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Making SEO Common Sense: What Google Really Wants from Website Owners

For many small business owners, SEO feels like an intimidating maze of rules, jargon, and conflicting advice. In this episode of the podcast, Meredith’s Husband breaks down why SEO isn’t as complex as it seems—and how shifting your perspective to think like Google can make the whole process far more manageable.

Why SEO Feels Confusing

Much of the confusion comes from the SEO industry itself. Over the years, agencies and “gurus” have made SEO sound mysterious to encourage businesses to outsource. But at its core, SEO aligns with common sense: help users get the information they need quickly and easily.

Three Myths About SEO

During the discussion, three major myths are called out:

• A technically perfect website is necessary.

  You don’t need a flawless SEMrush score of 100—just “good enough.” A score of 92+ typically places a site in the top 10%. Google values usefulness over perfection.

• Secret keyword placements matter.

  There are no hidden spots to game the algorithm. What matters is placing keywords naturally in ways that help users quickly understand a page’s purpose.

• Trickery can boost rankings.

  Old practices like hidden text or keyword stuffing may have worked years ago but now lead to short-lived gains at best. Google rewards trust, authority, and helpfulness, not manipulation.

What Google Actually Wants

Google has been clear: their highest priority is delivering information as quickly and easily as possible. Sites with expertise, authority, and clarity will always have the advantage.

Practical Takeaways: Title Tags & Headings

Two of the most important on-page elements demonstrate this user-first principle:

• Title tags: These don’t appear on your page itself but in Google’s results. They must clearly reflect what the page is about, or users won’t click. Think of them as your most important SEO element.

• Headings (H1, H2, H3): People scan these immediately after images. If your headings are unclear or too “cute,” visitors may leave without understanding the page. Clear, keyword-relevant headings help both users and Google.

By focusing on these fundamentals, website owners can cut through the noise of SEO myths and build long-term results rooted in clarity and usefulness.