We marketers like to praise SEO (search engine optimisation) for its amazing effects, and how crucial it is in the world of digital marketing. But, unless your small business deals with it on a daily basis, we get why you may not think it’s that great.
SEO refers to the process of getting web pages in top shape so that search engines like Google and Yahoo can rank the best ones on their SERPs (search engine result pages). So, SEO includes various tactics that can help business owners reach to their target audience, improve their search ranking, and increase traffic.
But that’s all theory. Let’s see how SEO can help you grow your business.
SEO and Businesses
You don’t have to tell a business owner competition is tough. Things get increasingly difficult in the digital world. You’re not competing only with companies in your niche, but you could be potentially be competing with hundreds of websites from all around the world. And all of them have the same target audience as yours.
Enter search engine optimisation which, if done correctly, can help you increase traffic. Allow us to explain:
- People usually won’t look at the second page of the search engine results, so it’s critical for your website to get at least on the first page. In our experience, results are better if you make it to top five, since after that people tend to retype their query with different keywords;
- Users trust that Google and Bing are showing them reliable sources, so getting top rank is also a matter of establishing trust with new prospects;
- SEO improves the general performance of your website, from its speed to the quality of the content, so your existing customers can also benefit from your SEO strategy;
The list can go on as you go more into the specifics of SEO, but these are the main benefits of having a good SEO strategy for your business. The popularity of the internet is not slowing down, and people turn to it for a lot of their needs: information, entertainment, acquisitional, and others. And with the people, come the other businesses too.
And you should know, many businesses are spending big bucks on SEO. They have to because otherwise they can lose rank, which will hurt everything from their website traffic to their sales.
SEO Means Organic Growth
SEO can help businesses improve their search engine position organically, meaning without the use of paid advertising. Now, it’s not to say SEO is entirely free, either. Certain modifications may require you to spend a few bucks, whether it’s hiring a writer to have better content, or buying a new template for your website’s layout that’s better suited for your business.
But, the effects generally do pay off because SEO is an investment for the long-run. So, if you’re building a business for the future, here’s how SEO can help:
1. It Improves Your Conversion Rate
It’s one thing to get more people to visit your website, but converting them is a different story altogether. Increasing traffic can be done even by running an ad on Facebook, but if you also expect those extra visitors to do something (buy, download, watch, etc.), then you need a good SEO strategy.
SEO will improve not only your rank in search engine results, but your website as well. That can translate into a seamless user experience, persuading visitors to spend more time exploring your site and converting. The more time people spend on your site, the lower the bounce rate. The lower the bounce rate, the higher your position in SERP. Everything is connected when it comes to SEO.
2. The Word of Mouth Factor
Years ago, the word of mouth factor looked like this: someone bought something from a store and was so pleased with it that they started telling all their friends about it during picnics and family reunions. And then, those people went and bought that product or service as well. Some of those may have told their friends as well, and so on.
Today, people find out about great products and awesome deals through social media. Your customers like to do their research and see if a certain business is worth their while. SEO can help you prove to them that you are the answer to their needs by stressing the ideas of quality and dependability, thus forming a relationship with them from the get-go. Then, they can start interacting with you on social media and get a direct link to your business. If they are happy with the solution you provided, they will start recommending you to their friends or followers. You, in turn, get a community others might want to join.
3. Brand Awareness
SEO can also be a way to shoot two birds with one stone. Because a lot of its methods involve increasing SERP rank, you can also push for more brand awareness. Even if people don’t click on your site, it’s still essential for them to see your name.
The more they see it, the more familiar they become with your brand. These users are a lot easier to convert than those that never heard of you because the relationship they have with a business isn’t at zero.
Back to You
Going back to the reason why you’re here: yes, SEO can significantly help your business, but its effects depend on the SEO strategy you have.
If you are ready to invest in SEO, then we can help with that. Contact Australian Internet Advertising now for the best SEO solution for your business!