In a world where the internet is an integral part of our daily lives, ignoring the power of Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) is like closing your eyes to a treasure box of opportunities.
Whether you’re a savvy consumer looking for information or a forward-thinking company aiming to expand your reach, SEO is your key to unlock the digital world’s benefits and perks. So, let’s dive into why you should never underestimate the power of SEO and explore some cost-effective strategies for businesses.
HOW CAN CONSUMERS BENEFIT FROM SEO?
Before we delve into the business benefits, let’s talk about why you, as a consumer, can benefit from SEO.
Get the best content
When you search for a product, service or information online, you want the most relevant and valuable results, and this is what Google and other search engines are striving to provide also. SEO ensures that you receive content from the search engines that genuinely matches your query, helping you make informed decisions and improving your user experience.
Save time and effort
SEO filters out the noise, so you don’t have to sift through irrelevant or low-quality content. This means less time wasted on searching and more time enjoying the fruits of your online inquiries.
Discover hidden gems
SEO doesn’t just promote big corporations. Smaller businesses with great products and services can also shine in search results, offering you unique and valuable alternatives to explore.
Stay updated
SEO encourages websites to provide fresh and up-to-date information. This means you’ll always find the latest news, trends, and innovations, keeping you in the loop and ahead of the game.
WHAT ARE SEO BENEFITS FOR BUSINESS?
Now, let’s switch gears and look at why companies should embrace SEO with open arms. Not only is it a cost-effective marketing strategy, but it also brings numerous benefits.
Increased visibility
With a dedicated strategy, SEO can help your company’s website appear on the first page of the search results. This prime real estate can significantly increase your visibility and attract more potential customers. SEO is like a constant stream of traffic if done right, whereas PPC is like a tap you turn on and off with a cost involved every time – you do the maths on your ROI!
Credibility and trust
Websites that rank well in search engines are often perceived as more trustworthy and credible. For instance, if your business has received reviews, it helps rank your listing higher in search results. It was found in 2021 that 99.9% of customers read reviews when they shop online, and BrightLocal’s research found that 60% of consumers find that having more reviews on a business is critical when deciding if they want to use the businesses services. Online reviews can be strong signals to search engines that communicate trustworthiness and credibility.
Cost-effective marketing
Unlike traditional advertising methods, SEO is remarkably cost-effective. You don’t need a massive budget to see significant results. With a well-optimised website, you can compete with even the biggest players in your industry. Speak to our team of SEO experts to hear more about our SEO packages today.
Better user experience
SEO is not just about keywords, it’s also about creating a user-friendly website. This means faster load times, easy navigation, and engaging content, all of which enhance the user experience and keep visitors coming back. 88% of users will not return to a site after a bad user experience, therefore it is vital to ensure your users experience is top of mind and a smooth journey.
SEO also helps Google see you as a good site to be on. If a site gives a user a bad experience and they bounce off it straight away, Google won’t send people back to that site again. So it’s imperative you get this right!
Targeted traffic
SEO allows you to target a specific audience interested in your products or services. You can do this by performing local keyword research and analysing it, use location specific keywords in your content and meta tags, and provide accurate business information including your business address, name, operating hours and available phone number. This means the traffic you receive is more likely to convert into customers, leading to higher ROI.
WHAT CAN YOU DO TO BOOST YOUR SEO STRATEGY
Now that you know why SEO is essential from a user and business perspective, let’s explore some cost-effective strategies for businesses to improve their online presence without breaking the bank.
Keyword research
Invest some time in researching relevant keywords for your industry. Free tools like Google Keyword Planner can help you identify the terms your potential customers are searching for. Which allows you to produce a strategy to incorporate these keywords organically into your content.
Quality content
Content is king in the SEO world. Create informative, engaging, and well-structured content that caters to your target audience’s needs. This will keep visitors on your site longer and increase the chances of them returning. It will also allow your site to be a reference for others allowing people to backlink to it.
Optimise your website
Make sure your website is mobile-friendly and loads quickly because Google has been mobile-first indexing since November 2016 and has announced that all websites should switch to mobile first from March 2021. In 2022, mobile phones accounted for 58.99% of website traffic and a whopping 74% of users will return to a site if it’s mobile friendly. You can use free tools like Google’s PageSpeed Insights to check your website’s performance and get suggestions for improvements.
Claim your Google My Business listing
If you have a physical location, make sure to claim your Google My Business listing. It’s a powerful way to improve your local SEO and attract nearby customers.
Social media presense
Create and maintain an active presence on social media platforms. While this won’t directly affect your website’s SEO, it can drive traffic and help with brand awareness and recognition.
Backlink building
Reach out to other websites in your niche and ask for backlinks. This can improve your website’s authority and help you climb the search engine rankings. Building relationships and providing valuable content can often lead to free backlinks.
Google search console
Sign up for Google Search Console, a free tool that provides insights into how Google sees your website. It can help you identify issues and opportunities for improvement.
Regular updates
Keep your website updated with fresh, relevant content. You can do this by posting new articles or blogs to your website, updating images, updating your links and touching up your website design. This encourages search engines to crawl your site more frequently, improving your chances of ranking higher.
Internal linking
Internal linking is when there is a link from one page on your website to another page on your website. This benefits SEO because Google’s spiders follow the links to discover content throughout your website and this, in turn, will rank that content higher in the search results. The more the page gets linked to, it will send signals to Google that it’s a high-value article. As a website owner, you have control over how many links you use and what links you want to use – so be sure to make the most of it.
SO, WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED?
SEO is a must for both consumers and companies. As a consumer, it ensures you get the best online experience, saving you time and helping you discover hidden gems. For businesses, SEO is a cost-effective way to boost visibility, credibility, and trust, while also providing a better user experience and targeting the right audience.
And the best part? You don’t need a massive budget to get started!
By implementing the free strategies mentioned above, you can make significant strides in improving your SEO without spending a small fortune. So, don’t hit the snooze button on SEO—wake up to the incredible benefits and opportunities it offers for consumers and companies alike.
In the ever-changing world of digital marketing, remember that Clockwise Marketing is your trusted partner for all your SEO needs and questions. We’re here to help and are committed to being your SEO experts. Get in touch with us today to elevate your online presence.
By Tamica Carty
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