If your site isn’t moving up in Google, it’s usually a handful of fixable issues—slow pages, thin content, weak internal links, missing schema, or a neglected Google Business Profile. This guide gives Mohave County businesses a clean, step-by-step plan to improve rankings, traffic, and leads without guesswork.

Table of Contents Expand

1) Fix Crawl, Indexing & Baseline Signals

Set the foundation

  • Search Console: Verify domain, submit XML sitemap, resolve Index Coverage errors.
  • robots.txt: Don’t block key paths. Keep it simple; allow crawl of primary content.
  • Canonicals: One canonical per URL. Merge duplicates with 301s.
  • HTTPS + redirect rules: Force your preferred www/non-www version.

Quick check: Google your brand + service (e.g., “Jeremy Webb web design”). If your homepage and service page don’t show with clean sitelinks, you’ve got crawl/authority issues to fix.

2) Win Core Web Vitals (Speed & UX)

Focus on LCP (fast hero), INP (snappy interactions), and CLS (no layout jump).

  • Images: Serve WebP/AVIF, size correctly, lazy-load below the fold, pre-load the hero.
  • Fonts: Use system fonts or one family; preconnect; font-display: swap.
  • CSS/JS: Remove unused plugins, defer non-critical JS, inline critical CSS, enable caching + compression.
  • Hosting/CDN: Choose fast hosting with server-level caching; slow servers cap rankings.

Run quick tests with PageSpeed Insights and web.dev/measure.

3) On-Page SEO That Moves the Needle

Title tags & H1s

  • Write unique, intent-rich titles (~55–60 chars). Lead with query + location; end with brand.
  • Use a single, clear H1 that mirrors the title and promises the answer.

Internal links

  • Link from high-authority pages (home, services, top posts) to target pages with descriptive anchors.
  • Build clusters: service page ⇄ related blog posts ⇄ location pages. Kill orphaned URLs.

Content depth & layout

  • Answer search intent fast. Use scannable H2s, bullets, visuals, and a visible CTA.
  • Add proof (process, screenshots, local examples, FAQs). Thin pages don’t rank.

4) Build Topic Clusters (Authority)

  • Pillar: Local SEO for Arizona Small Businesses → supports: GBP posts/photos, citations, reviews, schema, mobile SEO.
  • Pillar: Small Business Web Design Guide → supports: speed optimization, must-have features, WordPress vs builders, maintenance.
  • Local expansion: Unique service/location pages for Bullhead City, Kingman, Lake Havasu City (with local proof).

5) Local SEO: Own the Map

  • Google Business Profile: Correct primary category, services, products/menu, and Special Hours.
  • Photos & posts: Add 3–5 photos monthly; post weekly (promo/event/how-to).
  • Reviews: Ask after happy moments; reply with service + city context.
  • Citations: NAP consistency. Prioritize Chamber, BBB, strong regional directories.

6) Add Schema (Rich Results)

  • Site-wide: LocalBusiness, Organization, BreadcrumbList.
  • Per page: Service schema for services, FAQPage when FAQs are visible.
  • Keep schema accurate—match the on-page content.
  • Local partnerships: Cross-promos, bundled offers, or events—ask for a site mention with a link.
  • Real directories: Chamber + reputable industry lists (skip junk lists).
  • Case studies: Publish measurable wins; clients link back to their project page.
  • Footer credits: Use sparingly and only when appropriate.

8) Track, Learn, Adjust

  • GA4: Track forms, click-to-call, and key buttons as conversions.
  • Search Console: Watch queries, pages, and Search Appearance (rich results).
  • Rank tracking: Monitor a focused set of service + city keywords.

30-Day Ranking Plan

  1. Week 1: Fix indexing, submit sitemap, clean titles/H1s on top pages, and add internal links.
  2. Week 2: Speed pass (images, fonts, defer JS, caching), publish one supporting article.
  3. Week 3: GBP overhaul (categories, services, photos, first post), add LocalBusiness + Service schema.
  4. Week 4: Citations + 2 local partnerships, publish one more article, and earn 5 reviews.

Fast answers to common ranking questions:

How long does it take to improve rankings?
For local terms, expect early movement in 2–4 weeks after fixing crawl issues and titles. Bigger gains usually land in 60–90 days as content and links compound.
What’s the single biggest factor?
Relevance + quality. A page that fully answers intent, loads fast, and is supported by internal links and a few trusted local links will beat thin content.
What is INP and why does it matter?
INP (Interaction to Next Paint) measures how responsive your page feels when users click or type. High INP hurts UX and can limit rankings—trim heavy scripts and third-party widgets.
How often should I blog?
Publish two quality posts monthly tied to a pillar topic. Each should target a question or sub-topic and link back to the pillar and your service page.
Best low-budget actions?
Fix titles/H1s, compress images, publish one strong guide with FAQs, add 2–3 internal links per page, and post weekly on your Google Business Profile with fresh photos.