At Refinery23, our philosophy is to keep it simple, do a few things well, and iterate. You don’t need to chase every algorithm update. Instead, focus on these top 10 actions to ensure your business is visible in 2026.
1. Claim and optimise your Google Business Profile
If you are a local business, this is non-negotiable. Add your accurate NAP (Name, Address, Phone), hours, and services. Post photos and updates regularly. This is essential for local visibility.
2. Conduct meaningful keyword research
Don’t guess what people are typing into Google. Target relevant keywords with commercial intent: the words your customers actually use when they are ready to buy. Use tools like Google Keyword Planner or SEMrush to find the data.
3. Create high-quality, helpful content
Forget churning out low-value posts. Focus on user intent and E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness). Aim for topical depth rather than just volume.
4. Optimise your on-page elements
Help the search engines help you. Use your keywords naturally in your titles, meta descriptions, headers, alt text, and URLs.
5. Ensure a mobile-friendly, fast-loading site
Google uses mobile-first indexing. If your site is slow or breaks on a phone, you are invisible. Prioritise Core Web Vitals like speed and responsiveness.
6. Build your technical foundations
Make your site crawlable. Ensure you have HTTPS, an XML sitemap, a robots.txt file, and no broken links. Use structured data/schema markup to help Google understand your content.
7. Earn reviews and manage your reputation
Trust is everything. Encourage your customers to leave reviews on Google and other platforms, and, crucially, respond to them.
8. Acquire quality backlinks
Avoid spammy tactics. Build links from relevant sites through genuine outreach, guest posts, or local partnerships.
9. Update and refresh existing content
You don’t always need something new. often, updating your top pages with fresh data and stats outperforms creating brand-new content.
10. Monitor performance
You can’t improve what you don’t measure. Use Google Search Console and Analytics to track your rankings and traffic. Fix what’s broken, measure the results, and adjust ongoing.
The Takeaway You don’t have to do everything at once. Keep it simple, do a few things well, iterate. Start with the foundations, measure your results, and focus on what works for your business.
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