As a small business owner, you probably feel like a jack of all trades, but have you thought about why SEO is important for your business survival? From managing your staff to overseeing your finances, you are responsible for everything. Many small business owners often feel like there’s so much to do in the day-to-day operations that Search Engine Optimization (SEO) takes a back seat.
But is that a good idea?
Millions of people are now using Google to find products and services near their location. And 76% of these people visit a business within 24 hours while 28% are guaranteed to make a purchase.
In other words, if you’re not using SEO to optimize your business, you are losing a chunk of paying customers to your competitors.
In this post, you’ll learn what exactly SEO is and why is it crucial for the long-lasting success of your business.
What is SEO?
Search Engine Optimization is the process of tweaking your website to match the algorithm of search engines. In simplest terms, you have to use certain strategies in your website’s content to help prospective customers find you online.
SEO is hands down the most effective – and cheapest – way to connect with customers and improve your website’s ranking on Google.
Search engines, like Google, use hundreds of factors to determine a ranking for a website. These factors include keywords, mobile compatibility, and website speed. If your website is well-optimized according to these factors, it has better odds of being among the top 5-10 results on search engine results pages (SERPs).
SEO increases brand recognition
Why is SEO Critical for Your Business? Now that you know what SEO is, let’s see how it can skyrocket your online visibility and drive more customers to you. The whole point of SEO is to make your website more visible and accessible to search engines while appealing to the users who are using those search engines.
The traffic (people) that goes from a search engine to your website is known as organic traffic. By drawing in organic traffic to your site, your business’ brand recognition goes through the roof.
If you are a new business that’s trying to gain traction in front of a new customer base, this is an incredible opportunity for you. SEO will help your business get in front of those customers who have already determined a need for what you offer but haven’t yet heard of your brand.
SEO generates qualified leads (customers)
As a small business operation, efficiency is the name of the game for you. You don’t have a big advertising budget and you probably don’t want to get bombarded with leads who have no intention of buying.
This is where SEO comes in to save the day – and your money. It directly connects you to qualified customers without the over-the-top ad budget to reach your target audience.
According to a recent study, the number of people using the terms “near me” and “where to buy” to locate businesses have increased by over 200% in the last 3 years. This means there are people out there who are ready to buy your product or services; all you need to do is reach out to them..
SEO levels out the playing field
Maybe you are competing with another business in the same block or a behemoth organization that’s been in business longer than you. For example, let’s say you own a café. How are you planning to compete with the well-known global coffee and fast-food chains without spending a fortune on advertising?
SEO offers a solution. If someone is looking online for a “café nearby”, having an optimized website will allow your case to display within the very same search results where bigger businesses are sharing space.
SEO evens out the playing field and gives your business online visibility that won’t be possible any other way. By driving well-qualified customers to you, SEO can help you capture a piece of the pie from larger competitors.
SEO is cheaper than most other marketing strategies
There is a good reason why 70% of marketers think that SEO is more effective than paid advertising.
Unlike other forms of online marketing, a good SEO campaign can make an impact on your business that will last several years. Whether you are just getting started or you own several businesses, building a strong SEO foundation for your site is crucial to creating an unforgettable presence in your industry.
And the best part is, it won’t cost you an arm and a leg. By hiring an SEO strategist who will organize your site structure and optimize your online content (among other things), you can create a successful business.
The return on investment (ROI) is the biggest advantage of using SEO. Of course, it will be an investment but not much as compared to paid marketing campaigns. Optimizing a business website takes time and skilled staff. Keeping up with algorithm updates, new SEO strategies, and keywords is pretty much a full-time job and require a lot of attention.
Strategies have to be researched, adjusted, and implemented over and over again.
But once you – or your SEO team – put in the work, the rewards will be incredibly high.
SEO will help you win over lifelong customers
One of the vital parts of implementing a successful SEO strategy is improving the user experience. This is why search engines are constantly updating their algorithms and why you must keep up with the changes. Creating high-quality content as a part of your SEO campaign will help users stay engaged, ultimately boosting your website ranking.
Small business owners need to offer a positive user experience (UX) through their website. User experience is one of the factors Google uses in determining a website’s ranking in the SERPs. And the better the UX is, the happier your site visitors will be. This increases the probability of them making a purchase from you.
The Bottom Line
The bottom line is that digital marketing is no longer an “option” – it is an indispensable tool if you wish to gain a competitive advantage in a fiercely challenging marketplace. Search engine optimization (SEO) lies at the heart of any serious digital marketing campaign today. If you are ready to promote your business effectively in the new digital world, it is time for you to reach out and partner with a trusted SEO expert with proven capabilities.
Read our recent blog – Comprehensive Guide to SEO Marketing For Businesses
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