Simplifying Search Engine Optimization and It’s Purpose
SEO— these three little letters sound more like a rare disease than a marketing tool, but if you’re a business owner with a digital presence, you’ll want to know what they mean for your company. Managed properly, SEO can increase the visibility of your brand, connect you with new potential clients, and give you an edge over your competitors. However, before you can take advantage of SEO you need to understand it…
…SO…
What the heck is SEO?
The acronym SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization, which basically amounts to how the content on your website is understood by the algorithms of search engines such as Google, Yahoo, or Bing and accordingly where your website will rank in the search results of anyone looking for topics related to your business. A simpler way to word it is that SEO strategy centers around producing content for your website that provides clear details of what your business does; search engines will reward this clarity and detail by elevating your business in the search results, thus making you easier for consumers to find. Another important fact to understand is that SEO is intended to increase the traffic on your website organically and long-term, as opposed to pay-per-click services which may only boost your ranking temporarily.
Okay… so why does that matter for me and my business?
It’s always best to explain the impact of SEO using a real life scenario. Consider the last time you went on the web to search for a product or service you needed; when the list of search results appeared, you probably browsed through the first few listings, and depending on your personality you might have even ventured onto the second page of results. However, statistically, it’s doubtful that you went any further than that. According to one resource, “75% of people never scroll past the first page of search results.*” Considering the fact that in 2019, over 40,000 people perform a search every second, that’s 30,000 people per second that are never looking at websites that rank beyond page one. If you’re serious about marketing your business, establishing an SEO strategy and taking the time to ensure your website is performing favorably against search engine algorithms is one of the biggest first steps you can take.
Okay, you convinced me. I need help with SEO… where do I start?
Much like acting as your own attorney, performing dental work on yourself, or cutting your own hair, managing your own SEO is not highly recommended. Unless you’re an absolute expert on search engine technology and web design (if you’re still reading this that’s most likely not the case), you should probably start your SEO plan by hiring a reputable digital marketing firm to help you out. Partnering with a reliable company, although an investment on the front end, will ensure you are obtaining the best results from your SEO which will inevitably increase your business.
Credit for Citations:
1. (https://junto.digital/blog/seo-stats/)
