How to optimise your site for SEO
Artefact handles the technical SEO basics automatically. Here's how to go further and increase your chances of ranking for the searches your customers are doing.
Basic SEO is included on all plans. Some features require Core or Pro.
Step-by-step
- 1
Understand what Artefact does automatically
Every Artefact site gets: a structured HTML document, meta title and description tags, Open Graph tags (for social sharing), a sitemap.xml file, robots.txt, fast global hosting, and mobile-responsive design. These are the foundations Google looks for.
- 2
Customise your SEO title and description
Go to Settings → SEO. Set a specific meta title (under 60 characters) and meta description (under 160 characters) that include your main keyword. For example: 'Mobile Dog Grooming in Austin, TX | Bella's Pet Grooming' and 'Professional mobile dog grooming serving Austin and surrounding areas. Calm, experienced, insured. Book online or call today.'
- 3
Make sure your page content mentions your location and service
Google needs to understand what you do and where. Make sure your homepage copy clearly states your city or neighbourhood, your service type, and who you serve. Ask the AI: 'Add Austin, TX to the hero section and make sure the copy mentions mobile grooming at least twice'.
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Connect a custom domain
Sites on custom domains (yourbusiness.com) rank significantly better than subdomain links (yourbusiness.artefact.bz). Connect your domain through Settings → Custom domain if you haven't already.
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Submit your site to Google Search Console
Go to search.google.com/search-console, verify your site (Artefact makes this easy — there's a DNS verification option), and submit your sitemap (yourdomain.com/sitemap.xml). This tells Google your site exists and gets it indexed faster.
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Set up a Google Business Profile
For local businesses, a Google Business Profile (google.com/business) is often more powerful than your website for local search. Add your Artefact URL to your profile. Customers who find you on Google Maps click through to your site.
- 7
Add content that answers customer questions
Add a FAQ section to your site covering the questions your customers actually ask. Ask the AI: 'Add a FAQ section covering the top 5 questions customers ask about mobile dog grooming in Austin'. FAQ content is extremely good for SEO — Google often surfaces it directly in search results.
Tips & best practices
- ▸Local SEO tip: Mention nearby neighbourhoods and landmarks in your copy, not just your city. 'Serving South Austin, Buda, and Kyle' captures searches from those areas.
- ▸Speed matters: Artefact sites are fast by default. Don't add large images or third-party scripts that slow things down.
- ▸Reviews help: Encourage happy customers to leave a Google review. Businesses with more reviews rank higher in local search.
- ▸Consistency matters: Make sure your business name, address, and phone number are identical on your website, Google Business Profile, and any other directory listings.
Common questions
How long does it take to rank on Google?
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New sites typically take 2–6 months to start appearing in search results. Local searches (e.g. 'dog groomer near me') often rank faster than broad terms. Be patient and focus on creating accurate, useful content.
Does Artefact submit my site to Google automatically?
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Artefact generates a sitemap for your site, but you'll get indexed faster by submitting it manually through Google Search Console. It takes about 5 minutes.
Should I use keywords in my business description?
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Yes, but naturally. Write for your customers first — Google is very good at understanding context. Don't keyword-stuff ('affordable affordable dog grooming Austin dog grooming'). Just be specific about what you do and where.
What is a meta description and does it affect rankings?
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A meta description is the snippet of text that appears under your site title in Google results. It doesn't directly affect rankings but it does affect click-through rate — a good description gets more people to click on your result.