SEO, this three-letter acronym, holds a lot of value in the digital marketing landscape. Simply saying that SEO is about showing up at the top of search engine result pages greatly undermines its importance. As Jimmy Wales, the founder of Wikipedia, says
“Basically, search engine optimization is making sure that when people are searching for something relevant to your business, you can be found at a very high ranking on Google. This brings in organic traffic. It brings in the right organic traffic because it’s people who are interested in what you have to offer. And so you have to take it very seriously.”
When you take into consideration the fact that 45.1% of all search result clicks in 2022 were a result of organic search. And only 1.8% accounted for paid clicks. This stat alone is enough to solidify the significance of SEO for brands or businesses looking to enhance their online visibility. SEO allows businesses to get a leg up on their competition in the highly saturated digital landscape. SEO also helps increase brand awareness, drive traffic, generate sales, and enhance brand image. If you still believe your business can do without SEO, here are 10 reasons your business needs a solid Search Engine Optimization strategy.
Enhance your business growth with a comprehensive SEO strategy.
1- SEO Helps Businesses Stay Competitive
Businesses must be competitive and adaptive in today’s digital landscape, regardless of their size, niche, or industry. When people search for stuff related to your services and your industry, not showing up at the top to help them make decisions is nothing short of criminal negligence. It is like falling head first on an ax, knowing it can damage you.
Showing up at the top of search results against a query is such an advantage that it can help people make decisions based on the information you provide. Using productive search engine optimization strategies, you can outrank your competition and position yourself as an industry leader.
2- SEO Enhances Brand Image
What happens when you show up at the top of the result pages? Yes, it helps stay competitive and gain an edge over the competition, but what else? It also helps enhance brand image. When you show up at the top, people are more tempted to consider you a valid source of information. And when they do, all that traffic becomes loyal followers or customers. You just need to keep your content updated and ensure it adds value for the reader and helps them take action.
This does not mean you can trick your way to the top of search engines. Search engines have doubled down against such behavior, with Google having 22 major updates since 2022. However, if you try using black-hat SEO tactics, then be prepared to get penalized by search engines. Google may even suspend your domain for up to three months. With all that being said, it is always better to get help from an expert to enhance your Brand’s image.
3- SEO Drives Organic Traffic
According to research conducted by BrightEdge, organic research drives 53% of all web traffic. Yes, pay-per-click campaigns are vital for promoting your brand; you can not undermine the importance of organic traffic. You can attract more quality traffic by implementing effective SEO strategies; this will not only enhance your brand’s image but also save time and money compared to running a PPC campaign. You can also reach new audiences using SEO. According to a report by Ahrefs, SEO strategies generate more traffic than organic social media; in fact, they generate 1000% more traffic than social media.
4- SEO Provides Global Outreach
If you want to increase your reach and target new audiences, then SEO combined with quality content and user experience is the way to go. Businesses of any size and from any industry can compete globally through organic search. With the rising popularity of e-commerce and digital cloud-based businesses, you can now reach audiences anywhere in the world. Using ethical and dedicated SEO strategies, you can expand your business regionally, nationally, and even globally. Although it is a time-consuming process, the wait is worth it. Global reach is another reason why your business needs a solid search engine optimization strategy.
5- SEO Helps Understand Consumer Behaviour
User research is a critical element of SEO. SEO experts leverage tools like Google Analytics to track user behaviors and develop tailored strategies. You can improve the user experience, which is critical in gaining and retaining customers, by assessing their behavior and interests. SEO helps you point out which pages have a high bounce rate so you can fix those and improve those that are popular. SEO helps keep visitors engaged and attract more traffic to your site.There is no point in showing up at the top of the SERPs if the user doesn’t spend enough time to take action on your website.
6- SEO Helps Sell More
According to a recent study, 34% of all search queries are commercial searches. Commercial searches are those in which the user intends to buy things. It can be products, services, or any other items. SEO helps businesses rank against such relevant queries to attract more traffic and help sell more.
SEO does that by optimizing their website and online presence while ensuring visitors are engaged and spend more time on the website, ultimately buying the services or products the business offers.
7- SEO Helps Stay Up To Date
No guide explains how search engines and social media algorithms work. But businesses have to leverage these channels to enhance online visibility, so how can they do that? The answer is simple: through SEO. SEO experts stay on top of the rapidly changing trends and algorithms to ensure your digital marketing efforts align with what the search engines want. Google can easily notice if your website provides a good experience to visitors. So, it is crucial to stay ahead of the changing algorithms and prioritize positive user experience. It is crucial to do so because SEO success depends on a positive user experience; it can also give your business a competitive advantage.
8- SEO Is Cost Effective
Organic marketing through SEO is a great option for businesses because it targets audiences actively looking for what you offer. It is unlike paid ads, which rely on chance. SEO leads to lower costs and higher customer satisfaction as they are looking for a solution (product/service), and you are the one providing them the solution (product/service). But where do audiences search for products or services? Yes, you are right on the search engines. That is another reason why your business needs a solid search engine optimization strategy.
9- SEO Enhances PR
You should focus on SEO to enhance your company’s online visibility and PR. Search engines like Google consider a website’s credibility by examining the quality of backlinks from authoritative sites. These links help boost your website’s ranking for relevant keywords in your industry. SEO and PR can work seamlessly together to achieve business goals. It is important to note that SEO is not one size fits all; it has to be combined with other marketing strategies like content marketing and PR to get the most out of it. So, if you are currently working on PR strategies, combine them with SEO and achieve multiple outcomes simultaneously.
10- SEO Leads To Long Term Success
Yes, it is true that other digital marketing strategies can provide results quicker, but SEO focuses on long-term success. You should incorporate SEO strategies like keyword research, backlinking, content marketing, user research, and on-site SEO in your marketing plans to establish a strong online presence.
SEO is just like the Guinness slogan: “Good Things Come To Those Who Wait.” So, remaining patient as you integrate SEO into your digital marketing campaigns is important. An effective SEO strategy developed by an expert can improve search ranking over time, improve brand image, enhance brand awareness, and boost social media engagement. These long-term benefits provide a better ROI for your business, and the best part is that you can also monitor your progress through data and analytics.
Discover the key benefits of implementing an effective SEO plan.
Conclusion
People search 24/7, and if you are not at the top, you are lost forever. Today’s shopping experience is all about visibility. If you are visible to a customer, that customer will give you business. Being visible does not mean you have to be at a prime physical location. In today’s digitalized world, being visible is about appearing at the top of search engines. Technology is continuously evolving; brands must keep up; otherwise, they’ll be left in the dust. This is where SEO comes in to save the day. Brands can leverage the expertise of an SEO expert to enhance their online visibility and boost conversions. It does not matter what your business size is or which industry you work in; SEO can help you reach your targeted audience anywhere in the world. Although it is a time-consuming process, the long-term benefits are second to none.