It’s simple: you need an SEO strategy if you have a business with an online presence. SEO is essential for creating robust and user-friendly websites that outrank your competitor’s sites. They even help you attract potential customers and boost conversion rates.
Websites that appear on the first page of search engine results experience the best engagement rates. According to research, 75% of users don’t even scroll onto the second page.
Small businesses typically compete against local and big players to make it to the first page. The vast competition is often enough to send startups and small companies cowering in their corner of low discoverability and moderate sales.
But here’s the truth: making it to the first page isn’t unattainable for small businesses. You need the right marketing strategy and best practices to rank higher and beat the competition. Here we’ve created a comprehensive guide to SEO for small businesses to set you up for lasting success:
A Quick Glance at SEO
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) describes the techniques and tactics required to ensure your website appears at the top of search engine results. Search Engine Optimization may be:
- On-Page- It comprises elements present on your website
- Off-Page- It includes features outside of your website
To ensure your website outranks its competition, remember the following components:
- Keyword research and targeting
- Local search engine optimization
- Mobile optimization
- Content creation
- Link building
SEO Statistics to Remember
These few statistics to help you understand the importance of SEO for your online presence:
- 45% of small businesses lack a website
- 53% of buyers always conduct product research before making a purchase
- The first result in Google’s search engine results enjoys an average click-through rate of 31.7%
- Up to 97% of viewers learn about a local brand through the internet
Tips and Tricks to Optimize Your SEO Marketing Strategy
Here are seven tips and tricks essential for creating the ideal SEO marketing strategy:
Create a Good Website Structure
No one expects you to create the perfect website, but it does need to meet specific guidelines. For instance, loading speed, site structure, security, and links are essential for SEO and user experience.
More importantly, your website should be easy-to-navigate, include outbound links, and describe products/services, and more.
In simpler words, your website should be logical.
Find the Right Keywords but Don’t Overstuff
Identify the keywords your clients use when looking for a relevant product/service. For instance, if you’re selling electronics, your customers might be using ‘fridge’ instead of ‘refrigerator.’ And by stuffing your website with the word ‘refrigerator,’ you could be missing out on potential customers.
Avoid this by making a list of 20 to 30 keywords, then use keyword tools like Google AdWords or Moz to identify their frequency, volume searches, and competition metrics. You may even use keyword tools like Keyword Tool, SEMRush, Long Tail Pro, etc., to add relevant keywords to your list.
But ensure that you don’t distort your content or make it nonsensical by overstuffing keywords. Your priority should be getting the message across while optimizing it for search engines.
Focus on Your Unique Offerings
Competing against other businesses for online attention from potential buyers is a natural part of running a company.
To avoid getting lost in today’s oversaturated market, look for words that align with your market differentiators. It includes your USP or geographic location.
Let Google Identify Your Location
To allow Google to pinpoint your business’ location to put you in the right results, you must add up-to-date and accurate contact information. Search engines double-check your details to ensure your brand is authentic; thus, ensuring your data aligns across different platforms.
Make your account discoverable by following the steps below:
- Create an up-to-date contact page to allow customers to get in contact with you
- Focus on NAP, i.e., Name, Address, and Phone Number, such as addresses, geo-coordinates, opening hours, etc.
- Make a Google My Business account, especially if you’re a service-based company or a local business
- Add extra and valuable information and images by leveraging rich results
Keep Your Site Free of Broken Pages
Broken pages and faulty links indicate a website that’s rarely updated and neglected- and they’re bad for visitors and SEO.
Consider conducting an in-depth audit of your website to pinpoint existing issues. Then, focus on solving these problems either yourself or hiring an SEO specialist.
Get Social
Social media is essential for creating a killer SEO strategy since more people conduct product research.
According to research, up to 42% of people leverage social media for product research and eventual purchase. Thus, your company’s social media profile, content, and info also rank in search engine results when people surf for relevant terms.
Add Captivating Content
Search engines help users find the best answers and solutions to their queries. So, the best way to drive significant traffic is by creating informative and compelling content.
Make your content attention-grabbing and valuable by integrating videos, photos, and articles into your marketing strategy. Ensure that you update your content frequently to keep it relevant and refreshing.
You can position yourself as a thought leader and industry expert with a high-quality content strategy.
Why Is SEO Important for Small Businesses
Here we discuss the top advantages of SEO for startups and small businesses:
- Attract more customers through organic search results
- Boost brand awareness and growth
- Create a trustworthy web experience for customers
- Offers a competitive edge
- Allows you to enjoy targeted traffic
- Encourages you to focus on user experience
The Bottom Line
SEO is essential for all startups and small businesses, regardless of industry. Although there are endless methods of growing your online presence, like affiliate marketing, e-books, or webinars, none are as effective at fuelling brand awareness and growth as SEO.
Create the perfect SEO marketing strategy today with the help of Firestarter SEO to amplify your brand’s exposure and sales. Our industry experts have the experience and industry knowledge necessary to create an SEO marketing strategy that aligns with your unique business needs.
Sources
https://markitors.com/small-business-seo/
https://ahrefs.com/blog/small-business-seo/
https://blog.alexa.com/small-business-seo-tips/
https://digitaldomination.com.au/seo-worth-paying/
https://yoast.com/ultimate-guide-to-small-business-seo/
https://www.liveplan.com/blog/seo-benefits-small-businesses/
https://www.benchmarkone.com/blog/seo-startups-small-businesses/
https://www.webfx.com/internet-marketing/does-seo-work-for-small-business.html
https://techdayhq.com/community/articles/the-benefits-of-seo-for-small-businesses
