{"id":2426,"date":"2025-02-14T15:22:54","date_gmt":"2025-02-14T20:22:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cassiopea.ca\/blogue\/uncategorized\/seo-checklist-for-smes-10-essential-steps-to-boost-your-visibility\/"},"modified":"2026-01-12T16:02:20","modified_gmt":"2026-01-12T21:02:20","slug":"seo-checklist-smes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cassiopea.ca\/en\/blogue\/seo\/seo-checklist-smes\/","title":{"rendered":"SEO checklist for SMEs: 10 essential steps to boost your visibility"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>With <strong>93% of online experiences beginning with a search engine<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.searchenginejournal.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">(Source: Search Engine Journal<\/a>), <strong>SEO is an essential lever<\/strong> for SMEs wishing to <strong>increase their visibility and attract more customers<\/strong>. A well-optimized site not only improves Google&#8217;s ranking but also attracts qualified, sustainable traffic <strong>without relying solely on paid advertising<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The aim of this checklist<\/strong> is to enable SMEs to <strong>easily improve their SEO<\/strong> with <strong>10 concrete actions<\/strong>, accessible even without advanced technical expertise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-rank-math-toc-block\" id=\"rank-math-toc\"><h2>Table of content<\/h2><nav><ul><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#check-list-seo-10-etapes-cles-pour-les-pme\">SEO checklist: 10 key steps for SMEs<\/a><ul><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#1-verifier-la-vitesse-du-site\">1. Check site speed<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#2-optimiser-les-balises-title-meta-description\">2. Optimizing Title &amp; Meta Description tags<\/a><ul><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#bonnes-pratiques\">Best practices<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#3-avoir-une-structure-hn-bien-organisee\">3. A well-organized Hn structure<\/a><ul><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#bonnes-pratiques-1\">Best practices<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#4-ameliorer-lexperience-mobile\">4. Improve the mobile experience<\/a><ul><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#bonnes-pratiques-1-2\">Best practices<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#5-optimiser-les-images\">5. Optimize images<\/a><ul><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#actions-a-faire\">Actions to be taken<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#6-travailler-le-maillage-interne\">6. Work on internal linking<\/a><ul><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#bonnes-pratiques-1-1\">Best practices<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#7-publier-du-contenu-de-qualite-regulierement\">7. Publish quality content regularly<\/a><ul><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#bonnes-pratiques-1-1-1\">Best practices<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#8-obtenir-des-backlinks-de-qualite\">8. Get quality backlinks<\/a><ul><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#strategies-efficaces\">Effective strategies<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#9-optimiser-la-fiche-google-my-business-si-activite-locale\">9. Optimize Google My Business listing (if a local business)<\/a><ul><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#bonnes-pratiques-1-1-1-1\">Best practices<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#10-suivre-ses-performances-seo\">10. Track SEO performance<\/a><ul><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#outils-indispensables\">Essential tools<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#implementez-ces-10-actions-des-aujourdhui\">Implement these 10 actions today<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"check-list-seo-10-etapes-cles-pour-les-pme\"><strong>SEO checklist: 10 key steps for SMEs<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"1-verifier-la-vitesse-du-site\"><strong>1. Check site speed<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>A fast site improves <strong>the user experience<\/strong> and reduces the bounce rate. Too long a loading time can lose <strong>up to 50% of visitors<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Tool to use<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/pagespeed.web.dev\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Google PageSpeed Insights<\/a><br><strong>Objective<\/strong>: A score above <strong>90<\/strong> on mobile and desktop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"2-optimiser-les-balises-title-meta-description\"><strong>2. Optimizing Title &amp; Meta Description tags<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Title and Meta<\/strong> Description tags are essential for <strong>on-page SEO<\/strong>. They must be <strong>unique, attractive and contain the main keywords<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"bonnes-pratiques\"><strong>Best practices<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Title<\/strong>: 50-60 characters, main keyword at beginning.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Meta Description<\/strong>: 150-160 characters, inciting and descriptive.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Use action verbs<\/strong> to increase click-through rates.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Tool to use<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/mangools.com\/free-seo-tools\/serp-simulator\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">SERP Simulator<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"3-avoir-une-structure-hn-bien-organisee\"><strong>3. A well-organized Hn structure<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>H1, H2, H3<\/strong> tags&#8230; help Google to understand content and <strong>improve readability<\/strong> for visitors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"bonnes-pratiques-1\"><strong>Best practices<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Only 1 H1<\/strong> per page (main title).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>H2<\/strong> for main subtitles.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>H3 and H4<\/strong> to structure content.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Include keywords in titles<\/strong> in a natural way.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"4-ameliorer-lexperience-mobile\"><strong>4. Improve the mobile experience<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Google favours mobile-friendly sites<\/strong> in its results. A non-mobile-friendly site risks losing <strong>more than 60% of potential traffic<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"bonnes-pratiques-1-2\"><strong>Best practices<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Responsive<\/strong> design<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Easy-to-click buttons and links<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Content readable without zoom<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"5-optimiser-les-images\"><strong>5. Optimize images<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Poorly optimized images <strong>slow down the site<\/strong> and harm SEO.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"actions-a-faire\"><strong>Actions to be taken<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Compress images<\/strong> without loss of quality with<a href=\"https:\/\/tinypng.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> TinyPNG<\/a>,<a href=\"https:\/\/squoosh.app\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"> Squoosh<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/imageoptim.com\/mac\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Image Optim<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Use WebP format<\/strong> to reduce image size  <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Add<\/strong> descriptive <strong>ALT tags<\/strong> to improve accessibility and SEO.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"6-travailler-le-maillage-interne\"><strong>6. Work on internal linking<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Internal meshing<\/strong> improves SEO by reinforcing the site&#8217;s architecture and facilitating page indexing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"bonnes-pratiques-1-1\"><strong>Best practices<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Add <strong>3 to 5 internal links<\/strong> per page.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Link important pages together (services, blog, contact).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Use <strong>optimized link anchors<\/strong> (no &#8220;click here&#8221;).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"7-publier-du-contenu-de-qualite-regulierement\"><strong>7. Publish quality content regularly<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>A frequently updated site with <strong>relevant content<\/strong> is more likely to rank well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"bonnes-pratiques-1-1-1\"><strong>Best practices<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Publish <strong>at least 1 blog post per month<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Write <strong>long, detailed<\/strong> content <strong>(800+ words)<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Use <strong>rich semantics and secondary keywords<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"8-obtenir-des-backlinks-de-qualite\"><strong>8. Get quality backlinks<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Backlinks<\/strong> are one of the <strong>most important factors in<\/strong> Google <strong>rankings<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"strategies-efficaces\"><strong>Effective strategies<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Listing in <strong>local and specialized directories<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Guest articles<\/strong> on partner sites.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ask customers\/suppliers to <strong>link to your site<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Tool to use<\/strong>: Ahrefs Backlink Checker<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"9-optimiser-la-fiche-google-my-business-si-activite-locale\"><strong>9. Optimize Google My Business listing (if a local business)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>70% of consumers<\/strong> consult a Google listing before buying a local product or service<a href=\"https:\/\/www.brightlocal.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">(Source: BrightLocal<\/a>). A well-optimized listing <strong>increases local visibility<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"bonnes-pratiques-1-1-1-1\"><strong>Best practices<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Add <strong>recent, high-quality photos<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Complete <strong>all information<\/strong> (schedules, services, website, etc.).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Publish <strong>regular posts<\/strong> and respond to customer reviews.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Tool to use<\/strong>: Google Business Profile<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"10-suivre-ses-performances-seo\"><strong>10. Track SEO performance<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Analyzing your results allows you to adjust<strong> your strategy<\/strong> and continually improve your SEO.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"outils-indispensables\"><strong>Essential tools<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Google Search Console: Ranking and indexing analysis.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/analytics.google.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Google Analytics<\/a>: Traffic and conversion tracking.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ubersuggest: Keyword suggestions and position tracking.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Discover the Goodfirms research results are in for our latest research : &#8220;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodfirms.co\/resources\/online-reviews-consumer-buying-behavior-global-insights\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">How Online Reviews Influence Buying Behavior Across Industries Globally<\/a>&#8220;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"implementez-ces-10-actions-des-aujourdhui\"><strong>Implement these 10 actions today<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>SEO may seem technical, but with a <strong>methodical approach<\/strong>, it&#8217;s possible to significantly improve visibility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Ready to optimize your website?<\/strong><br><strong>Need personalized support?  <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We carry out <a href=\"https:\/\/cassiopea.ca\/en\/services\/seo\/seo-sme\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"2388\">SEO audits for SMEs<\/a> and can help you with your <a href=\"https:\/\/cassiopea.ca\/en\/services\/webdesign\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"455\">website creation<\/a> needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-ast-global-color-1-background-color has-background wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/cassiopea.ca\/en\/contact\/\"><strong>Contact us today<\/strong>!<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>With 93% of online experiences beginning with a search engine(Source: Search Engine Journal), SEO is an essential lever for SMEs wishing to increase their visibility and attract more customers. A well-optimized site not only improves Google&#8217;s ranking but also attracts qualified, sustainable traffic without relying solely on paid advertising. The aim of this checklist is [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2424,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":"","_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"set","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center 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Cotton","author_link":"https:\/\/cassiopea.ca\/en\/blogue\/author\/acotton\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"With 93% of online experiences beginning with a search engine(Source: Search Engine Journal), SEO is an essential lever for SMEs wishing to increase their visibility and attract more customers. A well-optimized site not only improves Google&#8217;s ranking but also attracts qualified, sustainable traffic without relying solely on paid advertising. The aim of this checklist is&hellip;","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cassiopea.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2426","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cassiopea.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cassiopea.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cassiopea.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cassiopea.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2426"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/cassiopea.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2426\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cassiopea.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2424"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cassiopea.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2426"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cassiopea.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2426"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cassiopea.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2426"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}