Search engines are often the first place people go when looking for a service, product, or cause to support—so if your website isn’t optimized for SEO, you’re likely missing out on traffic, visibility, and business.
But how do you know if your website is helping your SEO or quietly holding you back?
Here are the top signs your website is hurting your search rankings—and what to do to fix it.
1. You Don’t Know What Keywords You’re Targeting
Your website content should be built around the actual terms your audience is searching for. If you’re a nonprofit, for example, that might be “community outreach programs Danville” or “Bay Area donation drive.”
What to do:
Use tools like Google Keyword Planner or Ubersuggest to research relevant search terms. Make sure your main pages (especially your homepage, service pages, and blog posts) naturally include those keywords in:
- Body content
- Page titles
- Headings
- Meta descriptions
- Image alt text
2. Your Site Is Slow or Not Mobile-Friendly
If your website takes forever to load—or doesn’t look good on phones—you’re being penalized by search engines (and probably frustrating your users too).
What to do:
Run your site through Google PageSpeed Insights or Mobile-Friendly Test. Then:
- Use a reliable, fast hosting provider
- Compress images
- Eliminate unnecessary code/scripts
- Make sure your design is responsive
3. You Don’t Have Fresh Content
Google prioritizes active, regularly updated websites. If your last blog post is from 2019, or if your site feels abandoned, your rankings could suffer.
What to do:
Create a simple content plan. Even one new blog post per month can help boost visibility. Write about:
- FAQs from your customers
- Tips and advice for your niche
- Case studies or project spotlights
- Local partnerships and events
Make sure your posts are keyword-rich (but still natural to read).
4. You Don’t Have Proper Meta Tags or Descriptions
Meta titles and descriptions are the snippets people see on Google—and if they’re missing or generic, your site looks less relevant (to both users and search engines).
What to do:
Every page on your site should have:
- A unique meta title (50–60 characters)
- A compelling meta description (150–160 characters) that includes your keyword
Not sure how? If you’re using platforms like Squarespace, Wix, or WordPress, they all have built-in SEO settings.
5. You’re Not Showing Up for Local Searches
If someone Googles “[your service] near me” or “[your industry] in East Bay,” do you show up?
What to do:
- Set up and optimize your Google Business Profile
- Make sure your name, address, and phone number (NAP) are consistent across the web
- Include your city/region in website copy, meta descriptions, and headings
Get reviews on Google to boost credibility
Bonus Tip: Make Sure You Own Your SEO
Too often, we meet small businesses and nonprofits who are paying for SEO or website maintenance—but aren’t seeing results, can’t access their analytics, or don’t even know what’s being done each month.
If you’re investing in SEO, you deserve to understand what’s working and what’s not.
At Kaysi Stanley Marketing, we don’t just “set and forget.” We build SEO-friendly websites and empower you to own your visibility.
Ready for an SEO Checkup?
If you’re not sure how your site is performing—or where to start—we can help. We specialize in SEO-optimized websites and digital strategy for small businesses and nonprofits across the East Bay.
Reach out for a free discovery call and let’s see what’s holding you back—and how to move forward.
Or DM us @kaysistanleymarketing