Research has shown that we’re spending around 6 hours online each day, and that number is rising! With so much time spent on the internet, it’s no surprise that brands are fighting for the limelight in the digital space.
An essential part of boosting your brand’s online presence is by increasing your search engine rankings. If your website isn’t appearing on the first page of Google, you won’t drive much traffic (if any), as who clicks beyond page one? SEO is a powerful digital marketing tool, as it focuses on getting your website to rank first, second, or third in search rankings. Find an SEO agency near you.
If you’re looking to bring your website into the digital spotlight, here are four reasons why you should invest in SEO.
What is SEO?
Before we dive into it, it’s worth clarifying what SEO is. Short for Search Engine Optimisation, it’s essentially the art of ranking in search engines, like Google or Bing. If you’re not sure why that’s so important, think about how people search for things in the modern world. Gone are the days of sourcing a mechanic or wedding venue through a traditional directory. Google is the number one search tool for people around the world.
Whether you’re an interior designer or a hairdressing business, Google is by far your best bet for sourcing potential customers.
SEO helps you push your website to the top so it’s easily accessible to potential customers. This is achieved through various optimisation strategies such as improving a website’s content, ensuring a website is free from errors and improving its structure (onsite SEO), and improving the relevance of your website by linking to other websites (offsite SEO). If you’re an amateur in the world of digital marketing, web design professionals are experts in SEO, so it’s always worth considering hiring one.
So, what’s so great about SEO?
It’s a great use of inbound marketing
The great thing about SEO is that it’s a powerful inbound marketing tool. If you’re a newbie to the world of SEO, inbound marketing is an alternative to traditional outbound marketing, which involves reaching out to customers, whether they’re interested in your services or not.
Think cold calling, email spam, etc. Inbound marketing, on the other hand, attracts customers by creating tailored content for the individual, connecting them with what they’re looking for.
SEO is an essential aspect of inbound marketing, as it works to make sure your business’ content answers the user’s questions when people type in certain keywords and phrases into search engines. In other words, it puts you in exactly the right place when potential leads are looking for services.
Inbound marketing is increasingly becoming the preferable option to outbound marketing. After all, if you were a customer, what would you prefer? Being spammed by irrelevant email marketing three times a day, or stumbling across a useful FAQ article when you’re searching Google for help with something? We know what our answer would be.
Inbound marketing is significantly less expensive than outbound marketing too, so a win-win!
It improves user experience
In an overcrowded online marketplace, it’s so important to make sure your website is user-friendly. If it is clunky, difficult to navigate, or contains irrelevant content, then a user will probably just hop to the next available option on Google. Investing in user experience keeps visitors loyal to your website. SEO strategies are balanced between optimising your web content for search engines and visitors. It focuses on producing content that is relevant, high-quality, and engaging, something that Google favours highly. Think of well-written blog posts or how-to videos – these considerably improve the value of the experience for the user, which means they’re much more likely to stay loyal to your brand. Find a web designer near you.
It’s cost-effective
If paid advertising is burning a hole in your pocket, you’ll be happy to know that SEO is one of the most profitable marketing strategies, because it puts you in front of potential customers who are already looking for your services. Ranking on Google’s first page is an organic way to attract visitors, meaning there is less need to pay for Search Engine Advertising (SEA), which involves paying Google to boost you ahead of your competitors by ranking you highly.
It boosts brand awareness
Ranking in the top three on Google or Bing gives visitors the impression that your brand means business. It shows that search engines have determined you as relevant and popular, something that customers value and trust.
To sum up
In a nutshell, if SEO is applied effectively, ranking high on search rankings exposes you to a global marketplace at a low cost. It’s a powerful way to build your brand identity and connect with the customers that matter. There’s a reason why so many businesses are jumping on the SEO bandwagon – because it works.
