Spoiler: I am starting my website from scratch. Right now, I am slowly building She’s a Peach from the ground up. From the very first day, I’ve been building my site for improved discoverability.
I practice what I preach and follow the exact strategy I share in my Smart Girl’s Guide to SEO Content Writing.
Every page on my site is written to target a clear keyword. Each H1, meta title, and description is optimised for search and intent. The content flows naturally, it’s packed with semantically relevant terms, and every blog post is written to support a service page.
I know how to write for search, and I do.
But that’s not to say I don’t get SEO wrong. Far from it. I am rooted in learning mode, as I know so many female entrepreneurs are. So, this blog post isn’t me bragging about how amazing my site is, it’s not.
No. This blog is an honest appraisal of what I’m doing right now, five months into launching my brand new site for my brand new business. I have no domain authority, no seniority, and no special treatment from Google. I just have an SEO strategy that I’m slowly executing.
And the results so far?
I’m pleased with the 20,000+ impressions and the few hundred clicks I’ve garnered so far. It’s slow growth, but it’s growth nonetheless, and I’m taking it as a win, because I know it will compound with time, with every new blog I post and page I tweak.
So, if you’re wondering how to drive traffic to a site that’s still finding its feet, let this post be your map.
This article is LITERALLY me walking through how I’m filling the top of my marketing funnel with organic search traffic. And how you can too.
Let’s do this.
Step 1: Lay the groundwork with tools that tell you what’s working
Before I wrote a single blog post for She’s a Peach, I set up my tracking.
This meant setting up the tools that show me what’s working, what’s not, and what’s starting to gain traction on my site, even if no one’s clicking yet.
From day one of She’s a Peach, I made sure everything I did was tracked. I hooked up Google Analytics, Search Console, Bing Webmaster Tools, my Pinterest tag, Meta pixel, and Stan Store analytics. Not because I’m a data nerd (I’m not), but because if I’m going to spend my time creating content, I want proof it’s doing something positive for my efforts.
Because when you’re building a brand-new website from scratch, it’s not about overnight traffic. It’s about teaching Google who you are and what you do. And you can’t teach it anything if you’re not paying attention.
Tracking isn’t about vanity metrics.
It’s about visibility evidence.
Here’s what I use, and exactly why.
🔍 Google Search Console
My non-negotiable.
It shows me what search queries are leading people to my site, how many times I’ve appeared in search results (impressions), and which pages are getting clicks.
This is where I go to check: Is Google starting to get it?
📊 Google Analytics
It tracks behaviour on my site, how long people stay, which pages they visit, and what content keeps them around.
It tells me what’s holding attention (and what’s not).
📌 Pinterest Tag
I repurpose every blog post into at least 5 pins on Pinterest, and I use the tag to track what traffic is coming from where. If I’m pinning consistently and traffic isn’t moving, I’ll tweak the visuals, the titles, or the strategy.
🧠 Meta Pixel
Even though Instagram is no longer my main strategy, I still use the Meta pixel for retargeting. If someone’s been to my site but didn’t sign up or buy, I can bring them back later with a well-placed ad (when I run ads).
🛒 Stan Store Analytics
This is where I track who clicks from my site to my offers, like the Smart Girl’s Guide or a SEO Power Hour. If a blog post is sending people straight to checkout? I want to know.
You don’t need to master every number. But you do need a way to measure progress. And seriously, the sense of pride you’ll feel when those numbers start tracking in the right direction – it gets addictive!
Step 2: Start with keyword research & strategy (yes, even if you’re still figuring it out)
When I launched She’s a Peach, I knew SEO was going to be the engine behind my visibility, not social media. I mean, it would be remiss of an SEO specialist not to prioritise her specialism to fill that top of funnel with juicy organic search traffic 😂
So I didn’t wait.
I started creating blog content from week one. And while some of those early posts were definitely a bit… shall we say loose, I’ve since tightened up my process and shifted fully into strategy mode.
Now, every single blog I write is built around one clear long-tail keyword. I’m talking high search volume, low difficulty, niche-specific phrases that answer real questions my audience is Googling, the kind of stuff that makes them feel seen.
Where I find my keywords:
- Google Suggest (i.e. the recommendations Google provides when it tries to second guess what you’re searching by filling the blanks for you when you’re typing in the search bar – these answers are gold, because THEY’RE QUERIES THAT ARE ALREADY BEING SEARCHED)
- Google Search Console (I live on here – this shows me exactly what I’m being seen for now, and what to expand on)
- Ahrefs (I use this to spot gaps between me and my closest organic competitors + find low-competition opportunities)
- Competitor sites (I scour these, especially those with similar offers, not to copy, but to get an idea of what their audience is reading – why reinvent the wheel?)
- My audience’s actual questions (because nothing beats lived experience and I love being able to write a blog directed to one person)
Once I’ve got my keyword, I run the idea through NeuronWriter, which helps me build out the page with semantically relevant phrases, not just for ranking, but to mirror the exact language my audience uses.
My blog that took off
A great example of my strategy in action?
I wrote a blog post titled “What Is a Meta Description?” after explaining the concept to a group of women at a local networking event. I thought I was just enriching their knowledge, but quickly realised they didn’t know what I was on about.
I realised if they were confused, my wider audience probably was too.
So I wrote a post that stripped out the jargon, gave clear examples, and showed them exactly why it matters.
That post drew 8,000 impressions in under 7 days.
Not because it’s groundbreaking. But because it’s useful, readable, and targeted to a real question someone is typing into Google.
And yes, I know AI Overview is starting to take up more real estate in the SERPs. But even AI needs content to pull from. If someone’s going to show up in those summaries, it might as well be me.
What do I count as success right now? Impressions.
My current goal is visibility, not viral posts, not clickbait, just more eyes on my site from the right kind of searches.
More impressions = more chances to show up. And more opportunities for Google to learn who I am and what I do.
Some posts take off. Others don’t. That’s fine, because I treat Search Console like a feedback loop. If I notice I’m getting impressions for a keyword I don’t have a blog for yet, I’ll plan one (as long as it won’t cannibalise a money page).
Because that’s the last thing you want – creating amazing blog posts that draw lots of traffic… away from your service pages, aka the money pages!
Your blog posts should support service pages, that’s literally their sole purpose on your site – to draw in traffic. They should fill the top of the funnel, not siphon off the leads.
Step 3: On-Page SEO — These Are the Non-Negotiables
This is the stuff people call “the tech bit”, but for me, it’s just writing with structure. It’s writing with intention.
It’s the strategy I teach inside the Smart Girl’s Guide. It’s what underpins every blog post on She’s a Peach, and every post I’ve written for clients over the last ten years.
Here’s what I do without fail:
- One primary keyword per post, supported by semantic variations pulled from NeuronWriter
- Clear, optimised headings (H1 + H2s) that follow a logical structure and reflect what people are actually searching for
- Internal links to at least five relevant pages or posts, either commercial, supporting, or navigational
- Two external links to credible, relevant sources, both for authority signals and user experience
- Alt text for every image, describing the image contextually and weaving in natural language where appropriate
- One clear call to action, no competing priorities, no “choose your own adventure” menu. One post, one outcome.
There’s no guesswork here. I don’t publish and hope my content ranks. I plan to make it rank. Every on-page element serves a purpose, whether it’s helping the reader stay longer, helping Google understand context, or helping me convert traffic into clients.
Step 4: Build a blog plan that teaches Google who you are
If you don’t know what to write, start here:
- Type what you do into Google.
- Scroll to the “People Also Ask” questions.
- Pick one.
- Answer it in a blog post.
That’s it. That’s the start of your content plan.
It’s how I started mine.
I do ‘SEO for female entrepreneurs’, so when I was building out my content library for She’s a Peach, I literally typed that phrase into Google, copied the PAA questions into my planner, then scrolled through the follow-up questions, found ones that felt specific and relevant, and added them to my calendar to be written up in a post.
Then I did it again. And again. And again this evening.
BTW, when you’re writing blots, you don’t need to write 10,000 words. You just need to be useful to the audience you serve. No more, no less.
How I’m building out my content plan right now
I’m filling out my content library with a blend of:
- Evergreen posts (that stay relevant month after month)
- Offer-aligned content (that naturally links to my services and products)
- Pain point-led blogs (that speak to what my people are actually struggling with)
- Educational how-tos (because teaching builds trust), but through my lens. This is especially important right now, given that AIOs are sweeping the majority of educational/how to type of content. If you want to rank, yours has to have a point of difference.
I follow a loose content calendar based on my core pillars, but I’m not afraid to veer off if something timely comes up.
Like the blog I wrote last week: Help, Google Thinks I Work at OnlyFans. That one came from a real conversation with my biz ops mentor. Her Search Console showed a query she definitely didn’t want to be associated with. So I wrote a whole post about how to clean up your branded search and train the algorithm to get it right.
So, stop overthinking it. Start with one question someone’s already asking. Answer it, clearly and confidently. Link to your service. Hit publish.
Then do it again. And again. You’ll be shocked at how fast you gain traction.
Step 5: Linking strategy — this is the bit most people skip, and it shows
Internal linking isn’t a nice-to-have. It’s the roadmap for your website. It leads Google and your readers through your website, starting from point A, and ending at a conversion page.
If your pages and posts don’t link to each other, you’re making it ten times harder for Google to figure out what your site is about, and ten times harder for your visitors to take the next step.
What I’m doing for She’s a Peach’s link strategy
When I publish a blog post, I always link to:
- The most relevant service page
- A couple of other related blogs from the same content cluster (just look above, you’ll see what I mean)
- My Stan Store (if I reference a relevant product or offer)
I’m in the process of building pillar pages for my core services and themes, and eventually, I’ll go back and update older posts to create tighter clusters, but for now, every new blog is written with internal linking in mind.
Do I track it with a fancy tool? No. It’s manual, and it works. But I am looking at building a more formal internal linking system, especially as my content library grows.
What I recommend for beginners starting internal linking
Keep it simple:
- Every blog post should link to at least one offer or service page
- Link to 2–3 related blog posts if you have them
- As you build more content, start linking between them in clusters, so every post leads somewhere useful. You want to keep people on your site for as long as you can.
If you don’t have much content yet? That’s fine. Just start now, and as you grow, retroactively weave those links in.
External links? Yes, please.
I also aim to include one or two high-authority external links in every post. Think: industry sources, stats, useful tools, or dream PR sites you’d love to be associated with. It’s good SEO hygiene, and it builds trust.
I don’t believe in keeping all your traffic locked in a cage. Linking out to good, relevant sites is a sign of confidence, not weakness.
What about backlinks?
I’m building mine slowly, locally, through partnerships, and using tools like Featured.com to answer journalist’s requests in exchange for a link back to my site.
Not confident in that? If you’re just starting out, simply reach out to businesses in your space and ask if you can connect sites.
- Run a farm shop? Offer a local parenting blogger a guest recipe in exchange for a link.
- Own a therapy practice? Pitch a quote to a women’s lifestyle publication.
There are plenty of ethical, relevant ways to build links back to your site, and they matter. Not just for rankings, but for visibility, credibility, and traffic that converts.
Step 6: Technical stuff (That I don’t love, but check anyway)
Let me be clear: I am not a technical SEO.
I know just enough to keep my own site in shape, and enough to tell my clients when something’s off and who to speak to.
That’s it. That’s my energy.
What I use to check issues on She’s a Peach
- Google Search Console: (There’s a theme here, get to know your GSC account). Every couple of weeks, I check for index issues and performance shifts. It’s mostly a game of “what fresh hell is Google doing today?” but it keeps me informed.
- Ahrefs: for broader audit data like broken links, orphan pages, and crawl issues.
Screaming Frog: I open it, I squint at the results, and then I phone a friendly tech SEO and ask them to tell me what it means. - Manual panic-checks: Is the page live? Does it load quickly? Are there broken links? These are the basics, and they matter more than you think.
When I get concerned with my tech SEO.
I tend to follow the adage – if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. However, when it comes to websites, I’ve found, like sheep, they’re quite keen to break themselves for no apparent reason. I’m going to blame the internet gremlins.
So, what issues do I concern myself with?
- Broken links: because dead ends are bad UX and bad for SEO
- Orphan pages: if a page isn’t internally linked anywhere, Google will likely ignore it
- Indexing issues: I want my best content in the index, not sitting in limbo
- URL Slugs: if something’s messy or unclear, I clean it up
Let me be CRYSTAL CLEAR here, I’m not in the back-end of my site reconfiguring XML sitemaps or fiddling with server settings. That’s not my lane. And it doesn’t need to be yours either, not yet.
What beginners need to know about tech SEO
If you’re new to this, don’t stress about the deep technical stuff.
Typically, unless you’ve rebranded your company, migrated your site from one hosting platform to another, built 800 redirects across your site, or published years of random, irrelevant content, chances are your tech SEO needs are minimal.
But do check the basics. Run a quick audit. Fix the obvious stuff. Make sure your content can be crawled, indexed, and navigated easily.
That’s it.
Keep your content clean, your links working, and your URLs understandable. You’ll be ten steps ahead of most.
Step 7: Launch, review, repeat
Once the post is written, optimised, and published… don’t just walk away. This is where I find most people come a cropper.
This is where so many people drop the ball: they hit “publish,” give it a little wave on Instagram, and then assume it’ll take care of itself. And yes, sometimes it does. But if you want to actually teach Google who you are and what you do, you need to stay in the loop.
Here’s what I do with every post once it’s live:
Submit it to Google
- Open Search Console.
- Paste the URL into the Inspect tool.
- Hit “Request Indexing.”
- Done.
It takes 10 seconds, and it prompts Google to come check out your new content faster. You don’t have to do it, but why wouldn’t you?
Monitor the performance
About 30 days after publishing (haha or 2 minutes), I’ll head back into Search Console and see what’s happening:
- Is it indexed?
- Has it picked up any impressions?
- Are there any unexpected keywords it’s showing up for? (think of my pal Hannah at Bored of Busy and her delightfully irrelevant OnlyFans queries)
- Is it linking back to the right pages?
If nothing’s happening, fine. Not every post is going to go viral. But if I’m seeing a trickle of impressions, that’s a sign Google’s clocked it. That’s the early win I want.
And that’s pretty much it, that’s what I’m doing as someone who is starting a website from scratch.
Need my help with yours?
If you’ve made it this far, you’re not just playing with the idea of SEO.
I figure you’re ready to make your website work, to turn it into a visibility machine that drives traffic, builds authority, and fills the top of your funnel without relying on daily content or the algorithm gods.
Here’s what I suggest you do next:
Option 1: Start small and strategic.
Sign up to my free 30‑Days of Smart SEO Prompts for ChatGPT email series.
Every day for the next month, I’ll land in your inbox with an engineered prompt for ChatGPT, tailored for real-world SEO action. One simple message a day that moves the visibility needle of your business. Simply copy the prompt, paste it in ChatGPT, read the response, and action.
Repeat on day 2. Then day 3. Then day 4… right up until day 30.
You’ll leave the month with:
- A foundation of SEO prompts you can reuse
- A more visible site (and Google will start noticing)
- Confidence that your site is working for you, not just sitting there
Option 2: Book a free 20-minute discovery call
If you know you want SEO support, but you’re not sure what that looks like yet, let’s talk.
Here’s how it will work: you share with me where you’re getting stuck. I’ll give you my honest insight into why your content may not be working.
We’ll chat through what’s not working, where the gaps are, and whether done-for-you or done-with-you SEO is the right fit. And off we go.
Book your free call here. I promise you there is no pressure, no pitch, just a real conversation and some insights.
Your website deserves to be discovered, not hidden. Whether you choose prompts or a conversation, you’re one click away from making it work.