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Anyone who has been running a small business for any length of time knows that ranking well on Google can be truly make-or-break. You might also have heard that AI is changing everything. But when you are busy managing staff, chasing invoices, and actually delivering for your customers, upskilling in AI for SEO is probably not high on the agenda.
At Capital on Tap, we want to make running your business easier. That is why we sat down with Peter from Velora—a cycling news and technology site—to learn how they have used artificial intelligence to build their online presence from the ground up.
"Like any new online business, getting SEO right is critical to our success," Peter explains. "If people cannot find us on Google, it does not matter how good our content is."
The basics of SEO have not changed: you want Google to understand what your website is about, trust that you are a credible source, and show your pages to people searching for what you offer. What has changed is how accessible it has become. You no longer need to hire an agency or learn to code to get started. Here is our guide to using AI for the basics.
Use AI for SEO to find what your customers are actually searching for
One of the biggest SEO mistakes small businesses make is guessing what words to use on their website. You might describe your service one way, but your customers might search for it completely differently.
AI tools can help you think about the language people use when searching for businesses like yours. ChatGPT, for example, is useful for brainstorming the kinds of phrases a customer might type into Google if you ask: “What search terms might someone use to find a [your type of business] in [your location]?”
While these tools do not always have 100% accurate search volume data, they can help you avoid blind guessing. Some businesses find that plugging these suggestions into a dedicated keyword research tool helps them validate ideas with empirical data. Once you know these phrases, you can naturally include them in your website page titles and ensure they are well-signed in your copy.
Don’t stuff keywords excessively, as this is a major SEO red flag. You can ask an AI tool to review your copy to ensure the tone remains human and professional.
Improve your existing website content
You do not necessarily need to create 100s of new pages to see a difference. Sometimes, tweaking what you already have makes a bigger impact. You could consider copying and pasting your website text into an AI tool and asking: "How could I improve this page to rank better on Google for [your target search term]?"
The AI can suggest changes to your:
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Headings to make them more descriptive.
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Structure to improve readability.
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Wording to help search engines understand your core services.
Always remember to keep your unique brand voice. AI suggestions are a starting point, not the final word. Maintaining a human touch is essential for managing your business brand effectively.
Write helpful content that attracts visitors
Google rewards websites that answer people's questions. A blog or FAQ section can help your site appear in searches you might otherwise never rank for.
At Velora, Peter has built his entire content strategy around this principle. "We use AI to help research topics, outline articles, and do all the SEO microtasks," Peter says. "Then the final writing and editing is left to our editorial team. This combines AI efficiency with human expertise."
For your business, you might publish articles answering common customer questions. If you run a landscaping company, for example, posts like "When is the best time to plant a hedge?" or "How often should I mow my lawn in summer?" attract visitors who might then hire you. This is a great way of improving your business cash flow by attracting "warm" leads who are already interested in your niche.
Check your website’s technical health
Some SEO factors are technical—things like how fast your website loads and whether it works well on mobile phones. You do not need to be a developer to understand this. Free tools can scan your site and flag issues in plain language.
Using AI to explain these technical reports can help you understand exactly what to fix and why it matters for your ranking. Keeping your site running smoothly is just as important as managing your business expenses accurately; it prevents small issues from turning into big problems.
A word of caution on automation
AI is a helpful assistant, not a replacement for your expertise. The content on your website should still sound like you and reflect your genuine knowledge of your trade. Google is increasingly sophisticated at spotting generic, AI-generated content that does not add real value.
Use AI to save time and get ideas, but always add your own insight and check the facts. Your customers trust you because you know your business; make sure that comes through in everything you publish.
Getting started today
You do not need to overhaul your entire website this weekend. Start small: pick 1 page on your site and ask an AI tool how to improve it. Or write 1 short blog post answering a question your customers frequently ask.
SEO is a long game, but small, consistent improvements can help position your business for growth. With AI tools now freely available, there has never been a better time for small businesses to compete with the bigger players online.
While you focus on growing your online presence, we can help you handle the day-to-day spending. The Capital on Tap Business Credit Card makes it easy to manage your finances with credit limits up to £250,000 and 1% cashback on every card purchase.
