What is SEO anyway?
SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization, and it’s becoming more and more important for companies to understand and use SEO for everyday marketing. SEO focuses on providing high-quality written content while also factoring in percentages of keywords and phrases so that a company’s webpage will earn a higher ranking in a search engine, like Google or Bing. One aspect of SEO is to focus specifically on targeted words and phrases.
What is a search engine ranking? Search engines filter and rank websites based on percentages of keywords and related phrases; if the percentage is either too low or too high, the page will be given a lower ranking on the search (meaning that it probably won’t appear within the first few pages of search results). Additionally, if two pages have the same keyword percentage but one page gets a higher number of views, then that page will be ranked before the other one. The ranking doesn’t necessarily depend on how successful a business is.
Why are high rankings important? An estimated 93% of all internet experiences begin with a search engine, which means that only a small percentage of internet users will use online services without going to Google or Bing first. Of these internet users, the majority do not scroll past the first page of results before clicking on a result or typing in a different keyword.
Is SEO actually effective? Compared to other forms of internet marketing, yes, high quality SEO services will be invaluable for a company. An estimated 70-80% of all internet users don’t look at the page margins where ads are normally placed — and this doesn’t mean that the 20-30% of users who do look at the margins will click on the ads. Businesses that spend money on flashy pop-ups and sidebars are automatically wasting money on advertisements that never really see life.
How does a company take advantage of SEO? The best way to do this, especially for small businesses, is to outsource internet marketing to a company that provides high quality SEO services. Some businesses do this by purchasing software, while many others simply have search engine marketing professionals take care of everything. A professional company can offer social media optimization services, search engine marketing tips, and professional web development services. These companies provide businesses with a full team of experienced marketing specialists and writers who can provide high quality SEO services for just about any business that wants to develop a strong online presence.
Will SEO stick around? Well, this question is a little harder to answer. In all honesty, it’s hard to say with 100% certainty that SEO will become the number one marketing technique of the digital age. But we can say that it’s one of the most important — if not THE most important — online marketing strategy right now. And it is likely that any future changes in marketing will only build upon current SEO techniques. Best to jump on board before it’s too late!
