Is SEO Worth It For Small Businesses?

Search engine optimization (SEO) is the key to helping small businesses be more successful. SEO directly affects search engine rankings, which is how customers find you online. Reaching the top of the search engine ranks can multiply your traffic exponentially, which is why small businesses should focus on improving SEO. Here is a deeper look at how SEO affects small businesses and why it is always worth the investment.

What is SEO?

SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization, and it is the process of improving your website’s ranking in search engines to drive more organic traffic to your website. The SEO process is not a short-term strategy; it requires a long-term investment. SEO takes time to build up momentum, but it’s an effective way to build your brand and increase your website’s conversion rate over time. 

The best way to think about SEO is to consider the internet as a whole. The internet has billions of users, and the majority of these users do not speak English. These are potential customers searching for products and services in their native language. As a business owner, you want to make sure your website is available and easily accessible to these users. 

Think back to when you searched online for something. Which website showed up first in Googles’ rankings? How far down the list did you go before you found the answer that you wanted? This is how most people search the internet for something. If you can get your company’s website close to the top of this list, it can be a major boost to your conversions and sales. 

Why is SEO Worth the Investment for Small Businesses?

Search engine optimization is important because it increases your visibility online and opens up a whole new world of potential customers. Increased traffic, leads, sales and revenue are all things a small business should strive for.

The more traffic you have, the more people will see your website. The more people that visit your site, the better chance you have of converting them into customers. There is always a decent amount of traffic available in SEO and it can be highly cost-effective as well.

Over time, your SEO investment will pay off in the form of more leads, more customers, and higher ROI. You’ll be able to focus your time and energy on what matters most — providing stellar products and services to your customers. 

How Does SEO Work?

Search engine optimization can be done in many different ways. In a nutshell, you just need to balance the things that search engines look for with your own priorities. 

For example, Google prioritizes good content over everything else. Then, it focuses on things like keyword use and good page structure. Your website should focus on having good content that also uses keywords appropriately and is structured properly. Google will rank it higher than other websites and that will increase your traffic.

Optimize Your Website’s Code Too

Another thing that you can do is build your website in a way that is SEO friendly. What you want to do is ensure that your website is coded in a way that the search engines will understand it. This means proper use of meta tags and a general understanding of how the engines work.

Create SEO-Friendly Content

Next is getting some content on the web that will be good for the search engines to find. This can be done easily by writing blog posts, press releases and other content that helps drive traffic and make your site visible. Start with the content on your home page, contact page, about page, and landing pages for your services or products. Then, start blogging regularly using keywords to increase your authority on topics. As people start to come to your site for answers, Google will continue to move your website up the list of search results. 

Track Your Progress With Analytics

Knowing if your SEO efforts are working requires the use of analytics platforms to measure performance. Analytics are simply the measure of how your website performs in terms of traffic and several other factors. The more you can improve your analytics scores, the better your website performs. This, in turn, prompts search engines to raise your ranking to provide better services to other users. 

This is why it’s important to have a measurement strategy in place. SEO is not a set-and-forget strategy. It is an ongoing process that requires monitoring and tracking. You should be able to track your search engine rankings, website traffic, and conversion rate so you can make adjustments as needed. SEO best practices for small businesses. 

How To Do Effective SEO for Small Businesses

It’s important to remember that SEO is a marathon, not a sprint. You must be consistent and persistent in order to see your efforts pay off. 

Plan Your Keywords

Keywords are words that search engines look for when trying to find information about a specific topic. Using them in your content makes search engines index your site as a possible answer when people ask about different topics. 

Start out by creating a list of potential keywords that people might search in order to find your product or service. Think about what your customers are searching for, as well as what keywords would help you rank higher in search engines. You can use keyword research tools like Google Keyword Planner or SEMrush to identify the best keywords to target. 

Build a Website for SEO

Spend time focusing on making your website SEO friendly. Start by creating an effective site structure and design. Make sure you have an easy-to-navigate website with consistent branding. 

Make Search Engines Want to Index Your Website

Next, make your website content more discoverable. Focus on creating engaging content that your customers will find helpful. Add useful and relevant images, videos and graphics to break up your content and make it easier to read and understand. 

Get More Backlinks

Don’t forget to improve your backlink profile. Backlinks are links that point to your website from other websites — and they’re one of the biggest factors in determining your website’s search engine ranking. Make sure your back links are coming from reputable and relevant websites. 

SEO Best Practices for Small Businesses

As a small business owner, you may not be able to afford fancy SEO strategies. But, there are plenty of ways to optimize your website for search engines without breaking the bank. By following these simple SEO best practices for small businesses, you can significantly improve your website’s online presence and boost your website’s search engine rankings. 

Content Quality Always Comes First

Your website’s content is the foundation of your SEO strategy. If your content isn’t engaging, you won’t get any traffic. Start by creating a blog that publishes relevant and interesting content. 

Optimize Your Website’s URL Structure

If you want your website’s content to be found, you need to make it easy to find. Start by optimizing your URL structure. Make sure your website’s URL is descriptive and relevant to the content on your page. 

Build a Backlink Network

Backlinks are a crucial part of your SEO strategy. Start by building high-quality backlinks. Make sure the websites linking to your website are relevant and reputable. Also, make sure that those backlinks don’t break over time. You want to have as many backlinks as possible, expanding your net, and gaining points for search engines. 

SEO Mistakes to Avoid

There are plenty of mistakes you can make during the SEO process. Avoid making these mistakes so you can make the most out of your SEO efforts. 

Don’t Try To “Game” the System

Trying to “game” the system by using aggressive SEO techniques will only get you banned from search engines. Focus on creating high-quality content that’s relevant to your target audience. 

Don’t Ignore Mobile

Google has made it clear that mobile is a priority. If you’re not optimizing your website for mobile, you’re missing out on a huge opportunity. Make sure your website is responsive and optimized for mobile devices. 

Don’t Forget to Analyze Your Competition

You can’t ignore your competition. You need to know what they’re doing and how you can outrank them. Study your competition and see what they’re doing right and wrong.

Contact Answer Aide to Learn More About How An Answering Service Can Help Grow Your Business

SEO is a powerful way to grow your business. When you combine it with other strategies, such as using an answering service and scaling your team, you can have a big impact on your business. Call us to learn more about how hiring an answering service can help grow your business and support it through each phase of growth. We are here to help.

If you’re ready to get started with a professional answering service, we’re here to help. Contact Answer Aide by calling (866) 427-3500 or by filling out our online form. We’re happy to partner with you to support your business while it grows.