6 things to do for SEO in 2026
If you want to actually move the needle…
1. Be obvious.
You still can and should have personality. But don’t make people work to understand you.
If you’re a wedding photographer in San Diego, don’t headline your homepage with:
“Capturing love, one moment at a time.”
Instead, say:
“San Diego wedding photography that captures every moment.”
Tell us what you do and where you do it. Immediately.
Write at about a 5th-grade reading level — not because your audience is dumb, but because clarity converts and ranks.
2. Provide answers, not essays.
Nobody “reads” websites anymore. We scan them. And so do search engines. Here's what they see:
- H1: What this page is about
- H2: The main subtopics people care about
- H3: Supporting details or follow-up questions
- Body copy: Direct, skimmable answers
Walls of text and random one-liners mean nothing.
This shift helps humans and bots understand your content without guessing. For once, we get to please both.
(Love that.)
3. Put literal questions on the page.
If people are searching:
- “Is X product/service worth it?”
- “How much does Y cost in [area]?”
- “What’s the difference between A and B?”
Put those questions verbatim in your copy — then answer them clearly.
This is why FAQ sections are suddenly SEO gold (who woulda thunk?).
AI tools love pulling clean Q&A content they can trust and quote. And as a bonus, humans love getting clear answers with minimal effort.
4. Make your Google Business Profile dazzle.
This matters more than you think.
A few underused wins:
- Choose the most specific primary category (not just the obvious one)
- Use the Q&A feature yourself to publish real questions + answers
- Add short, descriptive updates (they’re indexed faster than blogs)
- Make sure your services match your website's language exactly
Your GBP is often the first thing AI and humans look at — not your homepage.
5. Focus on intent with internal links.
Link between related pages using natural, descriptive anchors. For example, when linking to your services page:
Instead of: “Click here” or “Learn more”
Say: “Explore my services” or “View all services”
You’re helping search engines understand how your services connect — and helping users find answers faster. Both matter.
6. Prioritize accuracy over reach.
Not all social captions directly rank. But profiles, bios, and publicly indexable posts absolutely contribute to your brand’s visibility.
Same with forums like Reddit and Facebook Groups.
Don’t overthink these platforms — just be present, helpful, and genuine. Consistent, real mentions that tie back to your brand go a loooong way.
