Understanding the importance of SEO for business: 7 key factors

1. Increases website traffic

SEO helps your company’s website rank higher on search engine results pages (SERPs), boosting organic search traffic to your site.

But what does this mean, exactly?

Basically, an optimized website cooperates with search engine algorithms, improving your chances of appearing on the first page of Google search. This increases the odds that a wider audience will organically discover your business online.

Organic traffic refers to website visitors who find you when researching your products or services, as opposed to intentionally searching for your site in the first place. And with 73% of clicks coming from organic searches, that’s a pretty valuable position to be in!

2. Improves Brand Visibility

When your website ranks better on search results pages, you’re naturally going to get more eyes on your business.

Getting your brand to a point where it’s super-visible online is no easy task. It’s an ongoing process that depends on a strategic approach to SEO.

With brand visibility comes brand credibility. Don’t overlook the benefits of climbing the ranks of search engine results – it may just lead to cracking your target market and getting the recognition you deserve from your dream customers!

3. Highly Cost-Effective

SEO is an ongoing investment. It takes continual maintenance and attention to make the most of your SEO efforts and keep your website performing as well as possible.

That said, it’s a much more cost-effective solution than paid advertising.

With PPC (pay-per-click) advertising, the host takes a cut of every hit you receive – it’s all there in the name!

But when you receive clicks and website traffic from your SEO efforts, you don’t have to pay a thing. You invest in the professional SEO services (which we can help you with!), and then reap all the rewards for yourself.

4. Enhances User Experience

Website optimization not only helps your website perform better on search engines, but it also boosts its overall performance.

Search engines favor websites with fresh, up-to-date content – and so does your audience!

On page SEO and off page SEO both streamline website functionality like loading speed, mobile responsiveness, and site navigation – all of which play a crucial role in end-user experience.

When 88% of online users are unlikely to revisit a website after a negative experience, it’s clear that user experience has a huge impact on your success.

5. Helps You Outrank Competition

As your search engine rankings gradually start to climb, your small business can start to compete with heavy hitters in your niche.

To get an extra edge of advantage, get super specific with your content to target your audience directly.

By performing keyword research for local SEO, you can identify the main words and phrases your target audience is using to search for your products or services online.

Pinpointing these local keywords is a great way to zero in on your niche and appeal to their search habits in those moments when they need you most.

6. Encourages Long-Term Business Growth

While everyone else is trying to go viral on social media, you can focus on growing your business in a more realistic and sustainable way.

Sure, social media is important. But if it doesn’t feel authentic to your brand personality, jumping on bandwagons and trying to keep up with what’s trending can damage the integrity of your business.

Instead, SEO allows you to invest in your future and grow at a sustainable rate so you can focus on consistent output of quality content. 

Going viral is not a sustainable business plan. SEO is an important part of your long-term business strategy, boosting visibility in a sustainable way, and reflecting the growth of your business as you progress and expand.

7. Influences The Buying Cycle

SEO plays a critical role in influencing your audience’s buying cycle when they’re researching solutions and considering a purchase.

When your business appears on their search engine results page in those crucial moments, you not only increase your chances of making a sale simply by being present, but also by reinforcing brand recognition.

Keeping your website content optimized for targeted keywords and local SEO helps you guide potential customers through the buying process, encouraging the kind of trust that’s fundamental to brand loyalty.

Optimize your website for search engines and find your SEO success with 406 Marketing

At 406 Marketing, we help small business owners create a sophisticated online presence, attract their dream local customers, and build trust and credibility with their audience. 

Let us take the stress out of your digital marketing efforts with expert website design, local SEO, website support, Google ads, and everything in between.

Reach out, and let’s get the conversation started!