Website, SEO or social media — what should a small business do first?

There are three parts to being found and chosen online: a website people trust, visibility in Google and AI assistants, and an active social media presence. You don't have to do all three at once. Here's how to pick.

Step 1: Is your website OK?

Open your website on your phone and answer honestly:

• Can you tell within five seconds what the business does, for whom and where?
• Are prices, opening hours and contact details easy to find and correct?
• Does it load quickly and look like it's from this decade?

If the answer to any of these is no — or you don't have a website — start with the website. Everything else (Google, AI assistants, your Instagram bio) sends people there. That's Coder Bob's job (coming soon).

Step 2: Do people find you?

Search Google for what you sell in your area, and ask ChatGPT the same question. Are you named? If not, you're invisible to the people who don't already know you. That's where SEO Joe starts: he checks both, tells you why, and fixes what he can.

Step 3: Do they remember you?

Social media keeps you in people's minds between purchases, shows you're active, and gives new customers a feel for who you are. If your last post was months ago, AI Annie gets you back to a steady rhythm in an afternoon.

Then add the next one

The crew works best together: Bob builds the site, Joe gets it found, Annie gets it talked about. Read how the crew works together for the full picture.