With the global pandemic and the decreased footfall on high streets, having a presence online has quickly become more important than ever.
But if your business is online, that isn’t enough. Competition is rife. You need your customers to be able to find you and choose you over your competition. One of the best ways to do that is by showing up as high as possible on search engines like Google.
So how do you get your website ranked high on Google? There are many factors that will impact your rank, with SEO having a part to play. This article will explain what SEO is and why it is so important for businesses today. We will also look into the benefits and exactly how it can positively hinder your business’ results online.
Table of Contents
Firstly, what is SEO?
SEO stands for Search Engine Optimisation. Good SEO will cause an increase of traffic to your website. This is classed as organic traffic and is essentially a free way to boost your engagement.
When done correctly, it can bring in steady and consistent website views, increasing your brand awareness and, in turn, sales. By focusing on SEO, you should see gradual improvements to your website which can last for years.
Increase Your Website Traffic
Organic search via search engines like Google is where businesses will gain most of their website traffic. SEO will help boost this. Think about how many users search into the likes of Google and Bing per day, they are all potential customers.
Therefore, the higher your website shows up on search queries, the more customers you will reach and can sell to. High-quality websites have the chance to rank on the first few pages of Google, so by improving your website and SEO quality, you can reach thousands of new customers.
Build Trust
SEO is all about quality. With a quality website, quality content and quality user experience, there’s no reason why your website shouldn’t rank high on search engines. This is because Google will see your brand as trustworthy, which will help build trust with your customers. You can create this through:
- High quality content with good use of SEO key words (phrases and words your customer is likely to search to find a brand like yours)
- Natural back links to your website
- A clean and easy to use website
Local Search Can Increase Engagement
Local search is paramount for small businesses to succeed. By targeting your local area, it means people near to you will be able to find your business quickly. People like working with those closest to them, or shopping from local businesses, so it’s a great idea to use SEO to target people near you. For example, by searching for SEO Essex (or your local area), customers can find local SEO agencies in no time, making them more likely to enquire or purchase.
A Cost-Effective and Long-Term Strategy
Using an SEO agency may seem like another outpayment, but you need to spend money to make money. SEO is also very cost-effective. In fact, it can be seen as an investment due to how long results can last. And the more time you spend on it, the better your results will be.
Even the most basic SEO changes can make a wealth of difference to a business’s website.
Attract New Customers
The aim is to get your website on the first page of Google. That way, you’ll get more clicks and new customers. The higher up you are, the more people will see your website, the more chance you have to increase sales.
Start Your SEO Strategy
Improving your website and implementing a good SEO strategy takes time, so don’t expect to see results over night. Many businesses may get frustrated when they put in the work and don’t see an improvement straight away, causing them to quit.
If you put the time in, you’ll get the rewards over time that will last years. Once you make your way up to the first page, watch the results fly in! It may be difficult and time consuming, but the success of your business depends on it. It’s worth the extra attention.
Read also: SEO: Your Key To Get Found Online