Imagine your small business at the very top of relevant Google search result pages, ahead of your competitors. Think of all the traffic (quality traffic) that your business could receive!
Appearing at the top of the search result pages isn’t just a fluke – it’s the product of search engine optimization (SEO) as part of a well-rounded quality online marketing strategy.
But how do you, as a small business owner or marketer, move your business up the Google search ladder? Here’s everything you need to know – from the definitions to tactics – about online marketing with SEO.
What is SEO?
SEO, an acronym for search engine optimization, is an online marketing method that aims to increase both the quantity and quality of traffic to your website through organic search engine results (most commonly on Google).
SEO at its core is an organic online marketing method, which means that you don’t have to pay Google for online advertising – instead, an investment of time and knowledge can get you quite far, which is why it’s such a valuable focus in a small business’ digital strategy.
How SEO Works
Do you think that your small business has completely missed the boat on SEO and digital marketing? That couldn’t be farther from the truth – in fact, your business is likely already participating in some SEO tactics without you even knowing. Below are a few examples of how you may have come across SEO marketing tactics without even noticing it.
Example 1: Webpage Backend
If you use a do-it-yourself website platform such as WordPress or Squarespace you may have noticed that each page that you create has the option to write ‘meta titles’ and ‘meta descriptions.’ These fields in the web page backend allow you to customize how that particular page appears on the Google search results page.
Example 2: Blog Posts
If your small business writes blog posts for potential or current customers to read then it has come across a very familiar SEO territory. Many blog posts are developed with the ultimate goal to educate or entertain the reader – and for many businesses this is also a marketing and customer acquisition tactic.
This is because every piece of content that your business promotes is ‘scanned’ by Google for relevant keywords that will allow the search engine to then match your blog post to relevant search inquiries to help the user – the person who searched for information in the first place – find the information that they need.
SEO has many different elements to it besides simply writing blog posts with keywords. Some effective SEO strategies include:
- Keyword Research
- On-Site Optimization
- Link Building
- Blog & Content Creation
- Conversion Rate Optimization
Conversion rate optimization, local SEO and international SEO are more in-depth and advanced as far as SEO strategies go, which means that bringing in experts is typically the best idea, saving you time and many trial-and-errors.
Why SEO Matters
It can often seem like marketing your small business is a never-ending task and there are countless ways to promote what you do through online marketing, online advertising, digital marketing, digital strategy and, of course, SEO. It’s true! There’s so much that a small business owner could do – but the key is finding the most bang for your buck – or time, that is, when it comes to SEO.
The benefits of SEO online marketing are wide-ranging, most of which contribute directly to your small business sales, customer acquisition and, ultimately, your bottom line. The best part? Investing time, knowledge and effort into SEO can pay dividends in the future since many tactics continue to work for you – once you set it, you can forget it.
Convinced SEO is necessary for your small business? Good. The first step is to take stock of what you are doing right already and what can be improved. This beginning point is where an SEO and digital marketing expert can be invaluable.
Done For You SEO and Online Marketing
Now that you’ve read our overview of SEO and online marketing, you know how important it is to include this in your small business’ digital marketing strategy, but if you don’t have the time to learn best practices and implement SEO tactics, we’re here to help.
The team of digital marketing experts at Outreach Digital Marketing is passionate about attention to detail and personalized SEO services that attract more website traffic and leads for your company. Schedule your free consultation with our team of SEO experts today. Contact us here.