What is SEO?
Search engine optimization or ‘SEO’ is a key Web marketing tactic for any business.
SEO can be used to help business owners create fast, robust, and user-friendly websites that rank higher in search engines such as Google, Bing, YouTube… Creating higher visibility, which in turn brings in potential customers and ultimately increases sales.
SEO also helps build brand awareness as search engine users are more likely to trust a site that is on the first page of search engine results pages (SERPs) than brands who are not.
Think of the last time you searched Google for something. For example, a Maintenance Firm… chances are you spent time looking at the ones on the first page as we deem these to be more credible and relevant to our search.
If you’re a small business owner or new business, you should be looking to utilize SEO to build a strong web presence. To be more accessible than your competition to gain new customers and step up your business.
Also Read: What is Digital Marketing?
How can SEO help your business?
- SEO creates an improved user-friendly experience
Everyone wants better organic rankings and the greatest visibility. Fewer people realise that creating an optimal user experience is a big part of getting there.
Google (with 75% share or search engines) has learned how to interpret a great or not so great user experience. The ‘positive user experience’ has become a pivotal element to a website’s success. Consumers know what they want if they can’t find it easily Search engines recognise this could be a problem.
Good, structured, clean, and uncluttered websites encourage visitors to stay on them. Relevant content (sales pages and blog articles) keeps you readers happy, they are more likely to solve answers to their questions, solve their pressing issues and helps them find exactly what they’re looking for on your site.
- SEO lands you more customers
Key goals for any website are to get more business. SEO optimised ones bring more customers and grow twice as quickly as those that are not. Your site is geared towards attracting the very people who are actively seeking what you offer!
SEO is the most efficient and affordable marketing strategy that exists today. Once those new customers are on your site (and it’s user-friendly) they will be more likely to become loyal, repeat customers (win, win!)
- SEO increases Brand awareness alongside trust and credibility
Brand loyalty and authority take time and effort to achieve, but with help from a sound, well-thought-out SEO strategy, it will happen faster.
When your site appears on the first page of major search engines your potential customers are more likely to trust your brand over brands with a weak presence. You’ll also find credibility starts to increase over time as a result of the likes of quality backlinks, positive user behaviour and content that is optimised to make it into the Featured Snippets.
- Outperform the Competition
If you don’t optimise your website, you will simply not be able to compete.
Imagine the internet is like the high street and it’s your shop window. You have 2 shops selling the same thing. One has bright, clear, eye-catching displays and signage with smiling knowledgeable staff. The other has no signage, no smiley staff no enticing displays… It goes unnoticed. The money is being spent at the other store.
Get support, get optimised and reap the rewards over your competitors
Our Top Tips on SEO for your business
Learn what it takes. You need to know the strong, valuable keywords and phrases and by links back to your website from elsewhere.
Enlist professional help. This drastically improves your business potential. An external team can dedicate themselves to promoting your online presence
Read success stories. SEO is highly quantifiable with a great return on ROI. When choosing where to go for your SEO you need look for results. It’s a good indication of what will work for you.
Make SEO a priority. We know business owners are busy but if you want a return on your website this needs to be top of the list
