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Simple Technical SEO Tips for Non-Technical People

Updated: Apr 9

Why Most "Technical SEO" Advice Is Useless for Small Business Owners

Let's be honest: most technical SEO articles might as well be written in another language for the average business owner. They're loaded with jargon, assume you have a web development background, and rarely explain why any of it matters to your actual business.


Yet here's the reality: 57% of small business websites have technical issues that are actively hurting their ability to get customers from Google. And fixing these issues often delivers the fastest SEO results—much quicker than creating new content or building backlinks.


This guide cuts through the BS to give you the only technical SEO tips that:

  1. Actually matter for small business websites

  2. Can be implemented without a computer science degree

  3. Deliver real business results you can measure


Important Note: This isn't about coding or complicated fixes. It's about understanding enough of the technical side to either make simple fixes yourself or know exactly what to ask your web person to do.


Simple Technical SEO Tips for Non-Technical People - KaeRae Marketing

The Only Technical SEO Metrics Small Business Owners Need to Care About

Before diving into fixes, let's identify what actually matters. Forget the endless list of technical metrics that SEO tools spit out. Focus on these five areas that directly impact your rankings and customer experience:


1. Page Speed (How Fast Your Website Loads)

  • 53% of mobile users abandon sites that take more than 3 seconds to load

  • Google uses page speed as a direct ranking factor

  • Every 1-second delay in load time reduces conversions by 7%


2. Mobile-Friendliness (How Your Site Performs on Phones)

  • 63% of Google searches now happen on mobile devices

  • Google primarily uses the mobile version of your site for ranking

  • 57% of users say they won't recommend a business with a poor mobile site


3. Indexability (Whether Google Can Find Your Pages)

  • Pages that can't be indexed won't appear in search results, period

  • The average small business website has 30% of its important pages either not indexed or indexed improperly

  • Fixing indexation issues can bring immediate visibility increases


4. Security (Is Your Website Safe?)

  • Google gives preference to secure websites (https:// instead of http://)

  • 85% of consumers won't continue browsing if a site isn't secure

  • Chrome browser now actively warns users about insecure websites


5. Core Web Vitals (Specific User Experience Metrics)

  • Google now uses page experience signals called Core Web Vitals as ranking factors

  • Websites meeting these standards see 70% longer average session durations

  • Only 29% of websites currently pass Core Web Vitals assessments


Now let's get into how to check for and fix issues in each area—without drowning in technical complexity.


Simple Technical SEO Fixes Anyone Can Implement

Fix #1: Speed Up Your Sluggish Website

A slow website frustrates visitors and kills your Google rankings. Here's how to identify and fix speed issues:


Step 1: Check Your Current Speed

  1. Go to Google PageSpeed Insights

  2. Enter your website URL

  3. Look at your mobile score (this is what matters most)


What your score means:

  • 90-100: Excellent

  • 50-89: Needs improvement

  • 0-49: Poor (urgent action needed)


Step 2: Implement These Speed Fixes

If You Use WordPress:

  1. Install a caching plugin

    • Install and activate WP Rocket, W3 Total Cache, or LiteSpeed Cache

    • Use the default settings (which handle 90% of what you need)

    • Cost: Free to $49

    • Time needed: 10 minutes

    • Technical skill required: Minimal (basic WordPress knowledge)

  2. Optimize your images

    • Install the Smush or ShortPixel plugin

    • Run bulk optimization on all existing images

    • Cost: Free to $10/month

    • Time needed: 15 minutes setup + processing time

    • Technical skill required: Basic WordPress knowledge

  3. Use a better hosting provider

    • If your score is below 40, your hosting is likely part of the problem

    • Consider moving to WP Engine, SiteGround, or Kinsta

    • Cost: $25-100/month

    • Time needed: 1-2 hours (most hosts will migrate your site for you)

    • Technical skill required: Minimal (the host does most of the work)


If You Use Squarespace, Wix, or Another Website Builder:

  1. Optimize your images before uploading

    • Use TinyPNG to compress images

    • Resize images to the actual dimensions needed

    • Cost: Free

    • Time needed: 1-2 minutes per image

    • Technical skill required: None

  2. Remove unnecessary apps, plugins, or elements

    • Each added functionality slows down your site

    • Remove sliders, complex animations, and unused features

    • Cost: Free

    • Time needed: 30 minutes

    • Technical skill required: None

  3. Upgrade your plan or consider a different platform

    • Basic plans often have speed limitations

    • If speed remains an issue, consider migrating to a faster platform

    • Cost: Varies

    • Time needed: Several hours to days

    • Technical skill required: Moderate or hire help


Real Business Impact: A local plumbing company improved their mobile page speed score from 32 to 76 by simply implementing image optimization and a caching plugin. Their organic traffic increased by 23% over the following month, and their bounce rate dropped from 67% to 41%.


Fix #2: Make Your Website Mobile-Friendly

With most searches happening on phones, a poor mobile experience destroys both rankings and conversions.


Step 1: Check Your Mobile-Friendliness

  1. Go to Google's Mobile-Friendly Test

  2. Enter your website URL

  3. Review the results and any specific issues identified


Step 2: Fix Common Mobile Issues

For All Website Types:

  1. Ensure text is readable without zooming

    • Check your site on your own phone

    • If you have to pinch and zoom to read text, it's too small

    • Fix: Increase font sizes to at least 16px

    • Technical skill required: Minimal

  2. Fix tap targets that are too small

    • Buttons and links should be large enough to tap easily

    • Fix: Increase button sizes and add padding between clickable elements

    • Technical skill required: Basic

  3. Eliminate horizontal scrolling

    • Your content should fit within the screen width

    • Fix: Use responsive design that adapts to screen sizes

    • Technical skill required: Moderate (may need developer help)


WordPress-Specific Fixes:

  1. Use a responsive theme

    • Ensure your theme is mobile-friendly (most modern themes are)

    • Consider themes like Astra, GeneratePress, or Kadence

    • Technical skill required: Basic

  2. Use the mobile preview in your editor

    • Check how your pages look using the mobile preview

    • Make adjustments to improve mobile appearance

    • Technical skill required: None


Website Builder-Specific Fixes:

  1. Use the mobile editor option

    • Most builders have specific mobile editing capabilities

    • Adjust layouts for mobile devices

    • Hide elements that don't work well on mobile

    • Technical skill required: None


Real Business Impact: A local jewelry store discovered their product images were too large on mobile, pushing the "Add to Cart" button below the visible screen. After adjusting their mobile layout, mobile conversions increased by 86% within two weeks.


Fix #3: Ensure Google Can Find and Index Your Pages

If Google can't find or understand your pages, they won't show up in search results—no matter how great your content is.


Step 1: Check If Your Pages Are Being Indexed

  1. Go to Google Search Console (set up an account if you haven't already)

  2. Go to "Coverage" or "Pages" under the "Indexing" section

  3. Look for errors or "Valid with warnings" items


Step 2: Fix Common Indexing Issues

Fix Your Robots.txt File (If It's Blocking Pages)

  1. In Search Console, go to "Settings" > "Robots.txt"

  2. Check if it contains lines like Disallow: / which block Google

  3. Update the file to allow Google to access your important pages

  4. Technical skill required: Basic to Moderate


If you're not comfortable editing this file:

  • Ask your web developer to check if your robots.txt is blocking anything important

  • For WordPress users, some SEO plugins let you edit this easily


Remove Noindex Tags From Important Pages

  1. In WordPress with Yoast SEO:

    • Edit the page

    • Scroll to the Yoast section

    • Click "Advanced"

    • Make sure "Allow search engines to show this in search results" is set to "Yes"

  2. For other platforms, ask your developer to check for: Copy<meta name="robots" content="noindex"> This code tells Google not to include the page in search results.


Create and Submit a Sitemap

A sitemap helps Google find all your important pages.

  1. For WordPress users:

    • Install Yoast SEO, Rank Math, or another SEO plugin

    • They automatically create a sitemap

    • Go to the SEO settings to find your sitemap URL

    • Submit it in Search Console under "Sitemaps"

  2. For website builders:


Real Business Impact: A local accountant discovered their "Tax Services" pages were accidentally set to noindex. After fixing this issue, those pages began ranking within two weeks, generating 17 new client inquiries in the following month.


Fix #4: Secure Your Website with HTTPS

An insecure website scares away visitors and hurts your rankings. Here's how to fix it:


Step 1: Check If Your Site Is Secure

  1. Visit your website

  2. Look for the padlock icon in the address bar

  3. If you see "Not Secure" or an unlocked padlock, you need to add SSL


Step 2: Add SSL to Your Website

If You Use WordPress:

  1. Contact your hosting provider

    • Most hosts offer free SSL certificates

    • Many can enable it with one click from your hosting dashboard

    • Technical skill required: Minimal

  2. After SSL is installed, check for mixed content

    • Install Really Simple SSL plugin

    • It will automatically fix most mixed content issues

    • Technical skill required: Basic


If You Use a Website Builder:

  1. Enable SSL in your settings

    • Squarespace: Automatically enabled

    • Wix: Settings > HTTPS > Turn on Secure Browsing

    • Shopify: Automatically enabled

    • Technical skill required: None


Real Business Impact: A local gift shop saw conversions increase by 19% after securing their website with HTTPS, as customers felt more confident entering their payment information.


Fix #5: Improve Your Core Web Vitals

Core Web Vitals are specific measurements of user experience that Google uses as ranking factors.


Step 1: Check Your Current Core Web Vitals

  1. In Google Search Console, click on "Experience" > "Core Web Vitals"

  2. Review any issues identified for mobile and desktop


Step 2: Implement These Core Web Vitals Fixes

Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) - Loading Performance

This measures how quickly the main content of your page loads.

  1. Optimize the hero image

    • The main image at the top of your page is often the culprit

    • Compress it heavily using TinyPNG

    • Resize it to the exact dimensions needed

    • Technical skill required: Minimal

  2. Eliminate render-blocking resources

    • If you use WordPress, install Autoptimize or WP Rocket

    • Enable CSS and JavaScript optimization options

    • Technical skill required: Basic


Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS) - Visual Stability

This measures how much elements move around as the page loads.

  1. Add dimensions to images and videos

    • Always specify width and height for images

    • For WordPress, make sure your theme supports this (most modern ones do)

    • Technical skill required: Basic

  2. Place ads and pop-ups carefully

    • Don't let ads or pop-ups push content down

    • If you use pop-ups, make them appear after the page fully loads

    • Technical skill required: Minimal


First Input Delay (FID) - Interactivity

This measures how quickly your page responds when users interact with it.

  1. Minimize or defer JavaScript

    • Use WP Rocket's "Delay JavaScript execution" option

    • Remove unnecessary plugins that add scripts

    • Technical skill required: Basic to Moderate


Real Business Impact: A local home services company improved their Core Web Vitals from "Poor" to "Good" by implementing these fixes. Their average position in search results improved from 5.8 to 3.2 over three months, increasing organic traffic by 41%.


How to Communicate with Developers When You Need Help

Sometimes you'll need professional help with technical issues. Here's how to communicate effectively with developers:


1. Be Specific About the Problem

Instead of saying "My site is slow," say "Google PageSpeed shows my mobile score is 35, and it says image sizes are the main issue."


2. Provide Access and Screenshots

  • Take screenshots of error messages or reports

  • Have your website login details ready

  • Know your hosting login information


3. Ask for Plain English Explanations

If a developer uses terms you don't understand, ask them to explain in non-technical language. A good developer will be able to translate technical concepts.


4. Focus on Business Outcomes

Explain why you want something fixed in business terms: "Our contact page gets 500 visitors but only 10 form submissions. I believe the slow load time is causing people to leave before converting."


5. Get a Clear Scope and Timeline

Before agreeing to work, ask:

  • Exactly what will be fixed

  • How long it will take

  • How results will be measured

  • What the cost will be


DIY vs. Hiring Help: When to Do Each

Some technical SEO tasks are perfectly reasonable to handle yourself, while others are better left to professionals.


Technical SEO You Can DIY:

  • Basic image optimization

  • Installing and configuring WordPress plugins

  • Submitting sitemaps

  • Setting up Google Search Console

  • Basic speed optimizations

  • Checking for broken links


When to Hire a Professional:

  • Your PageSpeed score is below 30 despite basic optimizations

  • You have significant security issues

  • You're migrating to a new website or domain

  • You have complex structured data needs

  • You need custom coding solutions

  • You have widespread indexing problems


Cost Guidance:

  • Expect to pay $75-150/hour for a good technical SEO consultant

  • Basic technical SEO audits typically cost $500-1,500

  • Implementing fixes can range from $500-3,000 depending on complexity


Your 30-Day Technical SEO Action Plan

Don't try to fix everything at once. Follow this prioritized plan:


Days 1-7: Assessment and Critical Fixes

  • Set up Google Search Console and verify your website

  • Run PageSpeed Insights on your homepage and main landing pages

  • Check if your website is secure (HTTPS)

  • Fix any critical security issues

  • Submit your sitemap to Google


Days 8-14: Speed and Mobile Optimization

  • Optimize all images on key pages

  • Install caching plugins if using WordPress

  • Test your site on multiple mobile devices

  • Fix any obvious mobile usability issues

  • Remove unnecessary plugins, scripts, or elements


Days 15-21: Content and Structure Improvements

  • Check for and fix broken links

  • Ensure all important pages are being indexed

  • Improve page titles and meta descriptions

  • Add proper headers (H1, H2, etc.) to structure content

  • Fix duplicate content issues


Days 22-30: Advanced Optimizations and Monitoring

  • Address Core Web Vitals issues

  • Set up regular monitoring for technical issues

  • Create a maintenance schedule for ongoing checks

  • Document what you've learned for future reference

  • Measure improvements in rankings, traffic, and conversions


The Bottom Line: Technical SEO Doesn't Have to Be Complicated

Technical SEO might seem intimidating, but the basics are accessible to anyone willing to learn a few simple concepts. By focusing on the technical factors that actually impact your business—site speed, mobile-friendliness, security, indexability, and user experience—you can make meaningful improvements without getting lost in technical rabbit holes.


Remember, the goal isn't to have perfect technical SEO for its own sake. It's to remove technical barriers that prevent your business from being found by potential customers.


Start with the highest-impact, lowest-complexity fixes, measure your results, and then decide if more advanced optimizations are worth the investment of your time or money.

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