What is SEO and Why is it Important?

By existing in the online world, you’ve probably heard about SEO and people blabbing on about why it’s so important.

But we’re here to tell that it really is.

If you want your business to boom online, then you need to have a firm understanding of SEO and use it to get Google to like you.

 

What is SEO?

SEO – or Search Engine Optimisation – involves steps that you can take to make your website more visible on search engines, which can increase traffic and convert users into customers.

It’s an incredibly valuable tool that you can use to establish your brand as a reputable source that considers the overall user experience.

 

So, what factors play into SEO?

Keywords

Keywords have always played a key role in improving your overall SEO, and now it’s important that you get it right.

When using keywords, it’s important you research what your customers are searching for and incorporate them into content where appropriate.

But what are keywords?

Keywords are words, terms, and phrases that potential customers use to search for content and explore the internet.

Businesses can use them to boost their ranking on search engines by making themselves valuable, relevant, and reliable for potential customers.

When selecting keywords, it’s important that you use terms that have a high search rate and low competition, so it’s easier to manage and guarantees success.

 

Content

Writing content doesn’t just help establish your brand’s identity and act as inspiration for social media content, it plays a key role in improving your SEO.

For example, if you run a dog walking business and wanted to reach your target audience, you could write a series of blogs on the best local spots for dog walkers, the most popular dog breeds, and benefits of walking your dog daily.

This content not only provides valuable information, but it will help your brand become the first thing users encounter when searching for a product or service.

When crafting content you need to ensure that it’s interesting, educational, relevant, reliable, and shareable – but there’s no limit on how you produce SEO supporting content!

 

Backlink Building

Behind the scenes, you can improve your SEO by building up high-quality backlinks to your sites from external websites, which tells search engines that your page is of interest to users as it’s authoritative and valuable.

You can build backlinks by becoming a guest blogger, creating shareable content, and building relationships with other reliable online sources.

 

Keep it Local

Whilst it’s good to attract a wider online audience, it’s important that you don’t neglect your local area.

More and more people are searching the web on their mobile devices, whether they’re walking to work, on the bus, or enjoying a cup of coffee at a nearby café.

Local SEO allows you to target people currently in the area, meaning that when they search for a particular service or product when in your town, they will see ads, listings, and your location on Google Maps.

To boost recognition in the local area, make sure that you follow best practices by creating listings, adding local pages on your website, and creating targeted ads.

 

Search Engine Marketing

 

Search Engine Marketing (SEM) is a form of paid marketing that is an integral part of your SEO strategy.

There’s a lot to choose from when it comes to SEM, including Google Ads, pay-per-click, and display adverts on websites.

Whatever you choose, SEM can help you target new audiences and even retarget current and potential customers.

You can make SEO work with SEM by developing strong campaigns driven by a combination of quality keywords, content, and paid ads.

 

Why is SEO Important for my Business?

SEO is key when it comes to making your website visible online as it makes it easier for potential customers to find you when searching for relevant products and services.

When you have high visibility, you will have a high ranking on search engines – something which every business should aim for.

With a high search ranking, you are more likely to be seen, which will mean your paid efforts should be reduced in the long run, and more traffic will be directed to your website.

If you get SEO and SEM down to a T, you can improve your brand’s authority and be seen as a reliable and relevant source for users, which can drastically boost sales.

However, to achieve the best results from working on your SEO, you need to be consistent, keep track, and alter campaigns when needed to suit keyword trends and improve the user experience.

Just remember that you need to keep on top of your SEO for it to be effective, which you can do by developing a strong strategy that focuses on your target audience.