SEO for Startups: A 10-Step Guide to Boost Your Visibility

SEO for startups doesn’t have to feel like an uphill battle.

Many startups struggle to crack the top 100 rankings for their target keywords, leaving their amazing products or services virtually invisible online.

Having worked with multiple startups, I’ve seen firsthand how frustrating it can be to compete against industry giants with bigger budgets and stronger domain authority. 

Take companies like Canva and Notion. 

They didn’t start as household names. 

Instead, they leveraged smart SEO strategies to build their organic presence, drive traffic, and scale their businesses. The secret lies in focusing on the right tactics at the right time.

In this guide, I’ll explain the proven strategies I’ve used to help startups boost their visibility, connect with high-intent customers, and avoid the mistakes that waste time and money.

What you’ll learn from this blog:

• Why SEO for startups is important for visibility.
• How to create an effective search engine optimization strategy tailored to your business.
• Common mistakes to avoid and how to fix them.
• The best tools for boosting startup SEO.

Why SEO for startups is important

Did you know that the first-page Google results receive 67.6% of clicks, while pages two and three receive only 5.59%? 

After working with numerous startups, I’ve seen one consistent truth: Search engine optimization is not just a traffic driver—it’s a growth engine. 

Here’s why:

1. Organic search is your most reliable traffic source

Time and again, I’ve seen organic search outperform other channels for startups. 

In fact, 53% of all website traffic comes from organic search. Unlike paid ads, which disappear once the budget runs out, SEO for startups builds lasting visibility that compounds over time.

2. SEO builds credibility and authority

When a startup’s page ranks on the first page of Google, it’s like getting an endorsement from the world’s largest search engine. Potential customers trust businesses that appear in top results. 

In my experience, startups that focus on search engine optimization from the beginning establish themselves as credible players faster than their competitors.

Whether your startup deals with SEO clients for a B2B business or offers a catering service for baked goods, your goal should be to establish yourself as a trusted source in your niche. 

3. Connects you with high-intent users

SEO isn’t just about bringing in visitors. It’s about bringing in the right visitors. 

I’ve seen startups generate leads that convert 3x better through SEO compared to other channels like social media or paid advertising. 

And the reason is simple. 

These users are actively searching for the solutions you offer, making them more likely to take action.

4. Cost-effective method compared to paid advertising

One of the biggest challenges startups face is working within tight budgets. 

SEO offers a high ROI because it focuses on creating assets that continue to deliver value over time.  It also brings down the overall cost of acquisition along with paid marketing so that the cost of acquisition (CAC) will be lower.

In one of my roles for a B2B software company, I saw them rank for competitive keywords with just a fraction of the budget spent on paid ads.

The best part is that this company received more ROI through organic search than paid traffic sources. 

Here’s how you can take a look at this information from Ahrefs:

When you look at the value traffic of your keywords, this signifies how much money it would have cost to receive the level of ROI. 

But in reality, the cost is almost nothing (just a fraction of this number), thanks to organic SEO efforts. 

5. Gives you a competitive edge, even against bigger players

Startups don’t need to beat big companies at their own game. Instead, focus on niche keywords and targeted strategies. 

For example, a client of mine stopped trying to rank for broad terms like “CRM software” and focused on more long-tail and specific terms like “CRM software for small businesses.” 

The result? They not only ranked but also dominated that niche.

6. SEO for startups fuels sustainable, long-term growth

Unlike paid campaigns that deliver short-term spikes, SEO continues to drive organic traffic for months or even years. 

I’ve worked with startups that still see leads from articles written over two years ago.

10 steps to improve SEO for startups

1. Define clear SEO objectives

Before diving into an SEO strategy, defining what success looks like for your startup is crucial. 

Over the years, I’ve noticed that startups often chase vanity metrics like high search rankings without linking them to tangible business outcomes. 

The key is to set specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goals that align with your business objectives.

Here’s how to approach your SEO goals for a startup:

• Focus on metrics that matter: Instead of just aiming for traffic, focus on metrics like leads generated, signups, or demo requests. 

For instance, you can shift your goal from “increase organic traffic by 20%” to “generate 200 demo signups per month through organic traffic.” This clarity can make all the difference.

• Define your target audience: Who are you trying to reach? Understanding your ideal customer personas will guide your content and keyword strategy.
• Prioritize actions based on business impact: Early-stage startups may focus on low-competition keywords, while scaling startups might target competitive keywords and backlinks.

In under 5 minutes, Writesonic’s powerful SEO suite ensures you quickly outrank competitors with top-quality content every time.

All you need to do is enter a few key details related to your article and just let AI do its magic!

Unlike other AI content creation tools, Writesonic allows you to customize your brand voice and input personal guidelines through text, PDF, and more. 

This way, you can get content tailored to your startup’s needs and target audience with the least amount of editing every time!

Plus, Writesonic produces 100% fact-checked, up-to-date content so you can forget about AI hallucination issues. 

2. Conducting keyword research

Keyword research isn’t just about finding words your audience might search for. It’s about uncovering the intent behind those searches and how they align with your startup’s goals. 

From my experience, startups that skip this step or rely on shallow keyword lists often waste months targeting the wrong terms.

Here’s what conducting effective keyword research involves:

A. Understanding search intent

Not all keywords are created equal. 

For example, a user searching for “best collaboration tools” may still be exploring options, while “buy remote collaboration software” indicates a ready-to-purchase mindset. 

Knowing this difference helps you prioritize keywords that drive conversions.

Essentially, keywords come in different types of search intent, which are:

• Informational: Users seek to learn or understand something (e.g., “how to bake bread”)
• Navigational: Users look for a specific website or page (e.g., “Facebook login”)
• Commercial: Users research products or services before making a purchase (e.g., “best smartphones 2024”)
• Transactional: Users are ready to make a purchase or take action (e.g., “buy iPhone 15 Pro”)
• Local: Users search for nearby businesses or services (e.g., “coffee shops near me”)
• Comparison: Users want to compare different options (e.g., “iPhone vs Samsung”)
• Question-based: Users ask specific questions (e.g., “what is SEO?”)

B. Analyzing keyword competition

Targeting high-volume keywords like “CRM software” as a startup is usually a losing game.

Instead, focus on long-tail, less competitive keywords that are more specific to your niche. These keywords tend to attract high-intent users, making them far more valuable. 

As you can see below, the keyword “CRM software” has a pretty high search volume, but the keyword difficulty is also “super hard,” making it difficult to get your page to rank for this keyword. 

On the other hand, the keyword “CRM for startups” is more specific and niche, making the search volume a bit lower, but it’s also an easy keyword to rank for. 

When you conduct keyword research for your content, targeting low-hanging fruit or niche keywords with a lower difficulty is a good idea. 

Remember that keyword research isn’t just about picking the right terms to stuff your blog with. You need to uncover what your target audience is looking for. 

And this is where Writesonic’s keyword research tool steps in. 

It goes beyond just generating keyword ideas—it analyzes intent, competition, and relevance, giving you actionable insights tailored to your industry. 

You can also get insights on competitor terms, related terms you can also rank for, and related keywords. 

I’ve personally used Writesonic’s tool for startups looking to build their SEO foundation, and the results speak for themselves. 

More targeted traffic, higher conversion rates, and less time wasted chasing the wrong keywords.

3. Build topic clusters

Topic clusters are more than just a trend—they’re a proven strategy for organizing your content in a way that improves both SEO rankings and user engagement. 

By grouping related articles around a central “pillar” page, you create a network of content that signals to search engines: “This site is an authority on this subject.”

Here’s why topic clusters work:

• Improved crawlability and rankings: Google’s algorithms prioritize well-structured content hubs. Research shows that sites using topic clusters see a significant increase in organic traffic. 
• Enhanced user experience: Visitors can navigate seamlessly between your pillar page and subtopics, staying longer on your site—a metric that search engines love.

Topic clusters enable websites to build topical authority, allowing them to compete in search for broader terms while also capturing long-tail traffic.

For startups, this means you can rank for competitive topics without needing a massive content library upfront. 

For example, if you’re an EdTech startup, your pillar page could be “The Complete Guide to Online Learning Platforms.” 

Supporting articles might include “Top Platforms for K-12 Learning,” “Benefits of Online Tutoring for College Students,” or “Best Tools for Remote Education.”

However, the most important part is to have internal links through your pillar page that lead to those subtopics.  

And here’s where I love using Writesonic’s topic cluster tool. 

The tool uses AI to identify high-potential pillar topics and the cluster articles needed to support them. 

Writesonic’s AI keyword clustering tool even allows you to create content for a specific keyword on the spot, so you don’t have to think too hard about research and writing. 

Also read: Small Business SEO: Tips to Increase Traffic and Revenue

4. Create SEO-friendly content

SEO content writing is more than just sprinkling keywords throughout your text. 

It’s about crafting valuable, engaging content that satisfies both search engines and your audience. 

Here are five things you can focus on to create SEO-friendly content: 

A. Focus on user intent

You need to understand what your audience is looking for. 

Are they seeking information, looking to make a purchase, or comparing options? Tailor your content to match these intents.

If your goal is to increase conversions, you should focus on creating content with a transactional intent where readers are more likely to sign up for a service/product. 

B. Optimize your on-page SEO elements

On-page SEO elements include your meta tags, image alt text, schema markups, headers, and URL structure.

Make sure they’re clear and concise, and include your target keywords naturally. 

Your SEO tests can involve changes in meta descriptions, titles, keyword incorporation, or an overall content revamp. 

Be sure to record the metrics of your content performance before and after you conduct your test so you’ll have concrete evidence of how successful your experiment was. 

C. Create comprehensive, long-form content

Google loves in-depth content that covers a topic thoroughly. 

Aim for articles that are at least 1,500 words long, but remember—quality trumps quantity every time. 

In fact, content that is over 3,000 words gets 3x more traffic than average-length content of 1,400 words and 3.5x more backlinks. 

Remember to create your content in a manner that is easy to read and scan.

Use short paragraphs, bullet points, and subheadings to break up your text. Avoid large chunks of text, keep plenty of white space, and maintain short, clear sentences. 

These best practices also help you rank for Google’s featured snippets which have the highest clickthrough rate at 42.9%. 

Here’s what featured snippets look like on Google:

If you want your page to appear in Google’s featured snippets, structure your content so that it uses short sentences that provide clear answers to questions. 

It also helps to include headings with “what,” “why,” and “how” questions with the answer directly following. 

For further reading: How to Write a Blog in 2024: A Step-by-Step Guide [+Free Checklist]

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by all these SEO practices, don’t worry. 

Tools like Writesonic’s SEO Checker and Optimizer can be a real lifesaver. 

I’ve used it myself, and it’s great for ensuring your content hits all the right SEO best practices. 

The tool analyzes your content in real-time, suggests readability and keyword usage improvements, and even grades your content with an SEO score. 

Remember, creating SEO-friendly content is an ongoing process. Keep refining your approach based on what works for your audience and industry. 

Also read: 16 Best SEO Content Writing Tools

5. Fix technical SEO issues

Technical SEO forms the foundation of your website’s search engine performance. And one of the biggest mistakes I’ve seen startups make is neglecting this area.

Even great content won’t reach your audience if search engines can’t properly index and rank your pages.

Here’s what you need to focus on to improve your technical SEO issues: 

Use tools like Google PageSpeed Insights to identify and fix speed issues. Common fixes include optimizing images, leveraging browser caching, and minifying CSS and JavaScript.

Since mobile generates 58% of all Google searches, having a responsive design is non-negotiable. For this, use Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test to check your site and make necessary adjustments.

Furthermore, take the time to identify and fix crawl errors you might notice on Google Search console so that search engines can access index all your important pages.

A few more things you can implement to improve technical SEO include:

• Optimize your robots.txt file: This file tells search engines which pages to crawl and which to ignore. Make sure it does not block any important content.
• Create and optimize your XML sitemap: A sitemap helps search engines understand your site structure and find all your important pages. 
• Implement schema markup: This structured data helps search engines understand your content better and can lead to rich snippets in search results, improving click-through rates.
• Optimize for Core Web Vitals: Focus on metrics like Largest Contentful Paint (LCP), First Input Delay (FID), and Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS). Google considers these factors important for overall user experience.

Remember, technical SEO isn’t a one-time task. Regularly audit your site to catch and fix issues before they impact your rankings.

6. Build high-quality backlinks

Backlinks act as a ‘vote of confidence’ from other websites, signaling to search engines that your content is valuable and trustworthy. 

Here are some statistics to prove why link building is a game changer for startup SEO efforts:

First and foremost, focus on creating linkable assets that are high-quality, unique pieces of content that others naturally want to link to.

This can include original research, reports or comprehensive guides.

Guest posting is another effective strategy for building backlinks. By contributing valuable content to reputable sites in your industry, you not only get a backlink but also establish your authority in your niche.

Broken link-building is another tactic that often gets overlooked. 

Find broken links on other websites and offer your content as a replacement. You get a backlink, and in exchange, the website fixes a broken link on their site. 

In fact, I love using Chatsonic’s AI marketing agent to identify link-building opportunities. 

In the example above, I asked Chatsonic to identify the pages with the most backlinks on Ahrefs. 

This helps identify link-building opportunities because:

• You can find broken links and recreate a dead page. 
• See if your competition is proactively building links. 

Instead of manually searching for a website’s backlink profile for link-building opportunities, you can just ask Chatsonic to do all the work for you and watch how it generates instant reports in seconds. 

And don’t forget to leverage partnerships. 

Collaborate with other businesses or influencers in your industry. These relationships often lead to natural link opportunities.

Here’s a quick win: reclaim unlinked mentions. 

This works by using tools to find mentions of your brand without a link. Reach out and ask if they’d be willing to add a link to your site. You’d be surprised how often this works.

Remember, not all backlinks are created equal. Focus on relevance, authority, and domain rating. 

Lastly, diversify your anchor text. 

While using keyword-rich anchor text can be beneficial, overdoing it can look unnatural to search engines. 

Aim for a mix of branded, naked URL, and natural anchor text variations, like in the content below:

A word of caution: Be wary of black hat SEO techniques like buying links or participating in link farms. 

These can lead to search engine penalties. Focus on earning links through valuable content and genuine relationships. It might take longer, but the results are worth it.

7. Optimize your existing content

Optimizing your existing content can be a quick win for your SEO efforts. 

Start by conducting a content audit. Identify your top-performing pages and those that need a boost.

For underperforming content, look at updating outdated information, improving the content structure, and enhancing the overall quality.  I’ve seen startups double their organic traffic just by refreshing old blog posts with current data and insights.

Next, focus on on-page optimization. Ensure your titles, meta descriptions, and headers are compelling and include relevant keywords. 

Internal linking is an often overlooked aspect that can significantly improve your site’s SEO performance.

Lastly, pay attention to your user content engagement metrics. 

If a page has a high bounce rate or low time on the page, it might need a revamp. 

8. Analyse competitor SEO strategies

Understanding your competitors’ SEO activities can give you valuable insights and help you identify opportunities they might be missing. 

Look for gaps in their content that you could fill. Maybe there’s a topic they haven’t covered in-depth or a type of content they’re not creating.

This is where Writesonic’s Content Gap Analysis tool can be a game-changer. It helps you uncover competitor insights by analyzing your competitors’ content and identifying topics they’re ranking for that you’re not. 

The tool provides a list of keywords and content ideas that your competitors are successfully targeting, giving you a clear roadmap. 

It also offers a content grade for competitor blogs and feedback, so you can see exactly how you can outperform them. 

Go into detail by looking at what makes these pages successful. Is it the content quality, the way it’s structured, or perhaps the number of backlinks? 

And don’t just copy what your competitors are doing–aim to do it better. 

You might also like: 9 Best SEO Tools for Competitor Analysis

9. Implement a strong content distribution strategy

A robust content distribution strategy can amplify your SEO efforts and drive more traffic to your site.

Start by identifying the channels where your target audience spends their time. This could be social media platforms, forums like Discord and Quora, or even Slack communities. 

Be sure to tailor your content and messaging for each platform to maximize engagement.

Email marketing is also another powerful tactic for content distribution. 

Build an email list and send regular newsletters featuring your latest content. This will drive traffic and help build a loyal audience.

Paid promotion through social media or Google Ads budget can also significantly boost your content’s reach and attract more potential customers.

Lastly, encourage your team to share content on their personal networks. Employee advocacy can be a powerful and authentic way to expand the reach of your content.

10. Track, measure, and optimize your SEO performance

Tracking and measuring your SEO performance is crucial for understanding what’s working and what needs improvement. 

Start by setting up Google Analytics and Google Search Console for your website. 

These free tools provide valuable insights into your traffic sources, user behavior, and search performance.

Key content metrics to monitor include:

• Organic traffic: Track the number of visitors coming from search engines.
• Keyword rankings: Monitor your positions for target keywords.
• Conversion rate: Measure how many visitors take desired actions on your site.
• Page load speed: Keep an eye on how quickly your pages load, as this affects both user experience and rankings.
• Bounce rate: A high bounce rate might indicate that your content isn’t meeting user expectations.

Regularly review your data and look for trends and look at if certain pages performing exceptionally well. If some pages underperforming, consider optimizing them.

3 biggest startup SEO mistakes to avoid

1. Overlooking mobile optimization

Did you know that mobile devices generate almost 60% of global website traffic? 

Yet, I’ve seen countless startups focus solely on desktop experiences, leaving their mobile users frustrated.

You need to ensure that your site loads quickly on mobile devices, has easy-to-use navigation, and provides a seamless user experience across all screen sizes. 

Google’s mobile-first indexing means that the mobile version of your site is primarily used for ranking and indexing. 

Ignore this, and you’re essentially invisible to a huge chunk of your potential audience.

2. Keyword stuffing and poor-quality content

Keyword stuffing is an outdated tactic that can actually hurt your rankings and turn off your readers.

Instead of focusing on keyword density, create high-quality, valuable content that naturally incorporates your target keywords. 

Remember, you’re writing for humans first, search engines second. Your content should provide real value to your readers, answering their questions and solving their problems.

Poor-quality content isn’t just about keyword stuffing. It also includes thin content (pages with little substance), duplicate content, or content that’s simply not engaging or useful. 

Google’s algorithms are smart enough to recognize and penalize low-quality content.

Here’s how to avoid keyword stuffing: 

• Focus on creating comprehensive, well-researched content. 
• Use keywords naturally and strategically. 
• Prioritize quality over quantity.

Also read: Proven Tips for Creating SEO-Optimized Content

3. Neglecting brand authoritativeness and expertise

Neglecting to build your brand’s authority can result in lower rankings and decreased trust from your audience. 

Are you showcasing your team’s expertise? Are you backing up your claims with data and research? Are you engaging with your industry community?

For example, we all know that blogs like Hubspot hold authority in marketing and sales. While AIHR is known for its HR insights. 

In the same way, you can start by highlighting your team’s expertise through author bios and “About Us” pages. 

Back up your content with credible sources and original research. Engage in thought leadership by contributing guest posts to reputable industry publications or social media. 

Remember, building authority takes time, but it’s an investment that pays off in both SEO performance and customer trust.

Best tools for SEO for startups

As a startup, investing in an affordable SEO tool can make a world of difference. 

Let’s explore some of the best options out there, with a special focus on a tool that I’ve found particularly effective for startups.

1. Writesonic

When it comes to SEO tools for startups, Writesonic is a standout choice. 

The AI Article Writer creates content that’s engaging and SEO-optimized from the get-go. 

And with a built-in SEO checker and optimizer–it’s like having a real-time SEO consultant. As you write, it provides suggestions and a grade to boost your content’s search performance. 

Writesonic’s Keyword Research Tool helps you find that sweet spot between search volume and competition. It’s particularly good at uncovering long-tail keywords–perfect for startups looking to carve out their niche.

What sets Writesonic apart is how it learns your brand’s voice. 

Your content won’t sound like it was written by a robot. Instead, it maintains your unique tone, building trust with both your audience and search engines.

In short: For startups looking to make a big impact with limited resources, Writesonic offers the perfect blend of efficiency, quality, and SEO prowess–all under one platform. Whether it’s content creation or SEO optimization, Writesonic’s suite of powerful tools offers it all.  

2. Chatsonic: AI Marketing Agent

With its advanced AI capabilities, Chatsonic offers real-time SEO insights and suggestions to enhance your search performance.

The platform excels in keyword research, helping you identify those elusive long-tail keywords that can set your startup apart in a crowded market. Chatsonic’s integration with tools like Ahrefs and SEMrush ensures you’re always equipped with the latest data and trends.

In short: For startups aiming to maximize impact with minimal resources, Chatsonic offers a powerful blend of creativity, efficiency, and SEO expertise—all in one platform. 

Whether you’re crafting content or optimizing for search engines, Chatsonic provides the tools and insights you need to succeed.

3. Ahrefs

Ahrefs excels in backlink analysis, providing unparalleled insights into your website’s and competitors’ link profiles.

The Site Explorer tool allows you to dissect any website’s SEO strategy, revealing valuable data on organic search traffic, backlink profiles, and top-performing content. 

For technical SEO, Ahrefs’ Site Audit tool is invaluable. It crawls your website and identifies issues that could be holding back your search performance. 

From broken links to duplicate content, this tool helps you maintain a technically sound website, which is crucial for SEO success.

In short: While Ahrefs can be complex for SEO beginners, its depth of data and insights make it a powerful tool for startups serious about dominating their niche in search results.

Wrapping up: Try Writesonic for all your SEO needs!

As we wrap up our journey through SEO for startups, let’s recap the key strategies that will set you up for success:

• Define clear SEO objectives and conduct thorough keyword research. 
• Create high-quality, SEO-optimized content that resonates with your audience. 
• Build a strong backlink profile and optimize your technical SEO. 
• Analyze and learn from your competitors’ strategies. 
• Continuously track, measure, and refine your SEO performance. 

Remember, SEO is an ongoing process, not a one-time task. It requires patience, persistence, and adaptability.

Now, let’s talk about how Writesonic fits into your SEO toolkit. 

Think of Writesonic as your AI-powered SEO assistant, working alongside you to streamline your efforts. 

It’s not just about creating content faster; it’s about creating smarter, more targeted content that aligns with your SEO goals. 

Are you ready to take your startup’s online presence to the next level? 

FAQs

1. Why is SEO for startups important?

SEO is crucial for startups because it’s a cost-effective growth strategy that helps you compete with bigger businesses. 

Ranking higher in search results signals trustworthiness, building credibility, and trust with customers. 

SEO delivers an average ROI of 748%, significantly outperforming paid advertising campaigns.

It also helps startups gain visibility in a crowded marketplace, with 68% of all online experiences starting with a search engine.

2. How long does it take for a startup to see results from SEO?

SEO is not an overnight success strategy. Only 5.7% of newly published pages reach the top 10 search results within a year. 

It’s a long-term investment that requires consistent effort to build trust with search engines.

However, once established, it brings consistent organic traffic. 

Startups should set realistic goals and timeframes, such as aiming to rank 10 keywords in the top 3 results in 3 months or generating 20 leads from organic search in 3 months.

3. What are some quick SEO wins for startups?

Some quick wins for improving SEO include:

• Writing descriptive meta titles and descriptions. 
• Optimizing images with relevant file names and alt text. 
• Structuring content with clear headers and subheaders. 
• Leveraging internal linking with exact-match anchor text. 
• Refreshing old content by adding new information or optimizing for new keywords. 
• Using schema markup to add context to your content and potentially secure rich snippets. 

4. How can startups compete with larger, established companies in SEO?

Startups can compete with bigger businesses in SEO because search engines care more about relevance and quality than brand size. 

Focus on creating better, more comprehensive content than your competitors. 

Target niche, long-tail keywords that are less competitive but more specific to your offerings.

Regularly update your content and SEO tactics to remain agile and meet changing market demands. 

Remember, even a small startup can outrank a larger competitor by providing better, more relevant content.

5. What SEO tools are most useful for startups?

Several tools can be helpful for startups focusing on SEO:

• Google Analytics and Google Search Console are used to monitor website traffic, user behavior, and search performance. 
• Keyword research tools like Google Keyword Planner or AnswerThePublic for finding related keywords. 
• Ahrefs or Chatsonic’s AI Marketing Agent for more comprehensive keyword research, competitor analysis, and rank tracking. 
• Content optimization tools to ensure your content is SEO-friendly. 
• Schema markup tools to help with structured data implementation. 

Remember, while tools are helpful, the most important aspect is creating high-quality, relevant content that meets your audience’s needs.

Saloni Kohli

Content Strategist

Saloni Kohli, content strategist at Writesonic, brings creativity and strategy to SEO content optimization and marketing. Known for her deep understanding and experience of SEO and content marketing in the B2B SaaS industry, she's passionate about boosting brand visibility and conversions.