9 Awesome SEO Benefits for Businesses and Enterprises
Every year, businesses around the world spend more than $600 billion on search engine optimisation.
For many business owners, though, SEO is a bit baffling. Why are people spending so much on SEO? Some people even feel SEO isn’t all that important and that their money would be better spent on social media or other forms of marketing.
These nine SEO benefits ought to convince you otherwise. Adding SEO to your marketing mix might be one of the best investments you can make.
1. SEO Drives Brand Awareness
If you asked, “Why is SEO important?”, the first answer you’d be given would likely be about search engine result pages.
You might wonder why it’s so important to rank #1 or even #2 on Google. The answer has a lot to do with brand awareness.
People tend not to look at search results past the top three or so spots. If you’re not at the top of the page, potential customers may not even be aware that you exist.
SEO will help you get on their radar by putting your website front and centre in their search results. You may not win the click every time, but they’ll come to recognise your company name and URL. The next time they happen to see your name or logo, they’ll remember.
2. SEO Increases Leads and Conversions
Another reason why SEO is important for businesses is that it increases leads, conversions, and sales.
It’s no secret that organic search results get more clicks than PPC ad results. Today’s consumers are savvy, and they don’t click ads unless they want to.
Good SEO ensures that your website content ranks for relevant keywords. When someone searches for a product you carry, your website will be high in the rankings.
These users are already motivated to buy, so they’re much more likely to convert when they land on your page. Even if the visit doesn’t turn into a sale immediately, there’s a good chance this person would welcome the opportunity to talk to you about what you offer.
3. It Optimises the User Experience
SEO does more than get people to click a link and come to your website. Good SEO focuses on the experience a user has when they land on your site.
The technical aspects of SEO, such as higher site speed and mobile-friendliness, are geared to making sure users have a good experience. Not only do they find the information they’re looking for, but they also find a speedy site with beautiful images and great navigation.
In turn, your brand becomes more trustworthy. The next time the customer is looking for information or even to make a purchase, they may think of you.
4. SEO Benefits Other Marketing Efforts
What other SEO benefits can your business realise? One of the most overlooked is how SEO affects the rest of your marketing strategy.
Take, for example, search engine marketing. PPC ads tend to have lower conversion rates. They’re important for highly competitive keywords, as it may be more difficult to rank.
Good SEO builds brand recognition and credibility. That, in turn, makes it more likely someone will click your PPC ad.
SEO will also help social media advertising since it builds brand awareness. It may also drive visibility, which will encourage people to share and engage with your website. In turn, your social media efforts will see a boost.
5. Connect with Your Local Audience
Perhaps one of the biggest benefits of SEO is its ability to connect you with your local audience. Local search has grown by leaps and bounds in the last few years, and many business owners are keen to cash in on the trend.
Local SEO helps you rank higher for “near me” searches. In turn, your business may see an increase in telephone calls and walk-in visits. Most “near me” searches turn into in-person visits, and most of these visits convert to sales.
6. It’s Affordable
Many small businesses have shoestring marketing budgets and there are many different outlets. Should you invest in social media ads or run a PPC campaign?
Larger businesses may still find it difficult to justify the high costs of a high-quality TV or radio spot. Other traditional ad spaces can cost a pretty penny.
SEO, on the other hand, is often quite affordable. With its high ROI and the benefits it has for other marketing efforts, it becomes an even smarter way to invest your budget.
7. It Gives you a Leg up on the Competition
One thing that can be difficult for a small business is to compete effectively against larger competitors. They may be able to fund slick video production or billboard ads. If your industry is crowded, you may find your marketing message getting lost in the crowd.
The beauty of SEO is that it doesn’t need to be all that expensive to be effective. Almost anyone can excel at SEO, and that could give you an advantage over your larger competitors.
8. It Gives You a Measuring Stick
Another reason why SEO is indispensable for the modern business is that it gives you the ability to track your success. You can tweak an SEO factor, then track your website and SERP ranking to see if it’s working.
With the numbers in hand, it’s much easier to see where you’re successful and where you might need to improve. These insights can guide your strategy forward, helping you to benefit even more from your SEO efforts.
9. SEO is Here for the Long Haul
One drawback of SEO is that it can take some time to start showing results. That’s one of the reasons it isn’t a short-term fix for most businesses.
While some might see this as a problem, it’s one reason businesses should invest in their SEO. Unlike an ad campaign that’s here today and gone tomorrow, SEO has staying power. It’s a long-term strategy you can put in place today and continue to adjust over the long haul.
Do SEO the Right Way
These aren’t the only SEO benefits available to your business, but they are some of the most convincing.
If you’re ready to adopt SEO and see real results, then it’s time to get in touch with the experts. They’ll help you implement SEO the right way and power forward your marketing success.