SEO strategy for beginners: Start with the business, not the keywords

Many start their SEO with a keyword list. That's the wrong place to begin. A good strategy starts with the business: What do you make money on, who are the customers and what is the goal?

Step 1: Understand the business

Margins, customer types and goals determine where SEO even makes sense. Keywords and rankings are means to reach business goals — not goals in themselves.

Step 2: Map the intent

Find the searches that match real purchase intent and group them. This is the foundation of both on-page SEO and your content plan.

Step 3: Prioritise brutally

You can't do everything at once. A good roadmap points to what moves the needle most, in the right order. Often the quick wins sit in the technical foundation — see my technical checklist.

Want a prioritised plan for your business? See how I work with SEO strategy.