SEO for nonprofits can feel like a maze—so many directions to go and a lot of conflicting advice. It’s easy to assume you need to be publishing constantly or diving deep into technical details just to get noticed, but nonprofit SEO doesn’t have to be complicated to be effective.

With a few clear strategies, nonprofits can boost visibility, connect with the right audiences, and make their mission easier to find online. The first step? Letting go of a few common myths that tend to hold teams back.

What to Know About Nonprofit SEO

SEO is all about helping your organization show up when people search for topics related to your mission. Whether someone’s looking for a place to volunteer, a cause to support, or services in their community, strong SEO helps you get found.

The difference for nonprofits? You’re often working with limited resources, small teams, and a unique mix of audiences—donors, volunteers, and the communities you serve. That means your SEO strategy needs to be intentional, flexible, and focused on the efforts that will have the greatest impact.

5 Common Nonprofit SEO Myths

#1: “We Don’t Have Enough Content for SEO”

The reality: You don’t need a giant content library or a full-time content team to make progress with SEO. In fact, one of the best things you can do is focus on a few high-impact pages that clearly explain who you are and what you do.

Try this: Start with a mix of evergreen content, like blog posts, website pages, or other materials, that reflect your mission and answer common questions. Aim to include content that informs, builds trust, and connects with your audience on a deeper level.

• “What We Do”
• “How to Get Involved”
• “Why Your Donation Matters”

Don’t feel the pressure to crank out a new blog every week. Instead, focus on writing content that answers the key questions your audience is searching for. Then, revisit and update your existing pages regularly to keep them fresh and relevant. By doing this, you ensure that your content stays impactful for both search engines and your audience, building long-term traffic without the need for constant new posts.

#2: “SEO is All About Keywords”

The reality: Stuffing your content with keywords won’t help your rankings, and it definitely won’t help your readers. Search engines are evolving to prioritize content that answers real questions, not just content that fills the keyword quota. 

Try this: Start with what people are actually searching for. Are they looking to donate? Volunteer? Learn more about an issue you address? Let that intent shape your content.

Include relevant keywords where they make sense, especially in headlines and subheadings. Instead of forcing them in, the terms people are likely to search for should show up naturally as you answer their questions and tell your story.

#3: “Technical SEO is Too Hard”

The reality: While technical SEO can get complex, most nonprofits don’t need to dive into the deep end. There are some basic fixes that can make a big difference, with no coding knowledge required.

Try this: 

Focus on the easy wins:

• Mobile responsiveness: Make sure your website looks good and works well on phones and tablets. 
• Image compression: Large image files can slow down your site, but there are plenty of free tools available to help you compress them without losing quality.
• Broken links: Over time, links break, and broken links hurt your credibility (and your rankings). Tools like Screaming Frog or even a free Google Search Console account can help you spot and fix them.

Improving these small details can enhance user experience, keep visitors on your site longer, and signal to search engines that your site is trustworthy and well-maintained.

#4: “Backlinks are Impossible to Get”

The reality: Backlinks (links from other sites to yours) are still a big deal in SEO. But earning them isn’t as hard as it sounds, especially for nonprofits.

In fact, nonprofits often have an advantage. You’re mission-driven, community-focused, and likely doing work that others want to support or amplify. That makes your content naturally linkable.

Try this:

• Reach out to local media outlets or blogs when you have a big event or success story.
• Build relationships with partner organizations that might feature your work on their sites.
• Ask volunteers or board members with personal blogs or networks to mention your organization.
• Publish press releases or thought leadership pieces that show your expertise and invite collaboration.

These efforts can snowball over time, leading to a more diverse backlink profile and stronger domain authority.

#5: “We Don’t Need to Worry About Local SEO”

The reality: Whether you're a neighborhood nonprofit or a national organization, local SEO still matters. It’s easy to overlook if you don’t have a physical storefront or serve multiple regions. However, people often search with location in mind, such as “volunteer opportunities near me” or “food bank in [city name].” Making sure your nonprofit shows up in those searches is key to connecting with the right people.

Try this:

• Claim and optimize your Google Business Profile. Add your hours, a description of what you do, contact info, and photos. It’s free—and incredibly valuable.
• Use city or region-specific keywords on event pages, service descriptions, and volunteer sign-up forms. Even just adding a phrase like “in Milwaukee” or “across Southeast Minnesota” helps search engines understand where you operate.
• Encourage local reviews from volunteers, donors, or partners. These testimonials build credibility and improve your chances of showing up in map results.

Local SEO can also support your outreach and fundraising efforts, helping new supporters find you right when they’re looking for ways to get involved.

Keep Nonprofit SEO Simple and Strategic

At the end of the day, nonprofit SEO doesn’t need to be overwhelming. The goal isn’t to become an overnight expert, it’s to build a strong foundation that helps people discover your mission.

By focusing on the right areas—like creating evergreen content, writing with intent, making a few technical tweaks, earning backlinks, and boosting local visibility—you’ll set your organization up for long-term visibility and success online.

And if you ever need a hand turning those SEO insights into action, Lake One is here to help.