SEO is three things at once: Google being able to read your site, a page existing that answers what people search for, and you looking credible enough to be chosen.
There are no secret tricks. There are six or seven things done properly and then repeated.
Want to see where you stand today?
Request a free visibility check and you will see which searches you already appear in — usually more than you think.
What SEO is not
Before the steps, three misconceptions that cost money.
- It is not a guaranteed first place. Anyone promising that by a specific date is not telling the truth.
- It is not repeating words. Writing “plumber Ioannina” ten times does not lift you; it makes you unreadable.
- It is not a one-off project. It is a habit. Two hours a month consistently beats twenty hours once.
How Google decides who to show
Simplified, it looks at three things.
| Factor | What it means | What you do |
|---|---|---|
| Relevance | Does your page answer what was asked? | One page per topic, in the right words |
| Quality | Is it useful and trustworthy? | Real content, proof, specifics |
| Usability | Does it load fast and work on mobile? | Speed, mobile, SSL |
The first row is where most small businesses lose. They have one “Services” page containing six services, so they rank for none of them.
Step 1: Find what people actually search
Do not guess at keywords. There are four free sources of real data.
- Google Search Console. Shows which terms you already appear for and at what position. Terms in positions 8–20 are your easiest wins.
- Google Business Profile insights. Show the terms people used to find you locally.
- Google autocomplete. Type your service and see what it suggests.
- “People also ask”. Every question there is a candidate heading or page.
Keep 10–15 terms. For each, note what the user wants: information, comparison, or purchase. That determines what you write.
Step 2: One page per topic
The rule: one core term, one page. If you offer three services, you want three pages, not one with three paragraphs.
On each page, get these right:
| Element | Guidance |
|---|---|
| Page title | Under 60 characters, term first, brand last |
| Meta description | 145–160 characters, with a benefit and a call to action |
| H1 | One per page, containing the core term |
| URL | Lower case, hyphen-separated: /website-design/ |
| Images | WebP, descriptive filename, alt text |
| Internal links | With descriptive anchor text, never “click here” |
This is “on-page SEO”, and it is the bulk of the work for a small business.
Step 3: Write content that answers
The structure that works on every page:
- The answer up front. One or two sentences answering the question directly. This also helps AI tools cite you.
- Headings phrased as questions. “What does it cost?”, “How long does it take?” — that is how people ask.
- Short paragraphs of two or three sentences.
- Tables and lists every 250 words.
- Real numbers instead of generalities.
The last is the most underrated. “Affordable prices” ranks nowhere; “from €450, typical projects €800–€1,800” catches cost searches.
Step 4: The technical basics
You do not need a fifty-page technical audit. You need five things to be true.
- SSL on every page.
- Speed under three seconds on mobile.
- Works on mobile, with no horizontal scrolling.
- A sitemap submitted to Search Console.
- No page accidentally hidden from search engines.
You check the fifth in Search Console’s coverage report. That is where the serious problems hide.
Step 5: Build trust
Google also weighs what others say about you.
- Reviews on your Google Business Profile — see our guide.
- Listings in Greek business directories, with identical details everywhere.
- Mentions from local media, associations, partners.
- An “About” page with real people, details and an address.
You do not need hundreds of links. You need a few real ones.
Not sure where to start?
Send us your site’s address and we will tell you which three things pay off first in your case.
A 90-day plan
| Days | What you do |
|---|---|
| 1–10 | Set up Search Console and Analytics, record the baseline |
| 11–25 | Research terms and map them: which term to which page |
| 26–45 | Fix titles, descriptions, H1s and URLs |
| 46–70 | Two new service pages or guides, written properly |
| 71–90 | Speed, internal links, first measurement |
By the end of the quarter you will have a foundation. Meaningful results on competitive terms usually arrive at 4–8 months.
How to measure whether it works
Four numbers, once a month, from Search Console.
| Indicator | What it shows |
|---|---|
| Impressions | How often you appear in results |
| Clicks | How many people actually arrive |
| Average position | Whether you are climbing |
| Number of terms with impressions | Whether your coverage is widening |
Impressions move first. If they rise but clicks do not, the problem is your titles and descriptions, not your ranking.
What to avoid
- Do not buy links. It is the easiest way to get penalised.
- Do not copy copy from a supplier or competitor.
- Do not publish AI text unedited. The problem is not the tool, it is the unreviewed output.
- Do not change URLs without redirects.
- Do not chase terms that bring visitors rather than customers.
Frequently asked questions
Can I do this myself?
Steps 1 to 3, yes, with a few hours a month. The technical parts usually need help once.
What does it cost?
A baseline audit and fixes typically €300–€900. Ongoing support starts at €200–€500 a month.
How long until it works?
Three months for the first signs; 4–8 months for steady organic traffic on competitive terms.
Do I need a blog?
If your customers compare before buying, yes. Two good articles a month is enough.
What if I have an e-shop or a physical shop?
All of the above applies, plus specific extras. See e-shop SEO and our local SEO guide.
The first step today
Set up Search Console if you have not, and look at the list of terms you already appear for.
You will find at least three terms sitting in positions 8–20 that you had not thought of. Those are next month’s work.
And if your site has basic problems, fix those first — the ten most common are here.
Next step
Book a free 30-minute call with the team at The Dev Alley. We will look at what you appear for today and which three steps pay off fastest.