If you think that 93% of online experiences beginning with a search engine is impressive, brace yourself for this – Google currently holds 90.1% of the total search engine market share. As a business owner, these statistics underscore an important reality: Search Engine Optimization (SEO) isn’t just an optional strategy anymore. It’s mandatory for business growth. This guide will elaborate on the business case for SEO, the core components of modern SEO, practical steps for implementation, common pitfalls to avoid, and how to measure SEO success.
The Business Case for SEO
Do you wonder why businesses are willing to invest $79 billion on SEO by the end of 2020? Simple. It’s because SEO works. A case in point is that of Marley Spoon, a meal kit provider that reported 150% year-over-year SEO traffic increase. Their effort to improve site speed, create unique content, and optimize their website according to Google’s guidelines helped them to multiply their revenue by 10 within a year.
Key Takeaway: SEO significantly improves digital visibility, boosting customer acquisition and business growth.
Core Components of Modern SEO
Modern SEO is more than just keywords and backlinks. It has evolved to include components such as User Experience (UX), comprehensive content, SSL security, and mobile responsiveness, to name a few. Take Kayak, for instance. They saw a 12% increase in search rankings by merely improving page load times and making the website design user-friendly.
Key Takeaway: A well-rounded SEO strategy that prioritizes user experience and secure browsing can boost your online presence.
Practical Implementation Steps
Embarking on your SEO journey might seem daunting, but organizations like Hasbro have proven the power of a well-executed SEO strategy. After revamping their website to align with SEO practices, they saw a 50% increase in organic website traffic. They started with keyword research, competitor analysis, on-page optimization, and backlink building.
Key Takeaway: Starting with a well-planned strategy can significantly increase your website traffic and search rankings.
Common Pitfalls and Solutions
An SEO strategy is not free from obstacles. Business owners often ignore the local aspect of SEO. However, when Ford UK optimized for local search, they experienced a 19% uplift in services. Their solution? Local search optimization which included consistent NAP citations and garnering quality reviews.
Key Takeaway: Overlooking local SEO can be detrimental to business growth since 46% of all Google searches are for local information.
Measuring SEO Success
Don’t delve into SEO blindly; you must know the Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s) of SEO success. Increase in organic traffic, improvements in search engine rankings, and conversions are top indicators. Case in point is Shutterfly, that experienced a 13% hike in sales by tracking SEO metrics over time.
Key Takeaway: Regularly tracking SEO performance using the correct metrics is key to SEO success.
SEO is not an overnight miracle – it requires patience and consistent efforts. The ROI might not be immediate, but remember, companies that invest in SEO often have a significant advantage over competitors that don’t. So make your move now: Invest in SEO, improve your digital visibility, and unlock new avenues for business growth.