How to Get Found on Google: SEO Basics for Small Businesses
"Why doesn't my business show up on Google?" is one of the most common questions we hear from new website owners. The good news is that most of the fundamentals are within your control and do not require any technical skill — just a little consistency. Here is where to start.
What is SEO?
SEO — Search Engine Optimization — is simply the practice of helping Google understand what your website is about and who it should be shown to, so that when someone searches for something you offer, your site has a chance of appearing in the results. It is not a one-time setting; it is an ongoing habit of keeping your site accurate, complete and up to date.
Page titles and descriptions
Every page on your BrandRafter site has an SEO section in its settings where you can set a page title and meta description — the blue link text and grey summary that show up in Google's search results. Write these in plain language the way a customer would actually search: "Stainless Steel Pipe Supplier in Mumbai" tells Google far more than a generic title like "Home" or "Welcome".
Google Business Profile
Beyond your website itself, claim and complete your free Google Business Profile (search "Google Business Profile" and follow the setup steps). Add your correct address, phone number, business hours and photos, and link your BrandRafter website from it. For local searches — "plumber near me", "bakery in Andheri" — your Business Profile often matters more than your website ranking alone, and the two work together.
Getting your first customers to review you
Reviews are one of the strongest local-SEO signals there is, and they build trust with new visitors the moment they land on your listing. After a successful order or service visit, simply ask happy customers directly — "If you're happy with the service, a quick Google review would really help us" — and share the direct review link over WhatsApp to make it as easy as possible for them to leave one.
Local SEO for Indian businesses
Mention your city and locality naturally in your page content and titles — "in Pune", "serving Bangalore and surrounding areas" — since most local searches include a place name. Keep your business name, address and phone number consistent everywhere they appear online (your website, Google Business Profile, Justdial, Instagram bio); Google treats consistency across these listings as a trust signal. None of this delivers overnight results, but a website with accurate titles, a complete Business Profile and a steady stream of genuine reviews will consistently outperform one that skips these basics.