When there are questions about the strength of the economy, businesses face numerous challenges to staying competitive and generating revenue.
As the world changes, having a strong online presence is more important than ever. This is where search engine optimization (SEO) can play a crucial role. By optimizing websites for search engines, businesses are able to increase their online visibility and attract more traffic, leads, and sales.
We will dive into the importance of SEO and how it can help businesses stay afloat during tough times. We’ll also provide some tips and insights on how businesses can leverage SEO to create a stable flow of leads and revenue.
According to a survey by BrightLocal, 97% of consumers use the internet to search for local businesses.
This means that small businesses need to have a strong online presence to be found by potential customers.
What is SEO (Search engine optimization)
Search engine optimization (SEO) is the process of optimizing a website to improve its visibility and ranking on search engine results pages (SERPs).
SEO plays a crucial role in the success of any business, especially small businesses, and startups, by helping them get found online by potential customers. By incorporating targeted keyword strategies into their website content, optimizing their website structure and design, and building high-quality backlinks, businesses can climb the rankings and find more potential businesses.
In today’s digital age, having a strong online presence is essential for businesses to succeed. Consumers are regularly using search engines to find local businesses and check reviews to decide where to make their next purchase or who they should hire.
And it should be no surprise that the businesses that appear on the first page are getting 99% of all the business out there.
By investing in SEO, businesses can improve their online visibility, attract more traffic, and generate more leads and sales.
If a business doesn’t produce revenue, it doesn’t make it business very long. And if a business doesn’t have a consistent lead source to turn into potential customers, it can lead to a rollercoaster effect for monthly revenue.
SEO as a Cost-Effective Strategy
Some of you might be thinking…the reason I haven’t invested in SEO is that it’s too expensive!
It’s true, SEO requires an investment – especially on the front end when it comes to optimizing a website and creating an effective strategy. But like any investment, it’s up to you to decide if it’s right for your business. But there’s good news, the front-end investment for SEO should be the most you’ll spend. Once your website is optimized and your ranking for the right keywords, you can back off on how much effort is needed to maintain the same lead flow!
Especially when compared to traditional marketing methods like print ads, television commercials, and direct mail which can be expensive, and may not reach a large enough audience to justify the cost.
It is important to understand the difference between Demand Creation vs. Demand Capture.
Difference between Demand Creation vs. Demand Capture
Demand Creation – creating demand for a product or service using marketing – think commercials, billboards, or other types of advertising
Demand Capture – capturing the demand for a product or service using marketing – think paid Ads, SEO optimization, or other types of inbound lead capture
Why is this important? Well let’s pretend we see a commercial for a service that we could use – it CREATES the demand. But most of us will then go to our favorite search engine to find the best local SEO company to perform that service. We look at their website, reviews, and anything we can find on their business. And if they check the boxes, they CAPTURE our demand.
Would you rather Create Demand? Or Capture it?
SEO can help you capture demand and provide long-term benefits. While there may be some upfront costs associated with optimizing a website, such as hiring an SEO company or investing in keyword research tools, the ongoing cost of maintaining a strong SEO strategy is generally much lower than other forms of marketing or advertising.
Additionally, SEO can generate organic traffic to a website, which means that businesses do not have to pay for each click or impression. Organic traffic can continue to drive results even during tough economic conditions, when businesses may not have as much money to spend on marketing.
By investing in SEO, businesses can:
– Improve their online visibility
– Attract more traffic to their website
– And generate more leads to turn into happy customers
Overall, SEO can act as a cost-effective strategy that can help businesses stay competitive and drive long-term business success. By investing in SEO and staying up-to-date with the latest trends and best practices, businesses can attract more customers, generate more revenue, and stay ahead of the competition.
Why SEO is Important when the Economy is Questionable
Implementing an SEO strategy can help your business regardless of what the economy is doing. But especially when things aren’t looking great, there are some key benefits SEO can provide:
Some Key Benefits of SEO
1. Increased online visibility: By optimizing their website for SEO, small businesses can improve their online visibility and get in front of customers searching for solutions.
2. More targeted traffic: SEO can help small businesses attract more targeted traffic to their website. This means they can get in front of qualified leads that are more likely to buy!
3. Cost-effective marketing: As discussed earlier, SEO is a cost-effective marketing strategy that can provide long-term benefits at a relatively low cost.
4. Competitive advantage: By implementing effective SEO strategies, small businesses can stay competitive in their industry and attract more customers than the competition.
5. Improved user experience: By optimizing websites for search engines, small businesses can improve the user experience for visitors. For many people, a company’s website creates a first impression.
And better first impressions lead to more engagement, conversions, and business.
Overall, implementing a strong SEO strategy can be the deciding factor if a business makes it or not, especially if there’s a dip in the market.
Conclusion
It’s okay to be uncertain about the economy. Don’t be uncertain about your business.
It’s more important than ever for companies to find cost-effective ways to attract new customers while maintaining growth. SEO is a powerful tool that can do just that by improving online visibility, attracting more website traffic, and generating more leads.
Do you know where your website stands when it comes to SEO? Contact us and we can perform a free site audit and 30-minute consultation on your website and SEO strategy.