SEO for beginners: The 3 most important things Google expects from your website. Practical guide without jargon for sole proprietors in Salzburg and Austria.

SEO Basics: Get Found Without Paying for Ads

You have a website. But nobody finds it.

When you Google "your service + Salzburg," you appear on page 3. Or not at all.

Meanwhile, you pay 200-500€ per month for Google Ads just so people find you.

There is another way.

What Is SEO Anyway?

SEO = Search Engine Optimization

Simply put: You make your website so that Google likes it. And shows it.

The Difference: SEO vs. Google Ads

Google Ads (paid advertising):

Cost: 200-1000€/month

Stops immediately when you stop paying

Result: Top position with [Ad] label

SEO (organic):

Cost: Your time (or 300-800€ one-time for setup)

Works long-term

Result: Top position without [Ad] label

The 3 Pillars of SEO (That Really Matter)

Forget complicated SEO tricks. Focus on these 3 things:

1. Technical Foundation (The Base)

Google must be able to read your website.

Checklist:

[ ] Website loads fast (under 3 seconds)

[ ] Works on mobile

[ ] Has SSL certificate (https://)

[ ] Sitemap.xml exists

[ ] robots.txt is correct

Test:

Go to [PageSpeed Insights](https://pagespeed.web.dev) and enter your URL.

Green (80+): Optimal

Yellow (50-80): Acceptable (often difficult to get higher without deep technical optimization)

Orange (30-50): Needs improvement

Red (under 30): Act urgently

*Note:* Even with professional optimization, values of 50-70 are often realistic - especially for feature-rich websites. Google also evaluates other factors.

2. Content (The Heart)

Google wants to show relevant content.

The Formula:

```

Good Content = Answers the searcher's question

```

Example:

Someone searches: "tax advisor Salzburg sole proprietor"

Bad page:

"Welcome to Tax Advisory Müller. We are your partner for all tax questions."

Good page:

"Tax Advisory for Sole Proprietors in Salzburg: How to Save Taxes in Your First Business Year."

See the difference?

3. Trust (The Authority)

Google wants to show trustworthy sites.

How do you show trust?

Practical SEO Guide: The First 3 Steps

Step 1: Google My Business (Local SEO)

Why the most important first:

If you work locally (Salzburg, Salzburger Land, Upper Austria), Google My Business is your strongest SEO tool.

Setup (30-60 minutes):

1. Go to [Google Business](https://business.google.com)

2. Create your business

3. Verify your business (by email, phone, or video verification depending on availability)

4. Fill out EVERYTHING:

- Opening hours

- Phone number

- Website

- Categories (choose all applicable ones)

- Description (with keywords!)

- Photos (at least 5-10)

Pro Tip for Salzburg:

Description could be:

"IT service provider for self-employed in Salzburg, Salzburger Land and Upper Austria. Specialized in website creation, email setup and IT consulting for sole proprietors."

Step 2: Use Keywords Correctly

Keywords = Words your customers enter into Google
How to find your keywords?

1. Think like your customer:

What would YOU enter if you were looking for your service?

2. Use Google itself:

Type in your service. Google suggests completions. These are real search queries!

3. Think locally:

Always add your region:

- "web design Salzburg"

- "IT support Salzburger Land"

- "create website Upper Austria"

Where to place keywords?
Must-Have Positions:

1. Page Title (the blue link in Google)

2. URL (e.g., /web-design-salzburg)

3. Headings (H1, H2)

4. First 100 words of text

5. Image filenames (not IMG_1234.jpg)

Example Optimization:
Before:

```

Title: Welcome | Müller IT

URL: /home

H1: Welcome

Text: We are pleased to welcome you to our website...

```

After:

```

Title: IT Support Salzburg for Self-Employed | Müller IT

URL: /it-support-salzburg

H1: IT Support for Self-Employed in Salzburg

Text: Looking for reliable IT support in Salzburg? As an IT service provider for sole proprietors...

```

Step 3: Content That Ranks

The 1-2-3 Rule for SEO Content:
1 Main keyword (e.g., "SEO Salzburg") 2 related keywords (e.g., "Local SEO Austria", "Google optimization Salzburg") 3 times in the text (naturally incorporated, not spammed)
Content Types Google Loves:

1. How-To Guides ("How to...")

2. Checklists ("10 Steps to...")

3. Comparisons ("X vs. Y")

4. Local Content ("The best... in Salzburg")

5. FAQ Pages (Questions + Answers)

Local SEO: Especially for Salzburg & Austria

Why Local SEO Is Crucial

When someone searches: "tax advisor"

→ Google shows results in YOUR area

This means: You only compete with providers in your region.

Local SEO Checklist:

[ ] Google My Business completely filled out

[ ] Address consistent everywhere the same (website, Google, Yelp, etc.)

[ ] Phone number with country code (+43...)

[ ] Local keywords ("Salzburg", "Salzburger Land")

[ ] Customer reviews on Google (at least 5)

[ ] Local backlinks (Salzburg business directories)

[ ] Mention districts (Maxglan, Gnigl, Itzling...)

Local Backlink Sources:

1. herold.at - Austria's largest business directory

2. Salzburg24.at - Local news portal (business entries)

3. WKO Salzburg - Chamber of Commerce directory

4. Salzburger Nachrichten - Company directory

5. City of Salzburg - Official business entries

SEO Mistakes Self-Employed Make

❌ Mistake 1: Too Many Keywords (Keyword Stuffing)

Wrong:

"Web design Salzburg - Web designer Salzburg - Website Salzburg - Homepage Salzburg"

Right:

"Web Design in Salzburg: Professional Websites for Self-Employed"

❌ Mistake 2: Duplicate Content

Never copy texts from other websites. Google penalizes this.

❌ Mistake 3: No Mobile Optimization

60% of searches come from mobile. If your website does not work on mobile, you lose rankings.

❌ Mistake 4: Slow Loading Time

Over 3 seconds = visitors bounce = Google ranks you worse.

Quick test:

Too many large images?

Cheap hosting?

Too many plugins?

❌ Mistake 5: No Patience

SEO takes time. 3-6 months until first results are visible.

SEO Tools (Most Are Free)

For Beginners:

1. Google Search Console (free)

- Shows how Google sees your website

- Which search terms bring traffic

- Technical problems

2. Google Analytics (free)

- How many visitors come

- Where they come from

- What they do on your site

3. Google My Business (free)

- Indispensable for Local SEO

For Advanced:

4. Ubersuggest (free version)

- Keyword research

- Competitor analysis

5. AnswerThePublic (free)

- Shows which questions are asked about your topic

The Truth About SEO Agencies

When to Do SEO Yourself?

YES, if:

You have time (4-8 hours/month)

Your website is simple

You work locally (Local SEO)

Your budget is under 500€/month

NO, if:

You are in highly competitive markets

You work nationwide

Your time is worth more elsewhere

Red Flags with SEO Providers:

🚩 "Guaranteed #1 position on Google"

🚩 "Results in 2 weeks"

🚩 "We know Google's secret algorithm"

🚩 "Only 99€/month for complete SEO"

🚩 No transparency about methods

Good Signs:

✅ "First visible results in 3-6 months, significant improvements in 6-12 months"

✅ Detailed explanation of strategy

✅ Monthly reports with concrete metrics

✅ Focus on quality, not quantity

✅ Local references and case studies

✅ Realistic expectations (not every keyword is achievable in a short time)

Action Plan: Your First 30 Days SEO

Week 1: Create Foundation

[ ] Create Google My Business

[ ] Set up Google Search Console

[ ] Install Google Analytics

[ ] Do PageSpeed test

Week 2: Optimize Content

[ ] Identify top 3 most important pages

[ ] Research keywords

[ ] Optimize page titles

[ ] Adjust H1 headings

Week 3: Local SEO

[ ] Make address consistent everywhere

[ ] Register on herold.at

[ ] Register in WKO business directory

[ ] Ask 5 customers for Google review

Week 4: Create Content

[ ] Write one blog article (800+ words)

[ ] Create FAQ page

[ ] Name photos with keywords

[ ] Add alt texts for images

Conclusion: SEO Is Not Rocket Science

The SEO basics are simple:

1. Technically solid (fast, mobile, secure)

2. Good content (helpful for searchers)

3. Local presence (Google My Business)

The truth: Doing SEO yourself is possible - but time-consuming and complex. You need:

At least 8-12 hours per month (realistically calculated)

Patience (6-12 months for measurable results)

Technical understanding (or willingness to learn)

Consistent maintenance (every month, not just at the beginning)

The alternative: Focus on your core business. A professional SEO setup costs you less than 2 months of Google Ads - but works long-term.

Need Help with SEO in Salzburg?

As an IT consultant for self-employed in Salzburg, I help you get started with SEO.

Why I Do Not Offer Monthly Contracts

Many ask: "Do you also offer monthly SEO support?"

My answer: Not as standard. Here is why:

SEO often does not need monthly support after setup. The truth is: After the initial optimization, many small businesses only need sporadic support - not every month.
Monthly fixed costs do not make sense for most self-employed:

You pay even in months when little happens

Flexibility is missing (contract commitment)

Value is hard to measure after the first months

My approach is more transparent:

You only pay for what you really need. Once for the setup. After that, you decide when you want support.

My SEO Setup Service

One-time SEO Setup (1,400€):

✅ Google My Business optimization (complete)

✅ Keyword research for your business

✅ On-page SEO (titles, descriptions, keywords)

✅ Local SEO setup (business entries: herold.at, WKO, etc.)

✅ Technical basic optimization

✅ 1 SEO-optimized blog article (standard)

✅ SEO checklist for ongoing maintenance

✅ 1 hour personal training

Needed later? You only pay for concrete services:
À la carte Services:
Content Creation:

Standard Blog Article: 240€/piece (800 words, SEO-optimized, keyword research)

Premium Blog Article: 400€/piece (1,200+ words, deep research, infographics)

Ongoing Support:

Google My Business Maintenance: 350€/month (regular posts, answer reviews, update photos, Q&A management)

- *Annual package: 3,500€ (pay 10 months, get 12 months service = 2 months free)*

SEO Check-up: 450€/quarter (complete audit + strategy update)

- *Annual package: 1,350€ (pay 3 quarters, get 4 quarters service = 1 quarter free)*

Performance Report: 150€ (detailed analysis with action recommendations)

Combined Annual Package (GMB + SEO Check-ups):

4,500€/year instead of 5,300€ (800€ savings) - Ideal complete support for Local SEO

Technical:

Technical Optimization: By effort (60€/hr)

The advantage for you:

✅ No contract commitment - Monthly services cancelable anytime, no minimum term

✅ Pay only what you need - Content articles only when necessary, no "idle time"

✅ Full cost control - You decide month by month, or save with annual package

✅ Attractive annual packages - 2 months free with annual booking (optional)

✅ Personal service - Direct contact, no agency overhead

✅ Transparent prices - No hidden costs, everything clearly communicated

Who Is This For?

✅ Perfect if you:

Want a solid SEO foundation

Can create content yourself (with my checklist)

Need flexibility with costs

Do not want monthly fixed costs

Contact: info@amadeuswebdesign.com | +43 650 7964955

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*Last updated: December 2025 | Written for self-employed in Salzburg, Salzburger Land and Upper Austria*

SEO Basics for Self-Employed: Get Found on Google in 3 Steps (Without Ads)