As a small business, it is imperative you get ahead of the game when it comes to SEO. Larger businesses usually have marketing budgets at their disposal, but as a small business or new start-up, you need to look after every penny. Here at Clarity Content, we like to spread our knowledge to help others on their way to success. In this article, we will cover the basics of SEO to get you on your way.
What is SEO?
The term ‘SEO’ is short for ‘Search Engine Optimisation’ and it is a combination of techniques that, when used together, help to improve the ranking of websites in search engine results. In today’s modern world the term ‘I’ll Google it’ has become a common phrase and people turn to search engines to help with all manner a query. When you search a term on a search engine, it will crawl the web to find the information which most relates to what you have entered. What you probably don’t know is that the websites that appear on page 1 are very rarely there by chance. The businesses and sites appearing on page 1 have often worked very hard to secure their place using SEO tactics.
Investing in SEO
We live in a time where potential customers expect instant information, this has resulted in the ever-growing popularity of search engines. Searching online for a product or required service is almost instantaneous and SEO helps people find you. You can have an amazing website but the benefits of this will be limited if your potential customers can’t find you. It is a natural assumption that the more people see your website, the more likely you will be able to build recognition in your brand and convert potential customers into active customers. Not everything is a numbers game but an increase in traffic to your website can only help you, converting business when people find you is then down to what you are able to offer. SEO takes care of the first part by bringing people to you.
The timeframe for investing in SEO
When creating your SEO strategy it is important to be realistic so that you do not become despondent. We will highlight the biggest thing you need to be aware of straight away; it is highly unlikely you will reap any benefits of your SEO efforts immediately. SEO is a long-term investment, not a short-term stint. With a good SEO strategy in place you can expect to start seeing results in the first 6 – 12 months, this can be off-putting. However, once you do start noticing the benefits of your SEO efforts you will be pleased you started when you did. We are sure you will catch the ‘SEO bug’ and keep pushing forward in order to keep ahead of your competition.
To discuss your SEO strategy and how quality web content can help, call us today on 01603 673 380.
