How to do SEO yourself: step-by-step guide?

DIY SEO is realistic for small business but takes 10–15 hours/week and 6–12 months. The key — don't try to do everything at once. Follow a clear sequence: tech → keywords → content → links → monitoring. Each stage takes 1–2 weeks and closes its own task. Without system — no results.

Step 1 (week 1–2): Analytics & tech base

1. Connect Google Search Console.
2. Install Google Analytics 4.
3. Check speed via PageSpeed Insights — mobile score ≥70.
4. Verify robots.txt and sitemap.xml are correct.
5. Run free Screaming Frog (up to 500 URLs) — find 404s, duplicates, Title issues.

Step 2 (week 3–4): Keyword research

• Find base queries via Google Keyword Planner.
• Expand via Ahrefs or free alternatives.
• Cluster — one page per group.
• Minimum 50 keywords for micro, 200–500 for mid, 1000+ for e-commerce.

Step 3 (week 5–8): Rewrite content for queries

• Title with main keyword (60 chars), H1 with the same query, first paragraph with direct intent answer.
• Structure: H2/H3, bulleted lists, FAQ block.
• Don't over-optimize — keyword 1× in Title, 1× in H1, 3–5× organically in body.

Step 4 (ongoing): Content marketing via blog

1–2 expert articles per week on informational queries. Each article — anchor to commercial page.

Step 5 (from month 3): Backlinks

• Directory registration: Google Business, niche directories.
• Guest posts on industry blogs.
• NEVER buy cheap links — Google penalizes.