Whether you run a small shop or a large corporation, I want to explain why your business needs SEO (search engine optimization).
In my opinion, SEO is a form of marketing that is built on providing true value to customers. While SEO can be abused by bad actors, I believe that fundamentally SEO is a positive force for good.
More importantly, SEO is attainable by anyone. You don’t have to be a David Ogilvy (real) or a Don Draper (fictional) with slick ad copy and a stunning 30-second commercial. You don’t need to understand the advanced media dashboards of Facebook or the DMAs for broadcast television spots.
The beauty of SEO is this: To be good at it, you need to know what your customers are looking for and you need to know how to help them.
Still not convinced? I thought you might need a little more. In that case, I’ve put together three big reasons why your business needs SEO. Hopefully, I’ll make a convert out of you shortly.
Why Your Business Needs SEO
- Appearing on Page One Can Make or Break Your Business
- SEO Is Simply More Efficient on Your Budget
- SEO Is Not Impossible to Learn
1. Appearing on Page One Can Make or Break Your Business
“The best place to hide a dead body is page two of Google.”
– Unknown
Do me a favor. Think of a phrase that you want your business to be known for. Think hard.
Now, open up Google and type that phrase in and search.
(I’ll be here when you return.)
Okay, great. Did your website appear on the first page? If the answer is no, you may have your work cut out for you.
The fact is simple: Page 2 rarely gets any clicks. Anything beyond that might as well not exist.
To be perfectly, honest, even Page 1 is difficult to get clicks if you’re not in the coveted #1 spot.
Take a look at the graph below.
This graph from Backlinko makes a very compelling case: Even Page 1 of Google doesn’t guarantee tons of traffic. The first three spots on Google get high click-through rates, but it quickly drops off after position five.
To give you context, position 10’s 3.09% click-through rate is comparable—and perhaps even lower—than the average Facebook ad’s click rate. So in theory, you would have a better chance of driving traffic by paying for Facebook ads than you would by being stuck in position 10.
2. SEO Is Simply More Efficient on Your Budget
“Good SEO work only gets better over time. It’s only search engine tricks that need to keep changing when the ranking algorithms change.”
– Jill Whalen
There’s a reason people call organic traffic “free traffic.” When someone visits your website from search engines, you don’t have to pay a single cent for that click. And who doesn’t love free stuff?
Marketers universally agree. Worldwide, 75% of marketers believe SEO is the most efficient content marketing effort.
Paid search campaigns, Facebook ads, display banners… Your advertising budget can balloon if you don’t watch out.
What’s more, no matter how much you spend on advertising today, you’ll need to spend the same if not more tomorrow to keep up.
But SEO is like investing in yourself. The more work you do today, the more it pays off tomorrow.
Think of it this way. If you publish four blogs in the month of January, the blogs will continue to drive traffic in February, March, April, etc. Meanwhile, you can publish four more in each subsequent month.
Your organic (free) traffic can grow exponentially this way!
3. SEO Is Not Impossible to Learn
“If you’re going to post content on your site anyway, you might as well take the time to make sure Google takes notice of your effort.”
– The Content Factory
I like the quote above because it’s one of those “duh” lines. If you’re using a website to market your business, that means you have content that CAN be optimized for search—even if it isn’t currently.
So, you know, you might as well get it optimized.
SEO is not as difficult as some people would have you believe. It’s not some mystery that only SEO soothsayers can unravel.
Does it take a bit of research? Sure. Will you need to read a number of SEO blogs and help guides? Absolutely.
But guess what. You’re doing that right now by reading THIS blog. (Thanks by the way.)
Here are some other helpful blogs:
- Moz: Beginners Guide to SEO
- Search Engine Journal: SEO for Beginners: An Introduction to SEO Basics
- WordStream: SEO Basics: Complete Beginner’s Guide to Search Engine Optimization
- Ahrefs: SEO Basics: Beginner’s Guide to SEO Success
As you read through these, take notes on the stuff that comes up time and time again.
But truly, you’ll need to absorb a handful of pieces.
You’ll need to understand things like title tags, meta descriptions, and keyword research. That’s basically it. Let the SEO nerds obsess over the rest.
Moreover, SEO boils down to a fairly simple idea that everyone can understand:
People turn to Google to ask questions. If your business can answer that question better than anyone else, your page will rise to the top.
It’s truly that simple.
Still Wondering Why Your Business Needs SEO?
If you still have questions, let me know. I’m more than happy to answer any specific questions you have.
Shoot me a note at rhenwilson@littlerocketsites.com.
Also, the websites I build at Little Rocket Sites are all designed and developed with SEO in mind. I can help you lay the groundwork for a SEO-rich digital presence. Ask me how.
