Is SEO a waste of time? Some will claim it is. The problem with this is that those claims are largely based on outdated information that assume that SEO is all about keyword stuffing, posting nonsense content to article directories, and using private blog networks to fake backlinks. They also assume that SEO is only about pushing your way up search engine results pages. That couldn’t be further from the truth. Then there are those who believe that SEO is simply a poor substitute for PPC.
Before moving forward, it’s important to define SEO in the context of the goals behind it. SEO is about ranking for sure. SERP matters, but it’s also about earning quality traffic, moving people through the sales funnel, and earning conversions by showing up at the right place and time with relevant content. No, SEO is not a waste of time. Yes your business needs it. Here are seven reasons why.
1. Good SEO is a Trust Factor
Good SEO practices, and the results you get from them, contribute to a greater sense of trust and credibility. There are several reasons for this. First, when your page shows up in search results, above the fold, on page one, it communicates to users that both search engines and others have determined that your content is credible enough to rank. In addition to this, higher ranking earns more traffic. This can lead to more backlinks and social shares. That not only leads to even better rankings, it’s another trust indicator that your content is worthy.
This is why quality, thoughtful SEO strategy is so important to growing businesses. Good SEO practices such as creating relevant content, earning social proof, working with influencers, and ensuring your website is easy to navigate leads to higher credibility. That in turn leads to better rankings. That in turn boosts traffic to your website which then leads to influencer engagement, shares, backlinks, and conversions. Once you manage to dominate search for the right keywords, it becomes easier to maintain that (but not effortless).
2. Local Search Optimization Leads to Quality Traffic And Conversions
Mobile users now dominate the internet, and that growth isn’t slowing anytime soon. One result of this has been a surge in local search traffic. This has had a significant impact on small to medium sized businesses that are trying to compete with larger companies, or in crowded marketplaces.
To stand out, businesses must prioritize local SEO. By optimizing your website for local search, your content is much more likely to rank in searches conducted by mobile users. Why is that important? These are the consumers who are on the go and ready to convert. They are making reservations at local restaurants, buying theater tickets, and looking for stores that have what they need right here and now.
By focusing on local search optimization, you can drive this high-quality traffic to your website and landing pages. Businesses who wish to optimize for local search can start by completing their ‘Google my Business’ profile. They can include contact and location information on their website. They can geotag their images, and include location specific keywords in their content. Other local search factors include getting listed in other local directories, and earning positive reviews that are locally tagged. All of these steps and others can help ensure that they rank at the top of local search results.
3. SEO Isn’t Static
Not only does your business need SEO to thrive, this is something that requires constant tweaking and attention. SEO isn’t something you do once. It isn’t a sprint, and anyone who tells you otherwise is likely pushing black hat tactics. A good SEO strategy is an ongoing effort.
As long as search engines like Google continue to update their search algorithms, there will always be work to do with regard to SEO. At times, this can be frustrating. Just keep in mind that search engines have the same goal that you do. It’s all about creating a better user experience by offering up the best possible content. Search engines do that by pushing the best content to the top of the page. You do that by creating that content, and letting search engines know you’ve done so.
4. It’s Cost Effective
Even if you do it all yourself, SEO isn’t free. Unless you don’t value your own time that is. It’s certainly not free if you hire an SEO consultant, or if you use the services of an experienced content writing service. However, it is undoubtedly one of the more cost-effective efforts you will undertake.
Good SEO has great ROI. As mentioned above, you can hire outside help for the job. You can also do quite a bit to improve your rankings all on your own. That’s a pretty worthy alternative to investing in pay per click advertising. Business owners can optimize for search by:
- Conducting keyword research and using relevant keywords in their site copy
- Reaching out to influencers and others for backlinks
- Making content easy to share on social media
- Using keywords in title tags and meta descriptions
- Optimizing content for mobile
- Fixing broken links
- Optimizing images and using relevant image tags
- Creating XML sitemaps for websites
5. Ranking Matters
Page rank matters. In fact, it may be the most important factor in organic traffic. People rarely venture past page one to find the information they need. In fact, they are more likely to refine their search than to do that. This is why page one rankings are absolutely mandatory, and why above the fold rankings are even more important. If you aren’t getting that consistently, you are losing traffic and sales to your competitors.
6. Organic Search is Key to Traffic And Conversions
Most traffic to your website will come from organic search. Out of that, most of the traffic that is generated overall comes from high ranking search engine results. Yes, traffic from backlinks, ads, and social media posts are valuable, but the numbers simply aren’t there. In order to be competitive, and convert customers, you need that organic traffic. There’s simply no other way to accomplish that than through the dedicated use of SEO.
7. Good SEO Creates Better User Experiences
The purpose of SEO isn’t to simply get your links to the top of page one, or in Google’s local 3-pack results. It’s about providing users with a quality experience. With good SEO practices, you earn top rankings for the right keyword combinations because the content you’ve created is relevant.
So, not only do you earn the clicks and the rankings you need. When users enter your website, they get content that’s relevant to them. That’s exactly how great user experiences get started. This leads to conversions.
Final Thoughts: SEO Remains an Important Part of Your Online Marketing Strategy
As long as people use search engines to find the information they need, SEO is going to be important. The techniques and algorithms may change, but ultimately organic search results are going to be the key factor in driving traffic to your business website. It only makes sense to optimize your website and content to earn the highest ranking possible. That’s what SEO is.
About the author
Lori had made a transition from a bit shy office clerk to an empowered and delighted writer. Later she progressed to becoming a writer at content creation service. Lori is really a writing fanatic and frantically stays on guard of beauty and meaning inside the written text. More than this, Lori continue broaden her horizons and became a contributor at educational blog. Speak to her to seek out in regards to the next one particular.
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