SEO+

18/09/2026

🎉 15 years of SEO+ 🎉

15 years ago this week, I started SEO+.

And I still find that hard to believe.

Because 15 years ago, I certainly didn't have a 15-year business plan.

In fact, I didn't even have a business.

Back in June 2011, I was made redundant while away for a family weekend in Bude.

At the time, I was working for a local web design company as their in-house SEO consultant.

I was a single mum with no backup plan. But I remember thinking, maybe I can do this on my own.

The problem was, I had absolutely no idea how I was going to find clients!

But I did know SEO.

So I did what made sense to me...
I built a website, got it ranking on Google, and started figuring things out from there.

And on 19 September 2011, SEO+ was born.

15 years on, I’ve had the privilege of helping hundreds of brilliant businesses become more visible online, attract more of the right clients, and grow stronger businesses that continue to flourish.

It’s been quite a journey. There have been highs, lows, plenty of lessons learned and more than a few unexpected twists along the way.

But I wouldn’t change it.

A huge thank you to every client, collaborator, supporter, referrer and friend who has been part of the SEO+ journey. I really couldn’t have done it without you.

Right then…

Who’s bringing the cake and cocktails? 🍰🍸

16/09/2026

“I don’t really know what I’d be paying for…”

If that thought has ever crossed your mind when looking at SEO support, you’re not alone.

If you’re considering SEO, or already paying for it, this guide will help you feel more confident about the process.

As always, if you have any questions let me know.

https://www.seo-plus.co.uk/working-with-an-seo-consultant/

15/09/2026

Ooo... look what just happened ⤵

"Ethical SEO Consultancy of the Year 2026 - UK"

What an amazing award to win 🏆

When I started SEO+, 15 years ago this month, I never imagined my little business would grow into a multi-award-winning SEO agency… but here we are 💜

What I love most, though, isn't the awards (although it's very nice to be recognised), it's that I get to work with a huge variety of lovely business owners.

Helping them attract the right people to their websites so they have more perfect-fit enquiries, more sales, and a business that flourishes - yeah, I love that 🥰




"The Small Business Awards 2026 celebrate the outstanding small businesses and entrepreneurs driving innovation, growth and excellence, recognising those making a meaningful impact and setting new standards within their industries."

14/09/2026

I spend quite a lot of time looking at competitor websites when I’m working on SEO and new website projects.

And there are some things I see over and over again.

Not necessarily bad websites. Just websites that are making life harder for the business than they need to.

Here are six things that regularly jump out at me:

1. The website speaks business-owner rather than client.

Lots of industry terminology, impressive-sounding phrases and jargon that make perfect sense internally… but leave the person trying to buy the service thinking, “Yes, but what does that actually mean for me?”

2. The important questions aren’t answered.

What happens next? What does the process look like? Who is it for? What can I expect? What happens if I’m not sure which service I need?

If your potential client has to work all that out for themselves, there’s a good chance they’ll go somewhere else.

3. The website doesn’t give you much reason to trust the business.

Testimonials, case studies, real photos, experience, qualifications, examples of work, evidence of results…

These aren’t just nice extras. They help someone decide whether they feel comfortable choosing you.

4. The website has been “SEO’d” without actually being optimised.

The page title has a keyword in it. The headings have been tidied up. Someone has added some alt text.

Lovely.

But if the page itself doesn’t clearly answer the questions your ideal client is asking, ticking those technical boxes isn’t going to magically make it good SEO.

5. Every website starts to sound suspiciously similar.

Especially when AI has been involved.

Polished? Yes.

Distinctive? Not always.

And if your website could quite happily belong to five of your competitors, you have a problem.

6. The website was finished… and then forgotten.

I still see businesses proudly talking about something that happened in 2023. Or announcing an event “coming this January” when it’s now September.

Your website is part of your business. It needs the occasional check-in.

None of this means you need a flashy, expensive website.

It means you need a website that makes sense to the people you want to attract, gives them the information they need, demonstrates why they should trust you – and makes it easy for search engines to understand what you actually do.

Because a beautiful website that leaves potential customers confused is still a website that isn't doing its job.

And that's something I look at very closely when I'm carrying out SEO work.

When was the last time you looked at your own website through the eyes of a potential client?

Call now to connect with business.

11/09/2026

My latest review ⤵️

I love that SEO can have this kind of impact.

If your website isn't working hard enough to attract the right people, drop me a DM. Let's make your business easier to find so it generates better enquiries and helps you grow.

10/09/2026

There is no secret “AI SEO trick”.

If you’re not showing up in AI answers, it’s usually because:

• Your expertise is buried
• Your positioning is fuzzy
• Your authority isn’t corroborated

AI rewards clarity and confidence.

Here’s the full breakdown -

Not showing up in AI search results? Discover what AI tools look for and the practical steps to help your website get seen and trusted.

09/09/2026

I’ve recently started working with a new client who lives locally - which is especially nice, as I don't get to meet most of my clients because they're based all over the UK.

They’re a local business serving local customers, so one of the first things I wanted to look at was their Google Business Profile.

It was there, but like a lot of small business profiles, there was plenty of room to make it work harder.

So, I’ve been tidying it up - making sure the information is accurate, choosing the right categories, adding a business description and relevant services, uploading recent project photos and their logo, and generally making it much clearer to Google (and potential clients) exactly what they do.

Nothing particularly glamorous.

Just some of the essential groundwork that gives a local business a better chance of being found when someone nearby is looking for what they offer.

I love doing this kind of SEO for small businesses…

Find the things that matter most, fix those first, and don't make it more complicated than it needs to be.

If you’re wondering whether your own Google Business Profile is doing as much as it could, I’ve recently updated my step-by-step guide: Your Complete Guide to a Great Google Business Profile

It covers the key things to check and optimise

Read the guide via the 🔗⤵️

And if you’d rather someone review or optimise yours for you, feel free to send me a message.

Do you know how well your Google Business Profile is working for you?

07/09/2026

So many of my clients come to me frustrated that their website isn’t bringing in enquiries, or they’re attracting the wrong ones and wasting time on poor-fit leads.

Together, we fix that.

We get their site ranking where it should be, visible across modern search and bringing in consistent enquiries from the right people - the ones who are ready to book, buy, and value what they do.

That’s when things start to feel easier, more predictable… and a lot more enjoyable.

Seeing that shift never gets old!

P.S. I’m Hazel, founder and ethical SEO consultant at SEO+
I help business owners turn their websites into consistent, reliable sources of enquiries and sales.

If you’d like to explore how I could help, just drop me a message.

03/09/2026

Google updates: What happened in August and what does it mean for your website?

Another month, another collection of Google updates… but not all of them are worth losing sleep over.

Here are the things I think website owners should know about:

1. Google rolled out a Spam Update

Google's August Spam Update ran from 18–21 August and is designed to reduce low-quality or manipulative content in search results.

There was speculation that it targeted low-quality, mass-produced AI content. Google hasn't confirmed this, but its guidance is clear: content created primarily to manipulate rankings, whether written by AI or a human, can fall foul of its spam policies.

If you're following good SEO practices and creating genuinely useful content, there's no need to panic. However, it's always worth monitoring rankings and traffic following a confirmed update.

2. AI is becoming more integrated into Google Search

Google continues to develop AI Mode and AI Overviews, with further integration between the two.

This reinforces something I've been saying for a while: search is changing, and businesses need to think beyond simply "ranking number one".

Make it easy for people and search engines to understand:
• What you do
• Who you help
• Why you're a credible choice
• What makes your expertise valuable

3. Google's AI performance data is now available globally

Google has rolled out AI performance data in Search Console to websites worldwide.

This gives us more insight into how often our content appears within Google's AI-powered search experiences, including AI Overviews and AI Mode.

The data is still limited, but it's a useful starting point.

4. The advice for AI search remains reassuringly familiar

Google has also reminded us that there isn't a separate magic formula for appearing in generative AI responses.

You don't need to completely reinvent your SEO strategy.

The fundamentals still matter:
✔️ Helpful, relevant content
✔️ Genuine expertise and experience
✔️ Clear answers to your audience's questions
✔️ A website that's easy for Google and users to understand
✔️ Strong signals of trust and credibility

My biggest takeaway?

Don't get distracted by every new AI feature or Google experiment.

Yes, search is changing. But the businesses in the strongest position will still be those investing in useful content, demonstrating genuine expertise and making it easy for the right people to understand what they offer.

That's not a shortcut, but it's far more sustainable than chasing every new Google update.

If you'd like expert support with your SEO, or a clearer understanding of where your website stands and what opportunities exist, get in touch.

02/09/2026

15k AI impressions in 28 days.

This is my Google Search Console.

Google has now rolled out AI performance data in Search Console globally.

It gives website owners actual data on how often their pages appear in AI-powered search features, including AI Overviews and AI Mode.

And it’s useful.

Not because 15k impressions automatically means 15k potential clients.

But because it gives us a glimpse into whether Google is finding and surfacing our content in AI search.

You can also see which pages are appearing, along with countries, devices and trends over time.

One thing to note: you may not see the report yet if your website doesn't have enough AI search impressions.

Have you checked your Search Console yet?

And if you have the data, what's the first thing you want to know from it?