SEO Made Simple: Three Easy Tips you can do NOW to Rank Higher and Attract More Clients

In an age where everyone and their grandmother are online, having a robust online

presence has become almost non-negotiable for business owners. Think of it this way:

your website is your virtual storefront, and just like any physical store, it needs visibility

and foot traffic to thrive. The crucial point is this: it’s not enough to simply have an online

presence: you need to be discoverable. Enter SEO (Search Engine Optimization). If the

mention of SEO has ever made your eyes glaze over with all the technical jargon, don't

worry. We are breaking it down to the essentials, making it simple enough for even a 15-

year-old entrepreneur to understand.

1 The Magic of Keywords: Speak the Language of Your Clients

Imagine you’re a lighthouse keeper. Your keywords are the light, guiding your clients safely to your shore. This analogy isn’t far from reality. Keywords are the specific words and phrases people type into search engines like Google when looking for services you offer. And no, your clients are not searching for the "best real estate brokerage SEO strategy" . They are typing in more practical, everyday terms like "homes for sale in Honolulu" ,  "how to get a mortgage" ,  or "business consulting services near me" .

Much like a lighthouse that casts its guiding beam across dark waters, SEO ensures your website remains a beacon, visible and navigable to those who need it most. Without it, your site risks becoming invisible in the vast sea of the internet—present, yet unreachable. By carefully selecting and deploying the right keywords, you make sure that your clients find their way to your business, every time.

Practical Tip 1: Begin by leveraging tools like Google’s Keyword Planner or even the autosuggestions that pop up as you type in the Google search bar. These will reveal the phrases people are actively searching for. The next step is to weave these terms seamlessly into your website content, blog posts, and social media updates. This is not about overloading your pages with keywords; rather, it is about thoughtfully incorporating them to direct your audience toward your business.

2 Optimize Your Website: Make It Work for You

Don’t treat your website as just an online catalog, sitting pretty with a list of services and a few nice photos. Think of it as your most tireless employee—the one who never takes a coffee break, doesn’t call in sick, and works 24/7 to bring in leads. But if your site is slow, clunky, or hard to navigate, it’s basically one worker who shows up but never actually gets anything done. Google loves websites that load in under three seconds, and studies show that more than half of mobile users will bounce from a site that takes too long to load. In today’s fast-paced digital world, patience is a luxury most website visitors  simply can’t afford-including myself. 

And here’s the thing—I get it. I’ve been guilty of treating my website like a fancy business card, and I’m not alone. According to a survey by Clutch, nearly 30% of small businesses still don’t even have a website, and among those that do, many use them as static portfolios rather than active sales tools. But in today’s digital-first world, a website that just "exists" isn't enough. If your site isn’t mobile-friendly, you’re practically telling potential clients to take their business elsewhere. With over 60% of searches happening on smartphones, a clunky mobile experience is like having a storefront with a locked door and a “Back in 5” sign—except you never come back. Make sure your site adjusts smoothly to different screen sizes, loads quickly, and makes navigation easy, or risk losing valuable leads before they even get a chance to see what you offer.

Practical Tip 2: Now, if your website is your hardest-working employee, your call-to-action (CTA) is its job description. Makes sense, right?  Without one, it’s like hiring a rockstar salesperson and then forgetting to tell them what they’re actually supposed to sell. Whether you want visitors to schedule a consultation, sign up for a newsletter, or download that free resource you spent hours perfecting, make it crystal clear. A weak, half-hearted “Click Here” hidden in fine print is like mumbling instructions to your team and hoping they figure it out—spoiler alert, they won’t. Your CTA should be bold, obvious, and impossible to ignore because a great website isn’t just about looking good ----it’s about closing the deal. Because what’s the point of great SEO if your visitors just admire your site and leave without saying hello?

3 Local SEO: Get Found in Your Own Backyard

If your business relies on local customers, ranking in search results for your city or neighborhood is just as important as showing up at the top of Google. Imagine you are a home inspector or a local plumbing service—when a homeowner needs help, they’re not searching for “best plumber in the country.” They’re looking for “emergency plumber in Honolulu” or “certified home inspector near me.” The same applies to real estate agents, mortgage brokers, and other home service providers. That’s where Local SEO comes in—it ensures that when someone nearby searches for what you offer, your business pops up front and center, like a bright, welcoming sign on Main Street. Google rewards websites that load in under three seconds, and research shows that more than half of mobile users will bail on a site if it takes too long to load. In today’s hyper-speed digital world, patience is a luxury most website visitors simply can’t afford—including yours truly. If a site doesn’t load in the blink of an eye, I’m already tapping the back button, wondering if I’ve time-traveled back to 2005. Your customers are no different—so make sure your website doesn’t make them wish they had a time machine.

Practical Tip 3: Start by claiming and optimizing your Google Business Profile—it’s free (I will say that again, It’s FREE!), easy to set up, and incredibly powerful. Think of it as planting your business on the map—literally. This is your digital storefront, visible to anyone nearby who’s searching for services like yours. Fill out every detail, upload high-quality photos, and most importantly, encourage happy clients to leave reviews. Google loves businesses with strong local engagement, and according to Moz, companies with more reviews and interactions get 3.5 times more visibility in search results. Remember: More reviews = more trust, and more trust = more clients. 

As someone who’s been immersed in the mortgage brokerage world for nearly a decade, and working with diverse clients like Big Island Rental Management in property management, I’ve seen firsthand how powerful a good name can be for SEO. The strategy behind it is universal—regardless of industry, the right keywords can make all the difference. Take Hawaii 's Best Mortgage, for example: their name is a strategic SEO asset, seamlessly integrating location-specific terms like ‘best mortgage broker in Hawaii.’ Maybe I should rethink the name of my own company—perhaps Best Virtual Assistants in Hawaii.com has a nice ring to it, right? But if you’re not in a position to change your name (like I do), fear not. The real power lies in location-based keywords. By incorporating phrases like ‘best property management in Big Island’ or ‘top mortgage broker in Honolulu,’ you’re essentially planting a digital signpost to guide potential clients right to you. Whether you’re in real estate, mortgage, property management, or any local service, these tailored keywords make sure your business stands out—and you don’t need a megaphone to do it. 

Let’s wrap it up. 

SEO might feel like staring up at Mount Everest, but really, it’s just a few well-placed steps to help your business show up where it counts. I’ve given you three practical tips that you can start implementing right NOW—simple, actionable steps (and did I mention FREE?) to make your business easier to find and more attractive to search engines. From speaking your clients’ language with targeted keywords to optimizing your website for speed and mobile-friendliness, and finally, tapping into the power of local SEO, you’ll have a clear path to your digital success. Of course, if the climb gets too steep, you can always call in professionals like us to lend a hand. (There is a reason we call ourselves “Your Behind-The-Scenes Dream Team.”)

Remember, SEO isn’t a sprint—it’s a mountain climb. You can either take us along as your trusty mountain guide who knows the best trail, or you can take the DIY route. It’s not magic, and it’s not overnight, but with patience, consistency, and a few solid steps, you'll be scaling that mountain in no time. Carry this “map” with you, keep at it, and soon enough, you’ll be basking in the rewards of increased visibility and more clients."

Rochelle Martinho 

Managing Director 

Core Hire Desk