SEO What Is It? and Yes You Need It.

What is SEO?

Whether you’re an entrepreneur or a small business owner, you still have to think of ways to attract more potential customers and boost loyalty from existing ones. In this modern world where everyone is connected online, it makes sense to tap the potential of the internet for your business. One way to do this is through search engine optimisation (SEO).

Simply having a business or a professional website isn’t enough to make your products or services popular even to your target market. If your website can’t be found when people search for relevant items in search engines like Google, Yahoo or Bing, your site is just pointless.

That’s where SEO comes handy.

But what really is Search Engine Optimisation?

It’s essentially structuring your website in a way that search engine robots can easily identify your business and then show your site to those who are looking for the kind of products and services you’re offering. The process involves the careful analysis, planning, implementation and regular checking of the website’s code, contents, and links, among other features, to ensure success.

When your website appears on the first page or top 10 of a search engine results list for certain keywords without having to pay for online ads placements or pay-per-click ads, you know that you have good SEO strategies. When this happens, your website can have high organic traffic, which is when your site gets visitors from unpaid search results.

You might ask, why do I need SEO?

Well, as previously mentioned, your website can boost its online presence through search engine optimisation. You may have a good and attractive page layout, but if it’s not optimised for Search Engines, you’re just wasting your money on graphic artists and web designers because you miss out on the potential of search engines in bringing many of your ideal perfect clients or customers to your website.

If you’re a business coach, for example, your website still needs SEO so that when people are making online searches for help in their professional or personal life, they will immediately discover that you exist to help them! It’s important for other entrepreneurs too such as hairdressers, accountants, and tradies.

With the right search engine optimisation techniques, you can also ensure that only relevant clients will make inquiries to your business especially when you’re a photographer only offering portrait shots, a women-only personal trainer or a children-only dentist.

Why should SEO organic traffic matter?

SEO is essentially one of the most low-cost marketing methods you can do for your small business or entrepreneurial ventures. The more successful your SEO strategy, the more (free) organic traffic your website can get, and thus, the more chances for you to turn visitors into customers. Unlike when you’re buying ad placements or enter into pay-per-click arrangements, each visitor will cost you and there’s even no guarantee that every one of them will make a purchase or at least enquire about your services.

I bet you’re excited to ask, how do I optimise my own website?

Well, for starters, it’s best to hire a reputable professional to help you. Why? Because the rules and algorithms of SEO often change and an SEO specialist has the experience to ensure that your website can cope or recover with the drastic trends which could affect your online presence. Read my article where I explain good v bad Search Engine Optimisation practices.

An experienced digital professional also has the knowledge and experience on various online marketing techniques such as social media optimisation that can be combined with SEO strategies to further strengthen your web presence. They will also be able to help you plan out and outline your web pages properly especially when your business offers a wide variety of products, programs or services. Each product, service or category page will require SEO to ensure they get relevant web traffic from potential customers.

Don’t get overwhelmed with SEO for your business or professional website. Let me help you with your SEO strategies and teach you how you can do it. Grab my FREE Website SEO Audit here.

Reach out to me for an SEO and keyword analysis for your site – see where your gaps are and what needs to happen to get you found on Google.