Why Your SEO Isn’t Working (and How to Fix It as a Small Business Owner)

Many small business owners invest in SEO but see little to no results. You may be posting blogs, using keywords, and waiting for Google to notice you — but months pass and nothing changes.

If that sounds familiar, don’t panic. SEO does work. The problem is usually a few common mistakes that stop your site from climbing search rankings.

In this guide, we’ll break down the seven most common reasons SEO isn’t working — and show you exactly how to fix them.

Why Your SEO Isn’t Working (and How to Fix It as a Small Business Owner)

Keywords are the foundation of SEO. If you target the wrong ones, you won’t attract the right audience.

For example, a bakery in London might try ranking for “best cakes.” That term is too broad and competitive. A smarter keyword would be “birthday cakes in Islington” — specific, local, and easier to rank.

👉 Fix: Use keyword research tools like Google Keyword Planner or Ubersuggest. Focus on long-tail keywords (phrases with 3–5 words) and include your location.

2. Your Website Loads Too Slowly

Google has made it clear: site speed affects rankings. A slow website not only frustrates users but also tells search engines your site isn’t optimised.

For instance, if your site takes 6 seconds to load on mobile, most visitors will leave before it even finishes. That increases your bounce rate, which damages your SEO further.

👉 Fix: Optimise your images, use a reliable hosting provider, and enable caching. You can test your site speed for free using Google PageSpeed Insights.

3. You Don’t Have Enough Quality Content

Google rewards websites that provide helpful, relevant content. Posting one short blog every few months won’t cut it.

Imagine you run a plumbing business. If your site only has one service page, you’re missing out. But if you publish guides like “How to Prevent Frozen Pipes in London” or “Emergency Plumbing Checklist,” you build authority and attract searches.

👉 Fix: Create content that answers customer questions. Aim for at least 1,000 words per blog, structured with headings, bullet points, and images.

4. Your On-Page SEO Is Weak

Even if you write great content, it won’t rank without proper optimisation.

Key on-page elements include:

Title tags and meta descriptions.
Headers (H1, H2, H3) with keywords.
Alt text for images.
Internal linking between your pages.

👉 Fix: Check every page and blog post for missing titles, headings, or alt text. Yoast SEO (which you already use) will guide you step by step.

5. You’re Ignoring Local SEO

For small businesses, local SEO is everything. People often search for services near them, like “electrician in Clapham” or “SEO agency London.”

If you haven’t optimised your Google Business Profile, collected reviews, or used location-based keywords, you’ll struggle to show up in “near me” searches.

👉 Fix: Claim and update your Google Business Profile. Add accurate opening hours, photos, and posts. Encourage satisfied customers to leave reviews.

6. You’re Not Tracking Performance

SEO isn’t guesswork — it’s measurement. If you don’t know what’s working, you can’t improve.

Without tools like Google Analytics or Search Console, you’re flying blind. You might think SEO isn’t working, when in reality, traffic is improving but you’re not tracking it.

👉 Fix: Install Google Analytics and Search Console. Track your top-performing pages and keywords. Adjust your strategy based on real data.

7. You Expect Overnight Results

This is the hardest truth: SEO takes time. Unlike Google Ads, which can generate leads in days, SEO is a long-term investment.

Most websites see meaningful results after 4–6 months of consistent effort. That means regular content, ongoing optimisation, and building backlinks.

👉 Fix: Be patient but consistent. Treat SEO as a long-term strategy, not a quick fix. Combine it with ads if you need fast results while waiting for organic rankings to build.

If your SEO isn’t working, it’s usually because of one (or several) of these common mistakes: wrong keywords, slow site speed, weak content, poor optimisation, lack of local SEO, no tracking, or unrealistic expectations.

The good news? All of these problems can be fixed. With the right strategy, your website can move from invisible to visible — and start generating real enquiries.

At Market Link, we specialise in helping London’s small businesses turn SEO confusion into real results. We handle everything from keyword research to content, technical fixes, and local optimisation.

👉 Ready to finally see SEO work for your business?
Book Your Free SEO Audit today.

Why Your SEO Isn’t Working (and How to Fix It as a Small Business Owner)

Why Your SEO Isn’t Working (and How to Fix It as a Small Business Owner)

2. Your Website Loads Too Slowly

3. You Don’t Have Enough Quality Content

4. Your On-Page SEO Is Weak

5. You’re Ignoring Local SEO

6. You’re Not Tracking Performance

7. You Expect Overnight Results

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