If You Think SEO Is Dead, Read This First
Contributed by SBOC Member:
Pat Miller
Founder of the Small Business Owners Community
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SEO is dead.
It’s one of the most repeated claims in digital marketing, and one of the most damaging ones for small business owners who believe it.
“A little bit of me dies inside every time I hear someone say SEO is dead.”
That’s Taylor Cusick Holman, founder of Enji, on a recent episode of Businessing with Pat Miller. And she’s right to push back on this narrative.
SEO isn’t dead. It’s in metamorphosis.
Why SEO Still Matters for Small Business Owners
Here’s what’s actually happening: humans are searching in more places than ever. We’re using social media, AI chatbots, and traditional search engines. All of these platforms use the foundational principles of search engine optimization to understand content.
So if you’ve been ignoring SEO because someone told you it doesn’t matter anymore, you’ve been getting bad advice.
The Problem with "I Paid a Guy"
Taylor shared something that resonates with what we hear in the Small Business Owners Community all the time: business owners who say “my website is optimized – I paid a guy.”
Then you look at the site. It’s not optimized.
Here’s the red flag Taylor shared: if anyone tells you that ONLY they can do your SEO, and you can’t understand any of it yourself – do an about face. That’s not a partner. That’s someone creating dependency.
The SEO Checklist Approach
SEO is a checklist. That’s it. Here’s what you need to do:
- Keywords in your headlines – The larger text on your pages that Google scans first
- Keywords in your URL tails – Everything after your domain name (not just “/about” or “/services”)
- Page titles and descriptions – The preview text that shows up in search results
- Strategic copy throughout your pages
- A blog that serves as the “heartbeat” of your website
Free Tools to Get Started
You don’t need expensive software. These free tools will get you started:
- Ubersuggest – See search volume for your target keywords
- Google Trends – Discover what people are searching for right now
- Google Search Console – Track how Google sees your site
- Google Analytics – See what’s already working
Why Your Blog Matters More Than You Think
Taylor described your blog as the “heartbeat” of your website. Here’s why:
The individual pages of your website don’t change frequently. Google wants to see that humans care about a site. Your blog proves someone is home.
Even if you’re only blogging once a quarter, your website hasn’t flatlined. There’s a pulse.
And with AI writing tools available, there are few excuses not to maintain a consistent blog.
SEO Is NOT Dead
SEO is not dead. What it is, is changing.
The fundamentals still work: help search engines understand what you do, who you do it for, and where you do it.
You don’t need an expert. You need a checklist and consistency.
Start with one thing this week. Update your URL tails. Write one blog post. Check your page titles.
Small steps compound.
Pat Miller is the host of Businessing with Pat Miller and founder of the Small Business Owners Community. Want to learn more about SEO for your business? Check out Enji at enji.co/sboc.
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Contributed by
Pat Miller
Founder of the Small Business Owners Community
Pat spent two decades in broadcasting management and hosting. After leaving the radio industry, he spent time consulting small businesses and realized the support system for entrepreneurs was broken. Where could you find help for improving small businesses and building real connections with other like-minded people. In June of 2020, the Idea Collective Small Business Community was born.