6 Reasons Your Business Needs SEO

 With hundreds of new businesses getting launched every day, finding a way to distinguish your business from the pack can be challenging. Leveraging proven SEO techniques can help you gain an edge over competitors.

Marketing your business once meant simply placing an ad in the Yellow Pages. However, today customers are turning to search engines to find local businesses. According to a study, nearly 54% of customers under the age of 35 use search engines to find local businesses, compared to 10% who use the Yellow Pages.

Search engine optimization (SEO) has become an integral tool for every business looking to acquire new customers and stay ahead in the ever-evolving marketing landscape. A strong SEO strategy means potential customers can find you quickly on search engines and feel compelled to give your website a look. Almost 80% of searchers do not look past the first page of Google results when searching for local businesses. Therefore, if your business website does not appear on top and rank well against your competitors, you could be losing business from customers who do not know about your business.

Now, how does SEO benefit your business?

Let's say you run a food delivery business. When potential customers type "food delivery near me" into their Google search engine, your name and website should appear among the first three listings. It is crucial to remember that not every food delivery business name will appear on the first page of search results. Only those who implement extensive SEO techniques will appear at the top of the search results. Increasing your brand's visibility in search results will increase the chances that a potential customer will call you and may end up being a repeat customer.

Importance of SEO for your business

SEO is a compelling strategy that can bring more qualified leads and customers to your business. Moreover, studies have revealed that SEO has a better ROI than traditional marketing strategies such as print ads. SEO provides increased visibility, organic traffic, branding, and a high ROI to your business.

Regardless of the size and nature of your business, implementing proven SEO techniques is key to attracting more customers and strengthening your bottom line.

Here are six of the many reasons your business needs SEO:

1. Increased online visibility

When customers search online for your business, it must appear high in the rankings. Being at the top of search results puts your name in front of potential customers. Google is the world's leading search engine, so it is a strong endorsement when your business appears on top of the search results. Searchers trust Google and will trust your business when it appears at the top.

2. Improved credibility

Most customers make mental notes of the keywords they enter into search engines. In customers' minds, your website ranking is a vote of confidence. They feel that if Google trusts this business to be relevant, it must be. You may not realize it, but high search rankings make your business more credible in customers' eyes.

3. Reduced customer acquisition costs

Acquiring new customers must be one of your strategic goals. But sometimes, attracting new customers can cost you more money than what they will pay you. However, with effective SEO techniques, you can reduce the overall marketing cost because digital marketing strategies are often less expensive than other ways of advertising. This means you can bring in new customers quickly and cost-effectively. With lower marketing costs, you will have the flexibility to invest in targeted outreach programs and spend more time streamlining other strategic goals.

4. Increased online traffic

indeed, online traffic by itself may not help you make money, but would you set up your office right across from Times Square? All those people walking around the popular area may not give you any money, but some of them may notice your brand and choose to try your services. Applying the same analogy here - it is better to set up a shop on a crowded street than on a deserted island. Moreover, visitors landing on your website are qualified leads who are already interested in your services.

5. Higher ROI

SEO rewards your business at a higher rate than other forms of advertising tactics or marketing strategies. This is primarily because SEO is an inbound marketing strategy that allows you to market to qualified leads looking for products or services similar to yours. In order to convey your message effectively to your target audience, you need not take up expensive space in a newspaper or interrupt their favourite TV show. All you have to do is appear prominently on digital platforms where potential your target audience usually looks for businesses like yours. You may not even need to convince your target audience to try your products or services. As stated earlier, if you're appearing high in search results, your target audience will assume that your business is credible enough to be tried at least once.

6. Cost-effectiveness

SEO is one of the most reliable and cost-effective strategies to grow your business as it targets customers who are already searching online for products or services similar to yours. SEO can help you save money compared to traditional marketing strategies such as cold calling. While cold calling is a proven strategy, lead generation is 61% more expensive than that generated by SEO. In addition, because SEO targets customers who are already searching for your services, the traffic is more qualified than other marketing techniques, resulting in substantial cost savings.

Wrapping up

Phone books and Yellow Pages are not likely to make a comeback. And while TV and radio ads have their place in the marketplace, they are not as powerful as a well-planned SEO campaign. Investing in SEO will be an intelligent decision for your business. And what's better, it is never too late to try and excel in the SEO game. However, waiting too long for the right moment might become an endless game of catching up with competitors.