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When you Google “search engine optimization definition” it reads, “the process of maximizing the number of visitors to a particular website by ensuring that the site appears high on the list of the results returned by a search engine.” So, now you know what it is, but how can SEO grow your business?
Everybody is “Googling”
Did you know that Google keeps track of how many people are doing Google searches? When I checked today, there had been over 4 billion Google searches…and the day isn’t even over! I’ve already done at least four Google searches to find the statistics for this blog post.
People are searching for things online. As of 2015, 70% of people do their shopping online at least monthly. I ordered all of my Christmas gifts online last year. For some, I would search phrases like “what to get my sister-in-law that says I think she’s swell.” If your business sells anything that a sister-in-law may like, SEO can help you make sure that your website will be found first. Using SEO will also help reduce your bounce rate. Maybe I know there is a place in town that hosts Nerf Wars, but I can’t remember what the name of it is. If the business has used SEO, just typing “nerf wars” should result in my finding the business I am looking for.
SEO Results in a Big Bang for Your Buck
Not only does SEO last longer than an ad campaign, it ends up being cheaper. If you hire someone for your SEO needs, you pay a one-time, up front fee, and then it’s done. You have to constantly renew and re-pay for ad campaigns. These can get pricey over the long haul. Once SEO is done, the results continue to pour in over the entirety of your website’s life.
SEO also seems to be more effective than paid ads. Research shows that paid ads on Google are only clicked about 10% of the time. That’s not an efficient way to spend your money. Using SEO also sets you up to be viewed as an expert in your field. When your website is optimized and starts to show up in the top five Google results, most people automatically assume that you are better at what you do than the business that showed up on page 15 of the results.
People Want to Spend Their Money Locally
Forty-three percent of search engine users are looking for local businesses. Even better, 61% of those local searches result in a purchase. A great tip to spread awareness of your business in your community is to register on Google Maps. Try Googling “best Chinese food near me.” What pops up first is a map of your area with some markers showing which Chinese food restaurants are close by. If you look below, there are often ratings, addresses, business hours, and phone numbers for these businesses. If I ask Siri where the nearest Chinese food restaurant is, she’s going to be searching Google Maps. You want to be on that map.
As you can see, search engine optimization is a wonderful tool you can use to grow your business. It’s a one-and-done setup that is extremely effective and relevant in today’s super competitive business market.
