Search engine optimization (SEO) is the practice of increasing traffic to a website by obtaining high-ranking placements in the search results page of a search engine (SERP) — like Google, Bing, and Yahoo.
Although SEO is a broad term, there are basically two types of SEO: on-page and off-page.
On-page SEO refers to changes that you make to your website (or an e-commerce site) to increase the search engines’ chances of being found. For example, on-page SEO involves ensuring your pages are optimized for the keywords you’re targeting, you include relevant backlinks, and you include relevant HTML tags like Meta descriptions and headers.
Off-page SEO refers to strategies you employ outside of your website to increase your chances of being found. For example, off-page SEO involves building backlinks to your website and creating content to which other people will link.
Both of these types of SEO are important, but on-page SEO is far more important!
Although off-page SEO can lead to an increase in traffic, that increase will pale in comparison to the benefits you’ll experience if you improve your on-page SEO.
The search engines use a variety of metrics to rank your website, and one of the most important is the number of quality backlinks pointing to your website.
If your website has tons of high-quality backlinks, the search engines will consider it an authority on the subject and rank it higher in the search results. If you improve your on-page SEO, you’ll attract more high-quality backlinks from authority sources, which will increase your website’s traffic. And that’s ultimately the goal of SEO.
Why does SEO matter?
Everyone enjoys free traffic, but very few are willing to put in the work to get there. SEO is hard work. It’s tedious, it’s an ongoing series of small changes, it’s not always immediately evident when your efforts are working, and there’s a constant need to monitor and tweak.
But SEO is also essential to the success of your business because 97 percent of consumers research online before buying anything. So SEO will help you reach customers when they’re ready to make a purchase — and when you do, 80 percent of people will then make a purchase.
As a marketer, SEO is your job — and something that’s getting harder to do well. So how can you continue to drive traffic to your site, whether you’re running a small business or a large enterprise?
What you should know to be an SEO expert
Earlier, SEO was just about “optimizing” your site. However, with the changing online landscape, it has become more strategic and complex. SEO helps businesses gain exposure, and visibility, by ranking higher in search engines.
SEO is a key part of any business strategy, whether you’re selling a product or service. SEO helps brands grow their online presence and exposure. However, SEO can be overwhelming, especially for small business owners.
According to a survey by Hubspot, 88% of marketers said they use SEO, although it’s extremely important for businesses of all sizes.
Here are the top 4 reasons why SEO matters to your business success.
1. SEO is a long-term strategy
Although SEO can be time-consuming, it’s one of the most beneficial long-term strategies. SEO takes time, but it’s an investment that pays off in the long run. SEO strategy can help you improve your site’s authority, improving your site’s search results placement.
2. SEO is measurable
Once your site starts ranking organically, you can track its progress using specialized tools. You can use Google Analytics, Google Search Console, SEMrush, and Moz to track your progress.
3. SEO is optimized for mobile users
Increasing your search rankings means getting in front of the right audience. SEO helps your business reach customers across devices. Since 2016, Google has been prioritizing mobile-friendly sites, which is important for SEO.
4. SEO is a long-term strategy
Number 4 is really just reaffirming #1: SEO is a long-term investment. You must optimize your site correctly, or you could suffer the consequences. SEO is an ongoing process, and it requires patience.
How much time does your business spend each week or even each month on SEO? Who does the work? How much experience does that person have with Search Engine Optimization?
What if I told you that you could have an entire team of extremely talented SEO professionals with years of experience that would help improve your rankings on search engines like Google and Bing starting at less than $150 per week?
Would it be worth $150/week for your business to be found quicker and easier online?
Let’s chat about it….connect with me today.