With the widespread use of digital channels to conduct research about any business prior to engaging with it, the face of marketing is changing. Mobile phones have become an invaluable resource for consumers in their purchase processes. Whenever a user conducts a search on Google or other search engine, an algorithm comes into action to provide the person the most relevant results related to his search. And for businesses interested in falling on the first page of the search results, an effective Search Engine Optimization (SEO) strategy is a must.
With as much as 93 percent of online experiences starting with search engines, a well-designed SEO strategy is more important than ever in setting yourself apart from the competition. Here are eight reasons why SEO is necessary for businesses.
1. Organic Search is the Primary Source of Website Traffic
A big part of the business website performance and a critical component of buyer funnel, organic search is ultimately driving engagement or conversion. Businesses want to rank high for the keywords relevant to the niche. When consumers search for those keywords, they can find you right at the top to click on.
For Google, 18 percent of organic clicks go to the number one result while 10 percent goes to the second. Thus, the higher you rank, more traffic you get. This is a great way to spread brand awareness among potential customers and help them find what they need, eventually leading to increased traffic and growth of your business.
2. SEO Builds Trust & Credibility
The goal of SEO is to establish a robust foundation for a well-designed website with a clean and efficient user experience that is easily discoverable in searches. A majority of web users skip the paid ads and focus on organic results. Investing in SEO to get high ranking gets you pre-sold customers for the business.
A website optimized for high search ranking is packed with relevant content that drives sales. Such high-end content together with authoritative ranking works wonders for a business. A good SEO strategy gives a positive feeling for your brand before they dig in for more information.
3. Your Competitors are Already Doing It
Just like you, your competitors are vying for the top spots in organic search results. Thus, if your business is fortunate enough to acquire a decent ranking, you should not be too comfortable because you should work constantly to maintain that position. Moreover, you need not fear big names in your industry.
Small businesses often end up ranking on the top spots in the organic search results as long as their SEO is implemented properly. There are only ten positions on the first page of Google, Yahoo, Bing and other search engines. When you search for the relevant keywords, you find that there are millions of other sites competing for those ten spots. Moreover, new websites are launched every day and older ones are improved.
4. It’s Here to Stay
Phone books are long gone and television and radio have their own role in the marketplace of today but they are not so powerful like a search engine ranking. SEO is a smart decision for any business and there is no sign of this trend changing anytime soon.
It is never too late for any business to enter this game as the importance of SEO will only increase with time. Best SEO strategies will continue evolving and this is why it is important to stay updated on the latest trends to increase your chances of staying at the top spot.
5. It is Measurable
Though SEO doesn’t offer easy to calculate ROI such as paid search, it is possible to track anything with appropriate tracking and analysis. A good SEO is aimed at improving how different actions affect each other and hence it is easier to connect the dots on the back end. Brands always want to know where they stand and where they are going in terms of digital performance.
This is specifically true when it comes to paying a person to execute it on their behalf. It is really easy to see the success of SEO. Improved search engine ranking and increased traffic clearly show how successful your SEO is.
6. SEO is Relatively Cheap
All the good things cost money. But SEO is comparatively cheap when considering today’s marketplace. The payoff the brand gets in terms of bottom line and benefits are certainly considerable.
It isn’t a marketing cost but a business investment that gives long-term results. The more time, effort and budget committed to the SEO implementation, the better a website stands to get attention and visibility.
7. Good SEO Means Better User Experience
While all of us want better organic ranking and optimum visibility, few realize that optimal user experience is the key. Google has learned interpreting a good and a bad user experience and it has become a vital element for the success of a website. Today, customers know what they exactly want and if they can’t find it, performance and success of the business will suffer.
An example of building a positive user experience is Google’s powerful engine that offers sought-after information directly on the SERPs for the user. It intends to offer the information they are looking for in a quick and easy way. An effective SEO strategy incorporates a positive user experience, favoring the brand indirectly.
8. You Don’t Want to Lose Mobile Traffic
With more and more people viewing the web through mobile devices than desktop browsers, local SEO is getting highly important. Local SEO aims at optimizing your business for a specific location so that people can find you easily and quickly, bringing them closer to the transaction.
SEO experts use optimization of Knowledge Graph Panel, Google My Business Listing and social media profiles to promote user engagement on the local level. As local searches focus on towns, cities, states and regions to establish medium to spread brand awareness on a local level, SEO pros optimize the website and content with local citations, backlinks and local listings relevant to the business sector and location.
Conclusion
Implementing a strong and effective SEO for a business website and its digital properties is always advantageous for the brand and its efforts. This marketing technique is critical to a brand’s presence in this age, particularly when data and competition continue to grow.
