In a rapidly evolving digital landscape, it’s hard to know what strategies to invest in. After all, from upkeeping our social media accounts to uploading our latest product launch, we’re busy enough, right?
However, whether you’re a business owner or hobby blogger, the goal of building a website is to drive traffic to said site and find a way to convert that traffic into revenue. In a perfect world, the right customers would find you organically and navigate directly to your CTA of choice– without your team having to do much behind-the-scenes work to make that happen.
Unfortunately, that’s not the online landscape that we live in, and maintaining an online presence has become a critical component of every business strategy. That being said, a static online presence is no longer enough. To reach your potential customers effectively, successful businesses actively engage in Search Engine Optimization (SEO).
But, what is SEO and why is it essential for the growth of your business? Let’s get into it.
SEO, or Search Engine Optimization, is the process of increasing your website's visibility to users of search engines like Google, Bing, and DuckDuckGo. SEO involves modifying your website content and structure to make it more appealing to search engines, with the ultimate goal of ranking highly on the first page of the search engine results page (or SERP).
Building SEO is important in the first place because search engines, like Google, want to give their users the highest quality recommendations possible. To become one of those high quality recommendations, companies need to conform to the search engine’s criteria of what makes a reputable website. Hence, the world of search engine optimization.
While building your site’s SEO requires ongoing strategy, it’s ultimately an exceptionally effective way to drive traffic to your site– especially when paired with other marketing outreach tools, such as SEM. We dive into the benefits of investing in SEO below.
The primary benefit of investing in SEO is increased organic traffic to your website. The higher your website ranks on search engine results pages (SERPs), the more visibility it gains. This drives more traffic to your site, expanding your potential customer base. A well-implemented SEO strategy will improve your website's relevance and accessibility, boosting its search engine rankings, and increasing your online visibility.
Compared to other forms of online marketing such as Pay-Per-Click (PPC) advertising, social media marketing, and email marketing campaigns, SEO provides a significant return on investment. While these other strategies can also be effective, they often require substantial ongoing investments. In contrast, SEO requires an initial investment, with lower costs over the long term.
Search engines, particularly Google, favor websites that provide a positive user experience. Factors such as mobile-friendliness, usability, site speed, and easy navigation play a significant role in your website's SEO. By improving these elements, not only do you boost your SEO, but you also enhance user experience, which can lead to higher customer retention and conversion rates.
High rankings on SERPs signal to users that your site is a reputable source of information. It's a widely accepted truth that users trust search engines. Therefore, by ranking high on search results, your business will build credibility and trust with potential customers.
Think about it: when you search for new shoes online, for example, do you subconsciously trust the first result that comes up more than the result that comes up three pages in? Most people would say yes, proving that an effective SEO strategy can also improve your website's authority through quality backlinks and optimized on-page elements and content.
SEO is a long-term strategy that yields sustainable results compared to, say, PPC efforts. While PPC campaigns and other digital marketing efforts may provide more immediate results, their effects are temporary and often come with a higher cost. The benefits of SEO grow over time, and the impact of your SEO efforts can last for years, making it a more sustainable strategy for long-term growth.
With the help of analytics and tracking tools, businesses can measure their SEO success over time. You can track key metrics like increases in search rankings, traffic, conversions, and time spent on your website, data that can help you understand the return on your SEO investment and guide future decisions regarding marketing efforts. When you outsource SEO, the firm that you hire will also likely provide you with monthly reports stating your success over time.
Investing in SEO is a necessity for businesses looking to stay competitive in the digital age. While it may seem like a significant investment upfront, the long-term benefits significantly outweigh the costs– trust us.
However, just like all forms of marketing, creating an SEO strategy isn’t one-size-fits-all. At Monte Verde Media, our team crafts personalized SEO strategies tailored to the needs of your business, helping you connect with your target audience and grow in the digital space.
