SEO in 2026 is still about the basics I’ve championed since ‘98—be helpful, be authentic, and keep it honest. If you want to rank without gaming the system, here’s how I’m doing it:
🌟 My “Human-First” Playbook
- Experience is Everything: Google wants to see real life. Whether it’s my own photography or the expertise I’ve built over decades, I make sure the “who” behind the content is front and center.
- Cut the Fluff: I write to answer the user’s question immediately. I use clear headings and concise language—if an AI can’t figure out what the page is about in five seconds, it’s not written well enough.
- Topic Clusters: I build around pillar pages. It’s about being the authority on a subject, not just chasing a single keyword.
- Optimize for How People Search: People are using voice and AI-assisted search more than ever. I write naturally, like I’m talking to someone over a coffee in Plymouth at Derriford centre on Bravo Way in Plymouth
🛠 The Technical Toolkit
- Speed is Non-Negotiable: My sites have to be lightning-fast. I use Gutenberg for my WordPress websites—it’s so easy, and it keeps things lean and clean. 20i Hosting is my absolute favourite and I’m not leaving …. ever!
- Schema Markup: I treat this as my secret weapon. It’s how I tell the search engines exactly what my content is without guessing.
- Google Business Profile: This is the local bread and butter. I keep mine pristine, updated with my own fresh photos, and always responsive. Remember … “Never ever try and cheat Google”
- Service Pages are Priority #1: I make sure these are bulletproof before I even think about writing a blog post.
🚀 The “No-Nonsense” Reality
- Authentic Copy: I use AI as an assistant to get me started, but the final polish is 100% mine. People—and search engines—can spot a generic machine-written post a mile away.
- Quality Over Quantity: I’d rather spend all day perfecting one deep, valuable article than churn out ten pieces of “SEO-optimized” AI trash.
- Local Impact: My SEO isn’t just about rankings; it’s about giving back to Plymouth. If a business needs help, I do the work, and the fee goes straight to
- St Luke’s Hospice or the Primrose Foundation at Derriford Hospital.
How’s your own site build progressing today?
I help local business in and around Plymouth, Devon, UK