Nearly 97% of all web pages don’t get any traffic from search engines.
To make sure your startup does not end up on that statistic, let’s explore SEO for startups. We will cover the basics and actionable strategies to help you climb the search engine ranks and attract organic traffic.
By the end of this read, you will be ready to build an effective SEO strategy and drive your startup’s online presence in 2025.
Why & When Do Startups Need SEO?
If you are running a startup, SEO is not just a nice-to-have—it is your lifeline in a crowded digital space. With 305 million startups gunning for the top yearly, the right SEO strategies can increase your search engine rankings and make sure your startup website does not blend into the endless sea of competitors.
Plus, when you rank higher in organic search, you reach potential customers actively searching for solutions like yours. Your startup website gets to show up where it matters.
Now, when is the best time to focus on SEO for your startup? Yesterday.
Seriously, if you are launching or just launched your business, now is the time to act. Starting with clear SEO goals from day one builds a solid foundation and gives your startup website a fighting chance in search rankings.
Just remember that SEO is not instant; it is a long game. But the earlier you optimize content, target relevant search queries, and align with user intent, the quicker you will see progress.
Think of it like planting a tree—you need time for it to grow roots and stand tall. Waiting too long means playing catch-up with those who invested early, making it harder to break through the noise.
Overview Of SEO Basics For Startups
Without knowing these SEO basics, you will be flying blind in the competitive online world. Use this to lay the groundwork for your startup’s online presence and start building momentum on Google and other search engines.
I. Link-Building
Earn quality backlinks from other websites to show search engines that your content is valuable. As a startup, building relationships and collaborating with other sites can strengthen your credibility and help you grow faster than relying on your site alone.
II. Off-Page SEO
This includes brand mentions and social media engagement. For your startup, this amplifies your SEO efforts since it lets you build an online presence that attracts attention even when users are not on your site. Use this to help your startup become more trustworthy and credible faster.
III. Technical SEO
Do not overlook the nuts and bolts that keep your website running smoothly. Fast loading speeds, mobile-friendliness, and an easy-to-crawl site structure impact your search rankings. For you, investing in technical SEO early means fewer issues down the road and a seamless experience for users.
IV. Content Marketing
Create and share valuable content that connects with your target audience. You need to understand what potential customers need and answer their questions through blog posts, guides, or videos. Through this, you can keep your brand top-of-mind and establish your business website as an authority in your niche.
V. On-page optimization
Use relevant keywords and optimize titles and headers to make our website clear, relevant, and valuable to search engines and users. For startups, aligning content with search intent means getting your message out quickly and keeping visitors engaged—without leaning on paid advertising to build organic traction early.
Weaving these basics into your startup SEO strategy sets your business up for steady growth and stronger online visibility—all without draining your budget.
But doing this right takes more than just basic knowledge—it requires real expertise. Saltwater Digital can help you with all your search engine optimization needs. We can take the guesswork out of SEO and get you results that count.
7 Tested SEO Strategies For Startup Success
Read through these 7 must-try SEO strategies for startup success and note down quick wins you can implement today. Then, prioritize those that align with your startup’s immediate SEO goals.
1. Leverage Long-Tail Keywords To Drive Niche Traffic
Long-tail keywords are specific phrases that include 3 or more words, often more detailed than common search terms. Think “affordable co-working spaces for startups” versus just “co-working spaces.”
They have a lower search volume but attract users with clear intent. Why is this gold for startups like yours?
Because targeting these keywords helps you reach people who are more likely ready to take action. It can drive niche traffic that aligns perfectly with your relevant content. It also increases your chances of conversions without competing with industry giants over popular terms.
How To Find Long-Tail Keywords
The first option is to use SEO tools like Ahrefs. Simply go to “Keyword Explorer” and input your search term.
Once you hit search, focus on these to get long-tail keywords:
Additionally, use Google’s autocomplete feature to get suggestions like this:
Google’s autocomplete draws from your language, location, trending topics, and past searches. These suggestions show real, active searches, giving you a clear picture of what users are looking for.
Another option is to use Google’s “People also ask” feature to get what your target audience is asking:
In “People Also Ask,” you will uncover specific, long-tail questions your target audience is asking.
Once you are done with your long-tail keyword research, weave the terms naturally into your content and make sure your page answers those specific queries.
2. Connect With Niche Sites To Earn Quality Backlinks
Quality backlinks are links from trusted, relevant websites that point to your site. They signal search engines that your content is valuable and worth referencing.
How does this help your startup?
It can increase your domain authority (DA), which is a measure of how trustworthy and credible your site appears to search engines. The higher your DA is, the higher you can be on the search engine results pages (SERPs).
If you do this right, your rankings and traffic can improve within 2 weeks, as 83% of experts say link building delivers results that quickly.
How To Connect With Niche Sites
Before you approach any site, make sure you are creating high-quality content worth linking to. This can be in-depth guides, industry insights, or helpful resources that both your audiences value. If your content solves problems or shares unique data, sites will be more likely to link to it.
Also, you should reach out to niche sites and offer to write guest posts. To do this, choose websites with strong domain authority in your industry. You can use this Moz Domain Checker before you contact websites.
Now, to find websites accepting guest posts, use Google Search and type specific queries like:
- Write for us [your niche]
- Submit a guest post [your niche]
- Guest post guidelines [your niche]
Let’s say you’re in the ever-popular real estate niche, like Real Estate Skills. Here’s how you can find relevant sites to pitch your guest posts to:
Just follow their guidelines or who to contact on those pages to reach out. Make sure the article you contribute is relevant and valuable to their audience. Also, include a natural backlink to your site in the post to guide readers to more information.
Lastly, you can connect with sites by networking with their owners. Engage with them through thoughtful comments, social media shares, or direct conversations. When they see you as a genuine contributor, they are more open to collaborations that include backlinks.
3. Optimize For Voice Search To Stay Competitive
Voice search lets users speak their queries to get instant answers. Think of voice assistants like Siri, Alexa, or Google Assistant—people use them to find quick information on the go.
Why go through this strategy?
Voice searches are often longer and more conversational, so this gives you a chance to target unique, less competitive keywords that help you show up in organic search results. With this strategy, you can help search engines understand your content and match it better to a user’s search query, which is often phrased like a question or spoken statement.
How To Optimize For Voice Search
Use long-tail or conversational search terms. So focus on target keywords that mimic how people speak. For example, instead of “best marketing tips,” think “What are the best marketing tips for startups?” To help you do this, go back to step number 1.
In addition, create high-quality content that answers common questions in your industry. You should include a Q&A section or structured snippets that directly address these points to increase your chances of appearing in search results.
Lastly, optimize your website or content for local voice searches. Many voice searches are local, like “Where’s the nearest co-working space?” so make sure your startup is visible in search results by optimizing your content for local keywords.
4. Add Descriptive Alt Text To Increase Accessibility
Alt text, or “alternative text,” is a brief description that gives search engine algorithms and visually impaired users insight into your images. With this simple act, you can make your images searchable, which can drive more visitors to your site.
How To Add Alt Text
Make it very descriptive. This is especially important for visual-centric businesses, like this luxury villa rental in Tuscany. Descriptive alt text can help attract audiences specifically searching for visually rich experiences.
For example, the alt text can work in the target keyword:
- Luxury villa rental in Tuscany
A descriptive alt text can be:
- Luxury villa rental in Tuscany with a sunset view from an infinity pool overlooking vineyards
This paints a picture and helps you connect with users searching for that perfect Tuscan getaway.
Also, do not overlook important visuals like product photos, service highlights, and featured images. These are crucial touchpoints for visitors and search engines alike.
Where do you put your alt text?
If you are writing on Google Docs, simply right-click the image and choose alt text:
If you are in WordPress, just click the image block to get the sidebar image settings:
5. Capture Attention With Lead Magnets
Lead magnets are valuable, free resources like eBooks, guides, or templates that you offer to visitors in exchange for their contact information. They are like a warm invitation for your target audience to engage deeper with your brand.
How do they impact your SEO efforts?
When you create content valuable enough for users to exchange their contact details, you drive engaged traffic to your site, improving your SEO performance. Search engines favor sites with meaningful engagement, so attracting genuinely interested users helps your startup rank higher and stand out in a competitive space.
How To Create Lead Magnets
The best lead magnets solve specific problems, so think about what your target audience struggles with or what they’d love to learn. If you are in the tech space, for example, a “Beginner’s Guide to Cybersecurity” can be a hit.
To make this process smoother, consider working with a lead generation agency. They can help you define your ideal audience profile—say, targeting startup founders in the health tech industry on LinkedIn.
With this clear, targeted profile, they can guide you in creating specific lead magnets, like offering a free industry report or a guide on scaling health tech solutions. This approach guarantees your lead magnets attract the right people and build quality connections on LinkedIn.
You should also place your lead magnet on optimized landing pages to attract organic traffic and increase SEO performance. Include target keywords, strong calls-to-action, and engaging visuals to capture and hold attention.
But make sure you do not skimp on quality. Design your lead magnet as a downloadable PDF or guide that is easy to consume and worth saving. A polished, valuable guide reflects well on your startup and helps build trust.
6. Produce Blog Content That Delivers Value & Quality
We already mentioned the need to create quality content, but what exactly makes content high-value and worth your readers’ time?
It should be informative, well-optimized with specific keywords, and provide lasting relevance to make it useful to readers. With this, you can build a solid foundation for SEO since search engines also favor content that helps their users.
How To Create High-Quality Content
Focus on evergreen content since it stays relevant over time and continually brings traffic and value. Use this approach to avoid constant updates and let your content do the hard work for you all year round.
To create evergreen content, choose topics with lasting relevance, like industry basics, tutorials, or practical guides. Make sure the content addresses common questions and remains helpful over time.
Also, avoid trendy references, focus on quality, and make sure the information is thorough yet easy to update. Structure it clearly, and add specific keywords that people frequently search for.
You should also use Google Analytics to identify which pages bring the most traffic, then update these pages regularly with specific keywords that align with current trends and user searches.
For example, if Google Analytics reveals high traffic on your “social media marketing strategies” page, update it with specific keywords like “2024 social media trends” or “best social media platforms for startups” to keep the content fresh and relevant.
Additionally, use tools like SurferSEO to incorporate relevant keywords into your content. It can also give you a content score based on how optimized your article is, like this:
With this, you can align your SEO tasks with real user behavior.
Finally, try using SEO writing tools to streamline your content creation. They can save you valuable time to focus on building a stronger foundation for your startup while establishing a reliable knowledge resource on your website.
7. Monitor Your Website’s Performance For Continuous Improvement
Track your website’s performance to adapt quickly in a competitive space. Every bit of insight—from how visitors find your site to which pages keep them engaged—plays into your SEO practices and long-term growth.
How To Monitor Your Site’s Performance
Set up a Google Search Console account. To get started and use it, watch Google’s video tutorials. With this tool, you track your site’s performance, spot potential issues, and find out which queries bring the most traffic.
Another tool to use is Google Analytics. Track bounce rates, time on page, and top exit pages. Plus, it lets you monitor your audience’s behavior flow on your website. This information highlights which areas need improvement, helping you adjust content and design to keep users engaged.
How to Use the Google Analytics 4 Behavior Flow Report 2023
You can also run a technical SEO audit to catch underlying issues that can affect site speed, mobile usability, or website security—factors that impact your ranking. To dig deeper into your technical SEO, use analytics tools like Ahrefs to check for broken links.
Conclusion
SEO for startups is no cakewalk, but with the right moves, you can set yourself up for big wins. So start now and check where your current SEO strategy stands. For example, if you are just getting started, dive into keyword research and make sure Google Search Console is up and running.
Already getting some traction? Shift gears to building quality backlinks and tightening up your technical SEO. Pick the steps that resonate most with your goals, but make sure you continuously monitor the results so you adjust your strategies as needed.
If you need any help, we have our experts here at Saltwater Digital. Our SEO services can give your startup website the boost it needs and build a powerful search presence that grows with your business. Book a call now and let’s chat.
Author Bio:
Burkhard Berger is the founder of Novum™. He helps innovative B2B companies implement modern SEO strategies to scale their organic traffic to 1,000,000+ visitors per month. Curious about what your true traffic potential is?
