Many business owners shy away from diving into what SEO (search engine optimization) can do for their businesses because they fear it’s too highly technical and expensive to implement. As a business owner with a lot on your plate, learning the ins and outs of SEO may not fit into your packed agenda, but the good news is that you don’t have to spend your time diving into the depths of learning SEO to start reaping the rewards.
Understanding Organic Search
Simply put, SEO is the practice of improving your website in order to rank higher on search result pages like Google, and it’s the lead generator you didn’t know your business needed. Organic (unpaid) search is the leading source of traffic to websites. When a user inputs a keyword (search term) into a search engine, an algorithm determines the order in which results are displayed. SEO is the tool that can put you closer to that top spot on results pages — and the closer you are to the top, the more organic traffic will be directed to your business.
Not only does showing up higher in the search results give you more exposure, it also gives your business more credibility with searchers. Most search engine users know that the further into the search results they go, the less likely it is that the results will be trustworthy or relevant to their search. Using SEO to boost your business out of the dregs of uncredible websites and into the ranks of competitors and established websites can ultimately help you convert site visitors into paying customers.
The Importance of Local
Think about the last time you pulled out your phone and searched “restaurants near me.” The local diner, fast food chain and pizza place showed up in a specific order for you because of the way the search engine’s algorithm interpreted their websites.
Now think about your business. Imagine a potential customer searching for your service or product near them. Wouldn’t it be nice if you were at the top of that list? That’s where SEO comes in, and it’s an easy way to beat out competitors for online leads. SEO can have a large impact at a local level, especially if you are a small or mid-sized business.
This step of searching for a business online highlights an important part of the buyer’s journey: research. Customers do their research before making a purchase, and search engines put the information they need at their fingertips. When a prospective client is doing due diligence on the market for your product or service, SEO can make the difference in determining whether a prospective client sees your business as an option.
Keeping Up With Algorithms
Search engines change their algorithms frequently and with no warning, so your SEO strategy is only as good as the most recent algorithm. That’s why it’s important to have someone in your corner who is constantly monitoring these changes and updates to help your business best your competitors.
Being proactive and informed is the name of the game in SEO, and trying to keep up can be a full-time job. That is why professionals who can regularly reevaluate your SEO can often be helpful; they can make sure your business doesn’t fall too far behind with SEO since catching up can be hard.
Search engine optimization can take your business — and revenue — to new heights by getting your website in front of more prospective customers. Whether you put a few of our tips into action on your own or seek professional help to optimize your website, your bottom line will thank you for it.
