And frankly, it was never easy. Maybe back in 2010, when marketers could trick Google with keyword stuffing, PBNs, and various other methods, such as using backlinks in message board posts. There was also much less competition.
These days, basically every keyword group and niche is taken by well-known sites and is hard to beat. However, small businesses have endless opportunities to rank in their niches with the right keywords.
In this article, we will discuss how you, as a small business, can boost your SEO and get organic traffic.
What is SEO for small businesses?
SEO (search engine optimization) for small businesses is a combination of strategies that get your page on Google traffic, clicks, and conversions. In other words, it makes your website appear higher in search results so that your business is more recognizable, outranking your competitors.
If your local and online SEO strategy is effective, your website should appear on the first page of search results, like the links below.
Did you know that according to Search Engine Journal, 25% of people click on the first page of search results? Aside from that, the first page in search results gets an average CTR of 31.7%, according to Backlinko. These statistics are powerful reminders that SEO is crucial for organic traffic.
Is it 100% necessary to do SEO?
Well, let’s put it this way: if you don’t have an elaborate SEO strategy , you are at a serious disadvantage to your competition. Their SEO efforts will keep them climbing the ladder while your page sits at the bottom and never rises.
Not to mention that your organic traffic will suffer, and if your business relies heavily on online marketing, this could have serious consequences for your business.
How SEO Benefits Small Businesses
As mentioned above, SEO is crucial to the success of your business . But let’s dive deeper into that.
What benefits does SEO have specifically?
Increase organic traffic from search engines
The most significant benefit of SEO for small businesses is the organic traffic it generates. Not only does organic traffic help you save money on things like paid advertising, but it typically attracts leads who are further along in the buying process.
Your organic traffic leads are more likely to end up purchasing your products since they are searching for specific queries.
Ranking on the first page of search engines is necessary to be seen by the most customers. And if you're in the first position, you can double your click-through rate on the number two result, according to Smart Insights.
Even better, getting the featured snippet can help you jump above the number one spot and give you a double chance at more organic traffic.
Replace expensive paid ads
Now, you might be wondering if paid advertising is an alternative to investing in SEO. Let’s look at an example of cat grooming where the first three links are ads.
Paid ads “artificially” allow your links to appear first on Google.
It can be a good idea in many cases, leading to faster results. The real question is whether those results are sustainable for your business or will be short-lived.
Paid advertising can cost a lot of money, especially if you use it iraq whatsapp number data constantly as a substitute for SEO. Another drawback is that clicks never guarantee sales. It's one thing to get people to click on your ad, but you have to convince them that your product is worth buying.
So, paid advertising has its benefits, such as increased reach and improved targeting, and should be used as part of a marketing strategy. But it is not a valid replacement for SEO altogether.
Increase the number of new potential customers
Every new lead presents a unique opportunity. New potential customers can become long-term clients, recommend your services/products to their networks, and leave persuasive reviews on your website.
It is essential for a small business to constantly seek out new potential customers to increase the customer database.
SEO Tips for Small Businesses
Now that we’ve gone over the importance and benefits of SEO for small businesses, let’s dive into the tips.
