Why SEO is essential for small businesses
Why SEO is essential for small businesses
However, imagine that you had established your storefront in the middle of a huge forest. You didn't bother putting up a sign. In fact, there weren't even any decent roads to get to your store! How much business would you realistically expect? Perhaps a few people whom you’ve pitched to personally will call you to order your services. Over time, they may even refer someone else. But if your direct competitor is situated on a busy intersection, I can guarantee that he’s getting far more new business than you!
This illustration aptly depicts most small to medium sized businesses that have had a website developed. They expected that by building a website and placing upon it their sales pitch, enormous amounts of traffic and business will just pour in, (the Internet is global after all)! However, what they don’t realize is that without proper SEO, they may as well be building their store in the middle of a forest, because the many millions of internet users have a small chance of finding it amidst the forest of other sites out there.
SEO is short for Search Engine Optimization. It may seem complicated, but it's really these three basic steps:
1. Definition - Who are your target customers? What keyword phrases do they search for to find what they need?
2. Optimization - Does your website contain the needed content & structure to qualify (rank highly) for those search queries? Is there something that perhaps needs to change?
3. Promotion - Get the word out. Acquire links back to your site from authoritative, relevant websites, informing search engines that you truly provide what you claim to.
To emphasize the impact of proper SEO, I’ve dug up example. I consulted on a website dedicated to a specific pet-related niche. On average, the website accumulated about 30-40 visitors per day, it wasn’t all that profitable. After only 6 months of solid SEO, the site now ranks in the top 3 search results for a number of related terms. The result is that the site now receives over 800 visitors daily! Of course, the most important result is impact on bottom line - revenue generated by the site increased tenfold!
Would your business benefit from a large increase in visits from qualified visitors? Remember, SEO doesn’t just bring more traffic, it attracts to your website the people that are actively seeking your products/services. These are obviously more likely to convert to leads and sales; and there’s a good chance they wouldn’t have known of your brand otherwise. No doubt you're starting to see the power of SEO to drive more business through your website!
In following articles, I'll explain many of the concepts that form the basis of good SEO.
Why SEO is essential for small businesses - To learn more about this author, visit Justin Cook's Website.
Like this article? Share it with your friends
Do you remember what it was like starting up your business (perhaps you're still in the start-up phase now)? Recall planning the storefront where you would showcase your products, or sell your services. You wanted business, and there was plenty to be had!
However, imagine that you had established your storefront in the middle of a huge forest. You didn't bother putting up a sign. In fact, there weren't even any decent roads to get to your store! How much business would you realistically expect? Perhaps a few people whom you’ve pitched to personally will call you to order your services. Over time, they may even refer someone else. But if your direct competitor is situated on a busy intersection, I can guarantee that he’s getting far more new business than you!
This illustration aptly depicts most small to medium sized businesses that have had a website developed. They expected that by building a website and placing upon it their sales pitch, enormous amounts of traffic and business will just pour in, (the Internet is global after all)! However, what they don’t realize is that without proper SEO, they may as well be building their store in the middle of a forest, because the many millions of internet users have a small chance of finding it amidst the forest of other sites out there.
SEO is short for Search Engine Optimization. It may seem complicated, but it's really these three basic steps:
1. Definition - Who are your target customers? What keyword phrases do they search for to find what they need?
2. Optimization - Does your website contain the needed content & structure to qualify (rank highly) for those search queries? Is there something that perhaps needs to change?
3. Promotion - Get the word out. Acquire links back to your site from authoritative, relevant websites, informing search engines that you truly provide what you claim to.
To emphasize the impact of proper SEO, I’ve dug up example. I consulted on a website dedicated to a specific pet-related niche. On average, the website accumulated about 30-40 visitors per day, it wasn’t all that profitable. After only 6 months of solid SEO, the site now ranks in the top 3 search results for a number of related terms. The result is that the site now receives over 800 visitors daily! Of course, the most important result is impact on bottom line - revenue generated by the site increased tenfold!
Would your business benefit from a large increase in visits from qualified visitors? Remember, SEO doesn’t just bring more traffic, it attracts to your website the people that are actively seeking your products/services. These are obviously more likely to convert to leads and sales; and there’s a good chance they wouldn’t have known of your brand otherwise. No doubt you're starting to see the power of SEO to drive more business through your website!
In following articles, I'll explain many of the concepts that form the basis of good SEO.
Why SEO is essential for small businesses - To learn more about this author, visit Justin Cook's Website.
Like this article? Share it with your friends
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Michel NerayMichel Neray has over 25 years of experience as an award-winning copywriter, an Internet pioneer, a tradeshow pitchman and a senior sales and marketing executive. An online pioneer, he was one of the first marketing professionals to embrace the Internet by building websites as early as 1993. In 1994, Michel co-authored a book entitled "The Great Crossover: Personal Confidence in the Age of the Microchip", which made it to Jack Canfield's Achiever's Recommended Reading List. Michel founded Portfolios.com in 1995, the world's first online source directory for creative professionals and one of the first websites based on community generated content. Since creating The Essential Message in 2003, Michel has helped thousands of independent professionals and entrepreneurs as well as growing corporations find a better way to differentiate, position and brand themselves. In 2005, his chapter "Everything Starts With A Conversation" was selected as the lead for the book, "Sales Gurus Speak Out" and re-published in 2008 for 'Awakening The Workplace Volume 3'. He is also a co-author of "In the Company of Leaders" (2008) with 40 top North American leadership experts. - Visit Michel Neray's Website |
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Staging DivaDebra Gould, aka The Staging Diva®, is President of Six Elements Inc., an internationally recognized home staging company. Inspired by many requests from aspiring home stagers wanting to start similar businesses, Gould created the Staging Diva Home Staging Business Training Program. Gould has trained over 1000 Staging Diva Graduates worldwide to start staging businesses. Buying decorating and selling six of her own homes in four years lead to an interest in real estate staging which she turned into a career with the launch of sixelements.com in 2002. Since then she has staged hundreds of homes in addition to teaching home staging training. Gould is the author of several home staging resources including a series of popular ebooks made up of a Design Guide, Color Guide and Portfolio Guide. For more information about Debra Gould visit stagingdiva.com. - Visit Staging Diva's Website |
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Jeff FosterWebBizIdeas.com is a Minneapolis website design company founded to help people start an internet business by providing them with website, business, and internet resources that help foster the growth of successful online businesses and develop innovative Internet business ideas. - Visit Jeff Foster's Website |
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Casey GollanCasey Gollan, Business Coaching & Mentoring Programs. Add $1 Million to $10 Million in the next 1 to 3 years. Since 1996 Casey has to added hundreds of millions of dollars to businesses. Watch a free video see client results Business Coaching website. - Visit Casey Gollan's Website |
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Anne BarrAnne Barr has over 26 years experience in sales and marketing, six years as a franchisee. She has assisted over 367 business owners and purchasers to achieve their goals in career change, transition and exit strategy. She holds the designation of Certified Franchise Executive from the International Franchise Association, Certified Business Intermediary from the International Business Brokers Association and Board Certified Broker from the Texas Association of Business Brokers. Anne is active in professional organizations, networking groups and volunteers for non-profit entities. As owner/operator of four successful businesses, Anne has proven people skills and enjoys helping clients find the right "fit" in business ownership. Visit www.FranchiseOpportunitySpecialist.com for more information about me and my company. - Visit Anne Barr's Website |
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