With the scope of SEO rapidly changing, competition becoming more fierce, and some even saying that SEO is dead, many brands and businesses are changing how they market their businesses online. We are here to tell you that SEO is not dead and show you six reasons why your business still needs SEO if you want to succeed online:

Organic Search is Still Most Often the Primary Source of Web Traffic

Getting your business naturally discovered in the search engines, also known as organic search, is a massive part of your website performance and a significant part of the buyer funnel. It is ultimately the first step to getting users to complete engagement or conversion. Google owns a significantly more substantial portion of the search market than its competitors, but that’s not to say that all search engines don’t contribute to a brand’s visibility. Google owns about 75% of the search market, so it’s the clear-cut leader and the guidelines you want to follow. When you are a trusted resource by Google and other search engines, you are highly visible; it will always work in your favor. What gets you there are quality SEO and a high-quality website.

Good SEO Creates a Better User Experience

As SEO has continued to grow and evolve over the years, Google has learned how to differentiate a pleasant web experience from an unfavorable one. As such, creating a positive user experience has become a critical element of your website’s success and ranking. Customers know what they want now more than ever, and if they can’t find it, it will be a problem. As a result, your performance (ranking) will suffer.

A well-executed, good SEO strategy incorporates building a positive user experience. Positive user experience is a crucial factor for any digital marketing campaign and one of the many factors that SEO can help work in its favor. It means knowing the information your users are looking for in the first place and then making it easy to find on your website.

SEO Impacts the Buying Cycle

Customers do their research, which is one of the most significant advantages of the Internet from a buying perspective. Using search engine optimization tactics to relay your messaging for good deals, products, and services is one way to reach them. However, it’s also essential to convey the dependability of what you offer customers. When you do this right, it will have a positive impact on your buying cycle. Your brand needs to be visible where people need to find it to create an excellent connection to you. The more connections you have, the stronger your brand becomes, and the stronger your brand becomes, the more profit you stand to earn.

SEO is Relatively Affordable

SEO costs money, but all the best things do. However, looking at the bigger picture, SEO is relatively affordable, and the payoff will typically be considerable regarding your benefit and bottom line. If you’re thinking of SEO as a marketing cost, it’s time to consider it a real business investment. Good as the implementation today will benefit your business for years to come. And,  like most things in life, it will only improve with more attention and investment.

SEO is the Long-Term Strategy

SEO takes time to see actual results. However, it can have a noticeable impact within the first 12 months. Many of those actions will impact your business in ways that last for several years. As the market continues to evolve, it’s essential to follow the trends and change clothes later. But even websites that haven’t had any SEO recommendations implemented, 10 improved from basic SEO best practices as long as they are honest websites with decent user experience. The more time, effort, and budget you can commit to your SEO strategy, the better and longer your site will be a worthy contender in your market.

Local SEO Increases Engagement, Traffic, and Conversions

As mobile traffic has grown to dominate search, local search has become a fundamental part of small business success and e-commerce conversions. Local SEO is designed to optimize your website for a specific facility so people can find you easily and quickly. This puts them one step closer to a transaction. These local optimizations focus on particular regions, cities, towns, and even states to establish brand messaging locally. SEO professionals optimize the brand’s website and content to include local citations and backlinks, and local listings relevant to the location and business sector the brand belongs to.

Even if you don’t have a massive budget for SEO right now, making some effort is better than none. If you’re interested in learning how the team here at SEO, Inc. can help your business grow while competing in search engines, contact us today.