Introduction
Remember when SEO used to be this incredibly prohibitive exercise that only larger businesses would typically show interest in? The trend hasn’t really changed over the years; less than 50% of small businesses actually use some form of SEO in their marketing strategy, as of 2024. On the other hand, over 88% of marketers who use SEO already, plan to continue for the future, as of 2024.
The power of search has been well documented in the era of the digital. SEMRush reports that over 87% of consumers looked up local businesses via Google, and organic web searches made up around 71% of the total searches online. But small businesses continue on their conservative approach to marketing, preferring word-of-mouth, and maybe a basic static website, to a full-blown SEO strategy. Understandably, these approaches use very few resources and are far easier to implement.
If you’re a small business owner and you’ve found this article, read on to find out how SEO can help you, and how it can be affordable.
The Significance of SEO for Small Business Growth
To get down to brass tacks: SEO plays a vital role in driving organic website traffic, which refers to visitors who find your website through search engines like Google and Bing. By tuning your website for relevant keywords and search queries by the visitors, you increase your chances of appearing at the top of the search results pages (SERPs). This improved visibility translates into increased brand awareness, attracting potential customers actively searching for products or services like yours.
How does SEO compare to traditional advertising, you ask? Here’s a table that helps distinguish the differences.
Of course, your brand is likely not the only brand in its segment. Many businesses compete for visibility online, which is why your website and its content need to be optimised for SEO the right way.
There are compelling reasons why small businesses should consider affordable SEO plans. Compared to traditional advertising methods, SEO offers a long-term and cost-effective approach to online marketing. Once your website is optimised, it continues to generate organic traffic without ongoing ad spend. SEO also allows you to target your ideal customers by focusing on keywords they are likely to use when searching for businesses like yours. This targeted approach ensures you reach the right audience, maximising the return on your investment.
SEO further levels the playing field by empowering small businesses to compete with larger corporations online. By implementing effective SEO strategies, you can improve your search ranking and gain valuable online real estate, even against established competitors.
The Benefits Of SEO For Small Businesses
- Increased Website Traffic Through Organic Search
By ranking higher in search results for relevant keywords, you attract more organic visitors to your website. This organic traffic represents potential customers actively searching for the products or services you offer. - Higher Ranking in Search Engine Results Pages (SERPs)
A higher ranking in Search Engine Results Pages (SERPs) acts as a digital billboard for your business, placing it front and centre for potential customers actively searching for solutions you provide. The higher your website ranks in SERPs, the more prominent your digital storefront becomes. - Enhanced Brand Visibility and Awareness
Increased website traffic and higher search engine rankings lead to greater brand awareness. As more people encounter your website in search results, your brand name becomes more recognizable, fostering trust and credibility. - Cost-Effectiveness Compared to Traditional Advertising
SEO offers a long-term and cost-effective approach to online marketing compared to traditional advertising methods like print ads or television commercials. While SEO requires ongoing effort, the returns can be substantial, attracting qualified leads without the constant expense of ad placements. - Generating Leads 24/7
A well-optimised website acts as a silent salesperson, working for you 24/7. By appearing in search results for relevant keywords, you capture potential customers actively searching for solutions you provide, even outside of your regular business hours.
How Small Businesses Can Improve SEO
While there are multiple ways of optimising your website’s SEO, the core principles of good SEO lies in the following:
Keyword Research: The Foundation of Targeted Traffic
Keyword research is the cornerstone of any effective SEO strategy. Imagine keywords as the bridge between your target audience and your website. By identifying relevant keywords with high search volume, you understand the search terms people use to find businesses like yours. However, simply focusing on high-volume keywords isn't enough. You also need to consider your competition. Targeting keywords with low competition allows you to rank higher in SERPs faster, maximising your return on investment.
On-Page Optimization: Sending the Right Signals
Once you've identified your target keywords, on-page optimization involves strategically integrating them throughout your website's content and elements. This helps search engines understand the relevance of your website to specific search queries. Appropriate header, title and meta tags for your webpages, organic keyword placement throughout the page, and adding alt text are a few ways you can optimise each webpage.
Content Creation: Building Authority and Trust
If keyword research is the cornerstone, high-quality content is the lifeblood of any successful SEO strategy. Informative, engaging, and valuable content establishes your website as a trusted authority in your industry. High quality content can also potentially encourage them to take desired actions, such as making a purchase or contacting your business. This is especially relevant with the paradigm shift in search that is taking over the internet slowly, programmatic SEO, where pages are displayed based on intent and not strictly keywords.
Technical SEO: The Foundation for Search Engine Visibility
Technical SEO ensures your website is built in a way that search engines can easily crawl, understand, and index. While it may not be as noticeable as content creation, a technically sound website is crucial for SEO success. In today's mobile-first world, your website must be responsive and deliver a seamless user experience across all devices. The focus here is on optimising website speed by minimising code and image sizes, thereby ensuring that the website structure allows search engine crawlers to easily access and index all your content.
Off-Page Optimization: Building Credibility with Backlinks
Off-page optimization focuses on building backlinks, which are links from other websites pointing back to your website. Search engines view backlinks as a vote of confidence and credibility. The more high-authority websites linking to your content, the greater search engines perceive your website as trustworthy and relevant.
Finding the Right Affordable SEO Service Provider
Choosing the right SEO service provider is essential for maximising your return on investment. Here are some key factors to consider:
- Evaluating an SEO Company's Track Record and Client Success Stories: Look for an SEO company with a proven track record of success in helping small businesses achieve their SEO goals. Request case studies and client testimonials to understand their approach and effectiveness.
- Importance of Choosing a Provider Focused on Results: Focus on partnering with an SEO service provider that prioritises results and delivers measurable improvements in your website traffic and search ranking.
- Considerations for Monthly Reporting and Communication Practices: Transparent communication is key. Ensure the SEO service provider offers regular reports detailing the work performed and the progress achieved. Open communication channels allow you to ask questions and stay informed about the SEO efforts undertaken on your behalf.
Measuring Your SEO Success: A Data-Driven Approach
To measure the effectiveness of your SEO efforts, you need to become familiar with key performance indicators (KPIs). Track website traffic to understand how many visitors you're attracting organically. Monitor keyword rankings to see if your website is climbing the search results pages for your targeted keywords. Most importantly, track conversions, whether it's sign-ups, sales, or other desired actions visitors take on your website. By analysing these metrics, you can gauge the return on investment (ROI) of your SEO strategy and identify areas for improvement.
The SEO Marathon: Consistency is Key
Just like you wouldn't expect to win a race overnight, significant SEO improvements take time and consistent effort. Even after achieving good rankings, ongoing website optimization and fresh content creation are crucial for maintaining your position and adapting to search engine algorithm updates. By consistently fine-tuning your website and providing valuable content, you can ensure long-term SEO success.
DIY vs. Pro: Finding the Right Balance
The beauty of affordable SEO services is that they can complement your own efforts. There's value in learning basic SEO principles! Familiarise yourself with on-page optimization techniques and tackle tasks like keyword research and content creation. For more complex aspects like technical SEO audits or link-building strategies, leverage the expertise of an affordable SEO service provider. This way, you can get the best of both worlds: maintaining control over your content and strategy while benefiting from professional guidance for a well-rounded SEO approach.
No (Search) Query Left Unturned
Before signing with an SEO company, don't hesitate to ask questions! Discuss your business goals and ensure their strategy aligns with achieving them. Be upfront about timelines, but also realistic. Investigate the firm’s SEO approach to confirm it uses current best practices and ethical tactics. Finally, set clear expectations for communication and reporting to stay informed and ask questions throughout the process.
If you’re thinking of going back to Google and searching for “Affordable SEO for small business”, you’re already in the right place. Gush leverages the power of AI to bring you traffic to your website at 10x the speed of conventional SEO providers. With over 100 businesses signing up every month for one of Gush’s flexible and affordable plans, there’s no reason you should hold back.
Schedule a free trial with us today to begin your journey towards better SEO.
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