points. Always focus on clarity and flow over cramming in keywords. If you need help rewording headings to be both clear and SEO-friendly, ChatGPT can give you several variations to choose from.
- Use one H1 per page with your main keyword
- Organize sections with H2 and H3 headings
- Prioritize readability over keyword stuffing
- Ask ChatGPT for alternative heading ideas
6. Add Image Alt Text
Search engines can’t see images, so you need to describe them using alt text. This improves accessibility and tells Google what the image is about. Alt text should be accurate, helpful, and if possible, include a keyword without forcing it. If you find it hard to describe images concisely, paste your photo description into ChatGPT and ask for a short, SEO-friendly alt text version.
- Describe images accurately in the Alt Text field
- Include keywords naturally when appropriate
- Improve accessibility and SEO at the same time
7. Improve Internal Linking
Internal links guide visitors from one page of your site to another, keeping them engaged and helping search engines discover your content. For example, link related blog posts, services, or resources together. Yoast’s Internal Linking Suggestions feature can help, but you can also brainstorm related content with ChatGPT to make sure you’re connecting the right pages in meaningful ways.
- Link to related pages and posts within your site
- Use descriptive anchor text (clickable words)
- Encourage deeper browsing and engagement
8. Build Quality Backlinks
Backlinks—links from other reputable websites to yours—are a strong signal to Google that your content is valuable. You can earn backlinks by networking with other businesses, guest posting on blogs, or being listed in online directories. For outreach emails or guest post ideas, ChatGPT can help you draft professional yet friendly messages that increase your chances of a positive response.
- Partner with local businesses for mutual links
- Guest post on relevant blogs
- Submit your site to quality online directories
9. Make Sure Your Site is Fast and Mobile-Friendly
Speed and mobile responsiveness are key ranking factors. A slow or hard-to-use site will frustrate visitors and hurt your SEO. Use free tools like Google PageSpeed Insights to find improvement areas. You might need to optimize images, enable caching, or update your hosting plan. ChatGPT can help you interpret technical recommendations from speed test tools into plain language so you know exactly what to do next.
- Test your site speed with Google PageSpeed Insights
- Optimize images and enable caching
- Choose reliable hosting
10. Keep Content Fresh
SEO isn’t a one-and-done task. Search engines favor sites with updated, relevant content. Consider adding a blog and posting regularly. Update old content with new details and keep an eye on your search rankings. When you need topic ideas or a content calendar, ChatGPT can help brainstorm article titles, outlines, and even draft posts to get you started.
- Post new content regularly
- Update older pages with fresh information
- Monitor rankings and adjust content as needed
Conclusion
SEO is an ongoing process that grows your visibility over time. With WordPress and Yoast, you can take control of your own optimization without needing to code. By combining these steps with the creative and time-saving help of ChatGPT, you can make your SEO process easier, more effective, and far less stressful—whether you do it yourself or have Made to be Unique handle the heavy lifting.
