Basic SEO: 10 Steps to Get Your Website to Show Up on Google

"My website exists but it does not show up on Google." It is one of the most common complaints from business owners who invested in a website. The good news: the SEO fundamentals that solve this problem can be applied without a big budget, and results show in 3 to 6 months.

Step 1: Google Search Console

The first tool to install is Google Search Console. It is free and it is the direct line of communication between your site and Google. It shows which keywords bring traffic, which pages are indexed, crawl errors and improvement opportunities.

To set it up: go to search.google.com/search-console, add your domain and verify ownership (via DNS or an HTML file). Then submit the sitemap.

Step 2: XML Sitemap

The sitemap.xml is a file that lists every page on your site so Google knows what to index. WordPress generates it automatically with plugins such as Yoast SEO. For custom sites, it is created manually and submitted to Search Console.

Step 3: Meta Descriptions

The meta description is the text that appears under the title in Google results. It is not a direct ranking factor, but it directly affects the click-through rate. Every page should have a unique meta description of 150 to 160 characters that describes the content and includes an implicit call to action.

Avoid generic meta descriptions such as "Welcome to our website". Prefer: "Dental clinic in Cascais with implants, whitening and orthodontics. Book on WhatsApp and be seen this week."

Step 4: H1 and H2 Headings

Each page should have exactly one H1 heading. It is the main title and should contain the page's primary keyword. H2 subheadings organise the content into sections and should include variations of the main keyword.

This hierarchy helps Google understand the structure of the content and what matters most on each page.

Step 5: Clean URLs

Compare these two URLs:
example.pt/page?id=123&cat=2
example.pt/basic-seo-website-google

The second is better for Google and better for the user. Descriptive URLs are indexed more easily and have a higher click-through rate in search results.

Step 6: Optimised Images

Three essential rules for images:

• Compression: use WebP instead of JPEG/PNG. It is 30 to 80% lighter at equivalent visual quality.
• Descriptive alt text: every image should have an alt attribute describing its content. Besides SEO, it is essential for accessibility.
• Relevant file name: "dental-clinic-cascais-reception.webp" instead of "IMG_001.jpg".

Step 7: Mobile-Responsive Site

Google has used mobile-first indexing since 2019. It evaluates the site by its mobile version, not the desktop version. If the site is not responsive, it is being judged on the version that works worst.

Check it with PageSpeed Insights or by opening your site on a real phone.

Step 8: Speed and Core Web Vitals

The Core Web Vitals have been ranking factors since 2021. The targets are:

• LCP (largest visible element) under 2.5 seconds
• CLS (visual stability) below 0.1
• INP (response to interaction) below 200ms

Check at pagespeed.web.dev and apply the suggested fixes.

Step 9: Genuinely Useful Content

Since Google's Helpful Content system (2023), the most important factor is creating content that really helps the person searching, not content made to manipulate the algorithm. Write for humans. The algorithm follows.

Step 10: Internal Links

Connect the pages of your site to each other logically. A page about one of your services should link to the portfolio and to the contact page. This distributes "authority" between pages and helps Google understand the site's structure.

Local Businesses: Add Google Business Profile

If you serve customers in a specific area, such as Lisbon, Cascais, Porto or Faro, claim and complete your Google Business Profile. Keep your name, address and phone number identical on the site and on the profile, and ask happy customers for reviews. For local searches, it often matters as much as the website itself.

Expected Results

SEO is not an instant result. Google needs 3 to 6 months to recognise and rank the improvements. But it is a compounding investment: each month of work builds on the previous one, and results grow organically and sustainably.

My web development services include a full implementation of the 10 steps above on every project. For sites that need an SEO audit, ask for a free review or get in touch through the form or WhatsApp. My custom websites are built with technical SEO from the ground up.