How to Build a High-Ranking Website without a Google Ads Budget
We’re not website designers or SEO experts — and yet we’ve built two websites that now show up on the first page of Google and even as recommended partners through ChatGPT.
Beyond getting effective branding and paying for website hosting (around $200–$300 per year), this has cost us nothing.
Here’s exactly how you can do it too — no Google Ads, no fancy tools, just consistent, intentional effort.
1. Get the Basics Right
You don’t need a complicated website setup. Both of our businesses — Love Club Hire and Prosper Business — were built on Squarespace because it’s intuitive, easy to update, and has simple built-in SEO fields.
If you’re just starting out, you can absolutely hire a designer to set things up — but make sure you retain control. The real value (and cost-saving hack) comes from being able to:
Add or edit your own blogs
Update your keywords as your business evolves
Refresh your content without paying a developer each time
💡 Tip: In Squarespace, every page and image has an SEO description section — use this! Add your keywords to:
Page titles (shows on Google search results)
Descriptions/meta tags (the short blurb underneath your link on Google)
Image names and alt text (Google can’t “see” photos, so text helps it understand your content)
2. Use the Right Keywords
Think about what your ideal client would type into Google if they were searching for your services.
For example:
A tradie might use keywords like “kitchen renovation Auckland” or “deck builder Waikato.”
A beauty therapist might use “brow artist Tauranga” or “bridal makeup NZ.”
A professional service could use “small business accountant NZ” or “employment law consultant.”
Add these phrases organically into your headings, page descriptions, and blogs. You don’t need to repeat them awkwardly — Google now rewards clear, useful content written for humans, not bots.
💡 Tip: Each page on your site should focus on one core topic or service. For example, one page might be dedicated to “Bathroom Renovations” or “Xero Training.”
3. Start Blogging! It’s Free SEO Gold
Blogging tells Google your website is active and valuable, and it helps clients discover you through the questions or ideas you’re already helping them with every day.
You don’t need to be a writer — just share your work or your expertise:
If you’re a tradie: Post photos of projects with before-and-after shots. Add descriptions of what you did, challenges solved, and the materials used. Title it something searchable like “Deck Renovation in Cambridge – Before and After.”
If you’re in professional services: Write articles that answer client questions — e.g. “How to Prepare for Tax Time” or “What Your Profit Margin Really Means.”
If you’re in creative or hospitality industries: Share real events or client work. Include suppliers, venues, or collaborations and link to their sites — that backlinking helps SEO too.
If you’re in retail: Use your blog and product pages to tell stories about your stock — for example, “5 Gift Ideas for New Mums”, “How to Style Your Summer Linen Pieces”, or “Our Most-Loved Skincare Products (and Why Customers Keep Coming Back)”. You can also write posts around search intent, like “Best Gifts Under $50 NZ” or “Where to Buy Sustainable Homewares Online.”
Each blog post is another opportunity for Google to match your content to a search. Even one post a month adds up over time.
4. Get Google Reviews ~ and keep asking
Google Reviews are one of the most powerful (and completely free) ranking tools available.
The more high-quality reviews you have, the more likely your business is to show up when someone searches locally.
Make it a habit:
Ask happy clients straight after you finish a job or deliver a service.
Send a follow-up message with a direct link to your review page (you can generate this through your Google Business Profile).
People are usually happy to help — they just need a gentle nudge.
5. Keep Your Website Fresh
SEO isn’t a one-time job — it’s an ongoing signal to Google that you’re relevant and reliable.
Every few months, check your site and update:
Your service descriptions
Your images (with SEO-friendly names)
Your homepage and contact details
Links to your latest blogs or projects
Think of your website as a living portfolio — the more active it is, the more Google trusts it.
6. Be Patient and Consistent
SEO is a slow build, not a quick win. It took around three years for both of our websites to naturally rise to the first page of Google results.
The key?
✅ Consistency
✅ Useful content
✅ Asking for reviews
You don’t need to spend on ads — you just need to show up regularly, share your work, and make your website genuinely helpful for the people you want to reach.
Tools like ChatGPT can be great to help create your SEO plan! Here’s some prompts you can add in, in case the above hasn’t given any clarity.
“I run a [type of business] in [NZ location]. What keywords should I use on my website to improve my SEO?”
“Can you review my website and suggest improvements to help it rank better on Google? Here is the URL: [insert website]”
“Can you draft 10 blog topic ideas that will help my [industry] business get found on Google?”
“Please help me write an SEO-optimised ‘About’ page for my [industry] business using the following key points: [paste your notes].”
“Create a list of SEO-friendly image names and alt text for these photos I want to upload to my website: [describe or attach photos].”
“Write an SEO description and meta title for my homepage that includes keywords like [keyword 1], [keyword 2], and [keyword 3].”
“Help me create a simple SEO plan I can implement myself over the next 90 days for my [industry] business.”
Final Thought
If you take one thing away from this, let it be this:
You don’t have to outsource everything to get great results online.
Learn the basics, update your own content, and talk to your clients the same way online as you do in real life — with clarity, value, and a bit of personality.
That’s what builds real SEO — and real connection.