Search Engine Optimization works for Small Business
Your small business could be generating more qualified leads online with search engine optimization (SEO) and online marketing. Many people have either heard of or frequently use google to research and compare products. If you are not taking part in this relatively new marketing development, then you are missing tons of opportunities to connect with potential customers.
As a small business owner, you are very careful with where you spend your money and want to know that it will give some kind of return. Many people make claims about different marketing techniques and why they work, but SEO has a proven track record and is easily measured.
Why should I use SEO?
With online marketing being around for only about a decade, many small business owners are skeptical or unsure about how it works. There is a lot of buzz surrounding using the internet to grow business, but how can you know if it is right for you? I have put together a list of five ways that SEO can help your business.
1. Search engines have replaced phone books. Ten to twenty years ago, your potential customers might have flipped through the yellow pages for a category and found your number next to competitors. In the 21st century, people don't use phonebooks - they use the internet.
2. High ROI, low cost. With next to no costs besides labor, SEO is an affordable way to produce real results for your small business. The return on investment is high and continues to pay off time and time again. Knocking your website up in google rankings can dramatically increase traffic.
3. Change with the market. Traditional marketing can often be trial and error, especially for a start up business. Online marketing and SEO make it easy to track which efforts are working and maximize effective techniques. Unlike traditional marketing, making these changes is fast and free.
4. Place yourself in front of the customer. Whether you are actively positioning yourself online or not, people are going to be using the net to research. Your small business can benefit greatly from strategic placement and showing up where your customers are looking.
5. Build relationships. Many potential strategic partners, industry experts, and clients are all using the web to build their name and image. The web is a place of cooperation as well as competition and can be a valuable resource to network.
Getting your business started with SEO.
Once you can see the value of implementing online marketing and SEO into your marketing plan, you need to know how to get started. There are several preliminary factors to consider when getting started with SEO:
1. Does your business have a website and is it designed around your goals? Having a website is a good starting point, but making sure that it is designed efficiently is very important. All of your online marketing efforts are going to be funneled to your website, and will do no good if it is not designed efficiently.
2. What is the purpose of visiting your website? Every small business is going to have unique goals and reasons for drawing visitors to their website. Make sure that you understand fully why you want people coming to your website before moving forward.
3. Which words do potential customers associate with your product or service? This question is useful to ask when designing ad copy, but is just as useful for SEO. Google makes it easy to do this kind of research, and spending some effort on it will prepare you for SEO.
4. How much do you know about SEO? Even if you don't plan on having an in house SEO specialist, knowing how SEO works will help with trusting an outside specialist. You need to know how to communicate with the consultant as well as how to measure the success.
As a small business owner, you are very careful with where you spend your money and want to know that it will give some kind of return. Many people make claims about different marketing techniques and why they work, but SEO has a proven track record and is easily measured.
Why should I use SEO?
With online marketing being around for only about a decade, many small business owners are skeptical or unsure about how it works. There is a lot of buzz surrounding using the internet to grow business, but how can you know if it is right for you? I have put together a list of five ways that SEO can help your business.
1. Search engines have replaced phone books. Ten to twenty years ago, your potential customers might have flipped through the yellow pages for a category and found your number next to competitors. In the 21st century, people don't use phonebooks - they use the internet.
2. High ROI, low cost. With next to no costs besides labor, SEO is an affordable way to produce real results for your small business. The return on investment is high and continues to pay off time and time again. Knocking your website up in google rankings can dramatically increase traffic.
3. Change with the market. Traditional marketing can often be trial and error, especially for a start up business. Online marketing and SEO make it easy to track which efforts are working and maximize effective techniques. Unlike traditional marketing, making these changes is fast and free.
4. Place yourself in front of the customer. Whether you are actively positioning yourself online or not, people are going to be using the net to research. Your small business can benefit greatly from strategic placement and showing up where your customers are looking.
5. Build relationships. Many potential strategic partners, industry experts, and clients are all using the web to build their name and image. The web is a place of cooperation as well as competition and can be a valuable resource to network.
Getting your business started with SEO.
Once you can see the value of implementing online marketing and SEO into your marketing plan, you need to know how to get started. There are several preliminary factors to consider when getting started with SEO:
1. Does your business have a website and is it designed around your goals? Having a website is a good starting point, but making sure that it is designed efficiently is very important. All of your online marketing efforts are going to be funneled to your website, and will do no good if it is not designed efficiently.
2. What is the purpose of visiting your website? Every small business is going to have unique goals and reasons for drawing visitors to their website. Make sure that you understand fully why you want people coming to your website before moving forward.
3. Which words do potential customers associate with your product or service? This question is useful to ask when designing ad copy, but is just as useful for SEO. Google makes it easy to do this kind of research, and spending some effort on it will prepare you for SEO.
4. How much do you know about SEO? Even if you don't plan on having an in house SEO specialist, knowing how SEO works will help with trusting an outside specialist. You need to know how to communicate with the consultant as well as how to measure the success.
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