The 7 Most Common SEO Mistakes Charleston Businesses Make And How to Fix Them 

If you’re a local business owner in Charleston, understanding how to do SEO is no longer optional–it’s essential. Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is the process of improving your website so it ranks higher in Google when people search for products or services you offer. Done right, SEO increases visibility, drives traffic, and brings in more customers.

But here’s the catch: even small SEO mistakes can prevent your business from showing up in local search results, just when people are ready to buy. That means missed clicks, lost leads, and less revenue.

In this guide, we’ll break down the 7 most common SEO mistakes Charleston businesses make and how to fix them. Each fix includes simple, actionable website optimization tips that help your business rank on Google, increase traffic, and convert more leads.

Images aren’t just for aesthetics. They’re part of your SEO strategy. Search engines read image file names and alt text to understand what your images represent, and that contributes to your rankings.

Common Mistake:

Uploading generic images like IMG_2458.jpg.

Fix:

• Rename files with descriptive, keyword-rich names (e.g., charleston-wedding-catering.jpg).
• Add alt text that clearly describes the image and naturally includes relevant local keywords.
• Use images to target specific service keywords and locations.

This simple update improves accessibility and enhances your website marketing by attracting organic image search traffic.

Your Google Business Profile is one of the most powerful tools in local SEO, and often one of the most neglected.

Common Mistake:

Failing to claim, complete, or update your business profile.

Fix:

• Claim and verify your listing via Google Business.
• Fill out every detail: hours, services, location, phone number, business description, and website link.
• Add high-quality photos and make regular posts to stay active.
• Use local, keyword-rich descriptions (e.g., “Charleston event venue for weddings and parties”).

A complete profile is essential if you want to rank on Google, especially for local “near me” searches.

Google favors websites that stay active. If your content hasn’t changed in months, search engines may view your business as inactive. This can push you down in search rankings.

Common Mistake:

Keeping the same homepage or blog posts live without updates.

Fix:

• Start a blog with local tips, service updates, or industry news.
• Refresh service pages seasonally or when new offerings launch.
• Regularly update older posts with new stats or more relevant keywords.

Fresh content is a cornerstone of how to do SEO well. It also creates new opportunities to rank for location-based searches.

Google gives you a free tool to monitor your site’s SEO performance–Google Search Console–yet many businesses never use it.

Common Mistake:

Not setting it up or reviewing search data.

Fix:

• Set up Google Search Console and verify your site.
• Use it to:
• Submit your sitemap
• Find and fix crawl or indexing issues
• Track keywords people use to find your site
• Improve pages with low click-through rates (CTR)

Using Search Console helps you understand how to rank on Google by showing what’s working–and what’s not.

Broken links hurt both user experience and your SEO score. Google sees them as signs of a poorly maintained website.

Common Mistake:

Leaving outdated or broken internal and external links live on your site.

Fix:

• Use tools like Broken Link Checker or Google Search Console to scan your site.
• Replace or update broken links.
• Set up 301 redirects for removed pages to preserve link equity.

This is one of the most basic but important website optimization tips. Clean links keep your site user-friendly and trustworthy to search engines.

A well-crafted meta description doesn’t directly boost rankings, but it increases clicks–which does affect your SEO.

Common Mistake:

Leaving meta descriptions blank or using the same one across pages.

Fix:

• Write a unique meta description for every page (under 160 characters).
• Include local keywords naturally (e.g., “Charleston web design for small businesses”).
• Make them persuasive. Think of them as your mini-ad on Google’s results page.

Better meta descriptions = higher CTR = better chance to rank on Google.

Trying to rank for broad terms like “plumber” or “restaurant” puts you up against nationwide competition. Instead, optimize for local search terms that bring in high-intent traffic.

Common Mistake:

Not including Charleston-specific or neighborhood-based keywords in content.

Fix:

• Add specific location terms (e.g., “Mount Pleasant real estate agent” or “Downtown Charleston florist”) to your titles, headers, and page copy.
• Use tools like Ubersuggest or Google Keyword Planner to find local keyword ideas.
• Create location-specific service pages to dominate niche searches.

This is one of the most important website marketing moves for businesses that serve a defined geographic area.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed or unsure where to start, you’re not alone. SEO can seem technical, but at its core, it’s about showing up where your customers are looking.

At Perlee Digital, we help Charleston businesses improve their visibility, increase traffic, and convert clicks into customers. From local SEO to complete site audits, we’ll show you exactly how to do SEO without the jargon or overwhelm.

Ready to improve your site?

Schedule a free SEO check-up with Perlee Digital today and get a personalized action plan with powerful website optimization options designed just for your business.

Let’s get your Charleston business where it belongs–at the top of Google.