Being an SEO expert, many people have asked me if DIY SEO is possible or not. The short answer is yes. I’m telling you this because SEO is neither rocket science nor does it take too much effort. 

I don’t even have to state its importance because 68% of online experiences begin with a search engine.

Source: Ahrefs


With the right steps and a bit of consistency, you can get all the benefits of DIY SEO marketing and make your website work harder for your business. At the same time, the question arises: Why is there a need for an SEO expert, then?

 

In this blog, I’ll walk you through what DIY SEO involves, how to manage it and how it stacks up against hiring an expert. Let’s get into it.

 

How to Get Started with DIY SEO?

 

Starting SEO for your website on your own can feel overwhelming at first but it doesn’t have to be. There’s no doubt that you may find it too complex at some point but eventually, you’ll get everything that actually matters. Once you understand how the pieces fit together, you’ll see how much you can actually do yourself. Here’s how you can begin with do it yourself SEO optimization:

 

1. Setting Up Essential Analytics Tools

 

Before you do anything else, you need to know what’s happening on your website. That’s where tools like Google Analytics and Google Search Console come in. They give you the data to see what’s working, what’s not and where to focus next.

 

Google Analytics

 

You need to set up Google Analytics to track how people find and use your pages. Once it’s installed, you should review traffic sources, top-performing pages and bounce rates. This helps you understand what content is working and where people drop off.

 

diy seo marketing

 

Google Search Console

 

You must connect Google Search Console to monitor your search performance, keyword visibility and any technical issues holding you back. After setup, check the “Performance” tab to see your keyword rankings and use the “Pages” tab to find which URLs need better optimisation. Keep an eye on the “Coverage” report to fix crawl errors and indexing issues.

 

do it yourself seo optimization

 

Conducting a Website SEO Audit

 

You can’t fix what you haven’t found. A website SEO audit helps you spot the weak areas, whether it’s missing keywords, slow load speed or messy structure.

 

  • You need to check your page titles, meta descriptions and header structure.
  • You must review your page speed, mobile responsiveness and broken links.
  • You should identify which pages are indexed and which aren’t bringing in traffic.

This gives you a starting point. Once you know what needs work, you can move forward with purpose.

 

2. Keyword Research

 

This is where DIY SEO really starts to take shape. Keywords can be decided on what your customers search for and once you target the right terms using the right tools, your content shows up when it matters most.

 

  • You should look for terms with solid search volume but low to medium competition, these give you the best chance to rank.
  • You must focus on long-tail keywords (three or more words) that match what people type when they’re ready to act.

    diy search engine optimization
  • You need to group keywords by topic so you’re not spreading your efforts across random content.

Once you’ve got a list, map each keyword to a specific page or blog post. That way, every page has a clear purpose and a clear target.

 

3. On-Page SEO Optimisation

 

The next step DIY search engine optimization after keyword research is On-Page SEO, where your keyword research gets put to work. You don’t want to lose high ranking because the structure of your website is missing. On-page SEO helps Google understand your pages and helps people stay once they land. Here’s how you can do it better:

 

Optimising Meta Titles and Descriptions:

  • You need to include your main keyword at the start of your title
  • You must keep titles under 60 characters so they don’t get cut off
  • You should write meta descriptions that explain what the page is about and encourage clicks
  • You need to stay under 160 characters for descriptions to display properly

Enhancing Header Tags and Content Structure

  • You need to use one H1 for the main heading on each page
  • You should break your content into sections using H2s and H3s where needed
  • You must include relevant keywords in your headers but only where it makes sense
  • You need to keep paragraphs short and readable to hold attention

Improving URL Structures

  • You need to keep URLs short and descriptive
  • You should include your main keyword in the URL
  • You must use hyphens (not underscores) to separate words
  • You need to avoid numbers or random characters as clean and readable URLs always work better

Incorporating Internal Linking Strategies

  • You need to link related pages and blog posts naturally throughout your content
  • You should use descriptive anchor text (not “click here”) so it’s clear where the link goes
  • You must link to high-value pages you want people to visit more
  • You need to review your older content and add links pointing to new pages when relevant

4. Content Creation and Optimisation

 

Google always priotises helpful and well-structured content and while handling DIY SEO, you must not ignore this. For website content optimization, you need to focus on answering real questions your customers are already searching for. Make sure your keyword shows up naturally in your headings, first paragraph and throughout the content without forcing it.

how do i do search engine optimization

 

As you learn search engine optimization, make sure to focus on content as well to keep your writing clear, break it into sections with headings and add visuals where they help explain something better. When your content is easy to read and solves a problem, both Google and your customers will pay attention.

 

5. Off-Page SEO Strategies

 

Once your on-page work is in place, off-page SEO helps build trust and authority from the outside. These are the key areas to focus on:

 

  • Building Quality Backlinks: You need links from other reputable websites pointing to your content. Reach out to relevant blogs, get featured in directories and create content that others want to reference.
  • Engaging in Social Media Promotion: You should share your content across your social channels. The more people see it, the more likely it is to get shared, linked and visited.

    learn search engine optimization
    • Technical SEO Considerations: You must keep your website running smoothly, which means fast load times, a mobile-friendly layout and no broken links. These technical factors can impact your rankings just as much as content.

    6. Improving Website Speed and Performance​

     

    You may already know that the majority of people use their smartphones to browse the internet. If your website isn’t working well on smartphones or not adjusting to all screen sizes, you lose a chunk of potential customers and rankings. 

     

    To make sure it’s responsive and loads well, make sure your layout adjusts to all screen sizes and that buttons are easy to tap on phones. Additionally, to make your website load quickly, you can start by compressing images, removing unnecessary plugins and using a fast, reliable hosting service.

     

    Common Mistakes to Avoid When It Comes to DIY SEO

     

    Even after gathering the right keywords and publishing regular content, you may end up frustrated because of these common mistakes: 

     

    1. Keyword Stuffing

     

    It’s easy to assume that using your keyword more will help your page rank higher but that’s not how Google works anymore. If your content repeats the same keyword too often, it starts to feel forced and unnatural. That turns people away, and search engines pick up on that.

     

    Example:

     

    Let’s say your keyword is “plumber in Melbourne.” A stuffed sentence would sound like:

     

    “If you’re looking for a plumber in Melbourne, our plumber in Melbourne is the best plumber in Melbourne.”

     

    You can clearly see that the sentence is not readable at all and so will never rank. That’s why you need to use your keyword in the title, the first paragraph, a header and a few natural spots throughout, then focus on writing like a real person.

     

    2. Neglecting Mobile Optimisation

     

    Most people are searching from their phones. If your website loads slowly, doesn’t fit the screen or is hard to use on mobile, people won’t stick around and Google sees that.

     

    Example:

     

    You’ve got a contact form, but it’s hard to tap the fields on a phone. Or your text is too small to read without zooming in. That’s enough for someone to leave within seconds.

     

    You need to test every page on your phone, not just your homepage. Use Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test or simply browse your pages like a customer would. If something feels off, fix it.

     

    3. Overlooking Analytics Data

     

    One of the biggest mistakes I see is people guessing what’s working for internet search optimization. They publish content, tweak pages and never check the results. If you’re not looking at your analytics, you’re flying blind.

     

    Example:

     

    You might think a blog post is doing well because it looks great, but when you check Google Analytics, you find people are leaving after ten seconds. That’s a sign something’s missing; maybe the title overpromises or the content doesn’t answer the query.

     

    You need to track what pages bring traffic, how long people stay and what keywords are driving results. That’s how you find out what’s actually working and what needs to change.

     

    DIY SEO vs Hiring a Professional

     

    After learning a thing or two about SEO, you can work on your website but it’ll take a lot more to match the level of a professional. Here are the difference when considered both cases of SEO for the website:

     

    Area DIY SEO Hiring a Professional
    Time Investment You need to learn, test and apply everything yourself. It takes time You save time but still need to stay involved and review strategy
    Control Over Strategy You’re in charge of every decision and every change You rely on someone else’s approach, which may or may not match your vision
    Tool Access and Use You’ll mostly use free or basic versions of SEO tools Professionals use advanced tools that offer deeper analysis and competitive insights
    Cost Lower financial investment but time is the trade-off Higher upfront cost but time is freed up to focus on other business tasks
    Long-Term Consistency Hard to maintain without a clear process or regular schedule Ongoing service often includes reporting, planning and continuous updates

     

    Common Questions Answered About DIY SEO

     

    How do I do search engine optimisation if I have no technical background?

    Start with the basics. Use free tools like Google Search Console and Google Analytics to understand how your website is performing. Focus on writing helpful content, adding relevant keywords naturally and keeping your website mobile-friendly. 

    You don’t need to code, most improvements can be done through your website builder or CMS with a bit of learning and consistency.

     

    How long does it take to see results from DIY SEO?

    SEO doesn’t work overnight. If you stay consistent with keyword use, content updates and technical improvements, you might start seeing small wins within 3 to 6 months. Bigger improvements, like higher rankings or increased enquiries, can take longer.

     

    What’s the best way to stay updated on SEO changes?

    Search engines update their algorithms often, and what worked last year may not work now. Follow trusted blogs like Moz, Search Engine Journal or Google’s own Search Central Blog. Set aside time once a month to catch up on changes. This way, you can adjust without falling behind.

     

    Need the Best SEO Specialist? Hire PrintVideoWeb

     

    DIY SEO helps you understand how your website performs, where your traffic comes from and what your customers are really searching for. With the right steps, you can improve rankings, boost visibility and bring in more leads without spending anything upfront.

     

    But SEO is never a one-time job. It needs consistency, updates and deep knowledge when things get more complex. If you’re ready to go beyond the basics and want to grow faster with expert support. One of the experts based in Melbourne is PrintVideoWeb, offering SEO services backed by proven strategies that bring real results. Whether you need technical fixes, keyword planning, local SEO or full website optimisation, we help your business get found for the right reasons.