Working on your SEO can seem like an arduous task, but it’s actually well worth the effort for businesses of all kinds. By employing search engine optimization (SEO), you’ll be able to get your website seen by millions of potential customers who are searching online for products and services like yours. So, if you want to improve your online presence, increase your conversions, and boost your revenue, here are ten benefits of SEO you should know about.
1. Google likes your website
A well-optimized website will show on the first page of Google’s search engine results and it’s something that many business owners strive for in order to maximize exposure, increased traffic, and higher conversions. Google loves fresh content, so a regular blog can also help your SEO efforts.
If you are looking at a variety of SEO services in order to outsource, make sure that you are being provided with a way to enhance your presence on Google. Many turn to SEO agencies, but web-owners can optimize their websites themselves, though it may take some trial and error.
One of the most common methods of improving SEO is by ensuring that the content being published is reliable, high quality, and original. Google wants its users to be happy with their experience and so they value websites that offer comprehensive content because it makes them feel like they’re getting good value for money.
Another thing that impacts how well your site ranks is the number of backlinks pointing to it from external sites; these backlinks function like votes telling Google that this website deserves a higher ranking than others.
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2. The more organic traffic you get, the less AdWords you have to spend
Organic traffic is the lifeblood of most businesses because these visitors are usually ready to buy what you’re selling. It’s cost-effective and allows you to better implement strategies in the long run. In other words, good SEO can save you money. It doesn’t cost anything to invest in the basics of SEO and see if it works for your business. It only takes a few hours each month, so there’s no reason not to try it out and see what happens. A great place to start is with Yoast SEO because they offer plenty of tutorials and templates that will help get you started.
3. Organic traffic brings in leads and sales
“Organic traffic is the best kind of traffic because it’s made up of people who are actually interested in what you have to offer.” – as quoted by Sam McEwin in his recent interview. Sam is a vastly experienced digital marketer who is also the founder & director of BizWisdom.
When you rank higher in search results, you’ll get more organic traffic, and that can lead to more leads and sales. Naturally, that means that you will also be able to improve engagement, sales, and credibility. Properly implemented SEO will also enhance brand awareness, which will inevitably generate more sales down the line. Companies with a large online presence whether through quality content or high engagement will be able to grow their businesses and create a class of their own, setting them apart from the competition.
4. Establish yourself as an authority
Having an online presence is one way to make customers or potential clients take your business seriously. When your business shows up in search results, it creates an association that your business is an answer to their search query. If your business isn’t showing up as a top result, it may be time to optimize your site. Fortunately, there are many tools available today that can help make this task easier for you. They range from completely free services like WordPress SEO by Yoast to paid tools such as MOZ or Ahrefs.
5. Low-cost traffic leads to low conversion rates
You may be able to get some low-cost traffic through SEO, but if those visitors don’t convert into paying customers, then your efforts aren’t doing much for your bottom line. In order to make money from your website, you need visitors who are interested in what you have to offer and who are willing to pay for it. SEO can help you get in front of more qualified leads, which can lead to higher conversion rates and more sales.
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6. Targeted traffic from paid ads costs a lot
Users are more likely to trust a site that appears higher in the search engine results pages (SERPs) and is, therefore, less likely to bounce away from it. A higher ranking also indicates to users that your site is more relevant to their search, which can encourage them to click through to your content. Once users are on your site, engagement metrics like time on site and pages per visit can increase dramatically if they find your content relevant and easy to navigate. All of these factors together can result in increased conversions, whether you’re selling products, services, or collecting leads for your business.
7. The best time to start on your website is now
If you start your own website, then you’ll get more traffic, and you will be able to track your progress. Moreover, it’s a long-term strategy that will improve your business’s discoverability. You’ll generate leads and sales. It’s cost-effective marketing that will help you build brand awareness and trust.
8. Get in front of your customers
SEO can help to draw traffic to your site. But don’t just focus on numbers – if your visitors aren’t satisfied with what they find when they arrive at your site, then you won’t get repeat visitors. Keep up with what people are searching for using tools like Google Trends or Keyword Planner which will show you the trends of keyword popularity over time.
9. Boost brand awareness
As mentioned above, being at the top of search engine results pages (SERPs) gives the impression that your company or brand is the answer or solution. Furthermore, since users are more likely to trust and click on results that appear higher up on SERPs, this can lead to increased traffic and conversions for your website. It also helps you get closer to achieving an ever-important goal: being among the first few results on SERPs.
For example, when people search for real estate, they want to see all relevant websites come up with that term as part of their titles or tags. So, when you’re already at the top, they’re much less likely to scroll down and find other options because they assume you have what they need. On the other hand, if you don’t rank high enough in the SERPs, then people may not know about your business at all.
10. Drive traffic through social media
SEO doesn’t focus solely on Google because Search Engine Optimization also means that you should be optimized for all types of search engines available. Many people do not take social media into consideration. Platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn are also search engines and powerful ones at that. By promoting your content on social media, you can reach a wider audience and improve your website’s search engine rankings. Plus, social media SEO can help you build relationships with potential and current customers.
According to HubSpot, 60% of consumers said they trust recommendations from people they know more than other forms of advertising. With social media as the fastest-growing form of online communication, it’s no wonder why people are turning to their networks for advice. You want your website to be that trusted source for those who turn to their friends, family members, and co-workers for information.
If you’re able to establish yourself as an authority in your industry by participating in conversations on social media sites, then people will be more likely to click through to read what you have written on your blog or check out some of the products you offer through your eCommerce store.
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The bottom line
Increasing your website’s search engine rankings can have a direct impact on your bottom line. SEO means that you’ll increase your site’s visibility and in turn, attract more visitors. In short, Search engine optimization can assist you to enhance your website’s bottom line. Better ranking websites tend to have greater conversion rates.
One study found that the average conversion rate for pages ranked number one was 17 percent higher than for those ranked 10th or lower. Plus, higher ranking websites receive more traffic from search engines, which means they will see an increase in both quality and quantity of traffic as well as an improvement in their social media presence.
Link building is also essential for ranking high in Google’s search results. It all ties back to attracting more people to your site. The better it ranks, the more people will find it and come through the door – meaning increased revenue potential. A study by Distilled found that 30% of visits are generated by only 4% of keywords. So, you want those few important keywords to be associated with high-ranking web pages on your site, so you get even more traffic from them.