There are many benefits of SEO, but to understand them, you need to first understand the definition of SEO. It stands for search engine optimization, which is an umbrella phrase for all the actions it takes to make a website rank on the first page of search engines. This brings us to one of the top benefits of SEO – it lets the modern consumer know you exist.
93 percent of all online activity starts with a search engine, and Google is by far the most popular search engine. Today’s consumer has grown accustomed to near-infinite information at their fingertips. Before they make a purchasing decision, they often head to Google to find out which options are out there, as well as the features and benefits of each option. Creating SEO content that answers the questions your target audience is typing into the search bar is how you get on the first page for the right keywords.
Another one of the key benefits of SEO is it provides a way for smaller and newer businesses to compete against the established players in their industries. We’ll talk more about specific benefits for small businesses later, but one key benefit is it allows local businesses to target the people closest to their business. An SEO company in Orange County, for example, would want business owners within the Orange County area to be the primary source of traffic to their website. This is because they are the most likely to hire this SEO company.
There are a couple of other benefits of SEO, which will be discussed in the context of answering the question on some of your minds: Why do we need SEO as a business?
Why do we Need SEO?
As we talked about above, the buying journey of today’s consumer starts with search engines. One of the benefits of SEO is that the consumer’s reliance on search engines gives more access to their true needs and problems more than any other tool. This is where keyword research comes into play.
SEO professionals use keyword research tools that give them the number of people searching a keyword or phrase in a particular area or region. It allows them to see which questions are being asked the most, which is then used to build a content strategy.
If you don’t use SEO, your business will never get discovered online. Even niche industries have thousands of businesses competing for digital attention. The only way to differentiate yourself from the pack is through creating quality content on a consistent basis. Good SEO writing focuses on answering the questions members of your audience are using search engines to answer. Answer enough of these questions and it increases the trust level for your brand.
Today, good SEO also requires a strong social media presence on at least Facebook and Twitter. They are key platforms for building relationships and establishing your brand as a trusted source of information. If you do social right, the links you put in your posts will generate a ton of qualified traffic to your website. Build relationships with both key influencers and potential customers in your niche to get your content amplified. Are you still not convinced of the benefits of SEO? Let’s look at how SEO helps in marketing.
How SEO Helps in Marketing
SEO is a foundational part of a holistic digital marketing strategy. It has an effect on content marketing, social media marketing, paid advertising, and email marketing. SEO also affects each section of the sales funnel.
The top of the sales funnel is fed through efforts to increase the search ranking of the various pages on your website. Leads get drawn in by educational content that directly answers the question they typed into the search bar. Qualified leads also are able to discover your “money” pages through search engines if you have good SEO. These are the pages where visitors can buy your product or service. The quality of the writing on these money pages has the power to turn these visitors into paying customer.
SEO also helps when it comes to the art of self-marketing. Today’s consumer gravitates towards brands who have a CEO with personality. They like the idea of being able to consume content online directly from these executives. A good SEO strategy allows you to establish yourself as an expert in your industry.
The Benefits of SEO for Small Businesses
SEO is a marketing tool that helps level the playing field between small businesses and large corporations. One of the benefits of SEO for small businesses is it gives them an avenue for penetrating the minds of their target audience.
Large corporations dominate traditional advertising mediums. The organic search results are where small businesses and local businesses have a chance to compete. SEO can help establish the business owner as a local or regional expert, which will help them dominate their niche at a local level.
A strong SEO strategy also helps small businesses get traffic from people who are actually within their area of operation. They use local SEO techniques to attract local web traffic. The benefits of SEO for local businesses are the same as any other business. This is even true if the business doesn’t actually sell anything online. SEO efforts will increase both foot traffic and web traffic.
This article merely scratches the surface of the benefits of SEO to your business. Schedule a consultation with a business coach to learn more about how a well-crafted and executed SEO strategy is the key to dominating your niche.