Businesses are inundated by calls and solicitations from companies wanting to talk to them about search engine optimization, or
SEO. So why does it matter so much?
Search engine optimization is a relatively new concept in the long long long history of marketing. It is as simple an idea as:
- being found in Google, Bing and Yahoo;
- when people search for the services or products you offer;
- in the geographical area that you do business.
If I type in the term
“Dentist”, I expect to find multiple dentists in my area. If I type in
“termite inspection”, I should end up with numerous pest control companies.
If you are not being found in your area for what your business offers, then your online presence needs SEO.
Think about it from your experience. How often do you call when an ad is played on the radio? How many newspaper ads have gotten you to show up at a store? How many direct mail pieces have gotten you to buy a product this week? Now ask yourself, how many times have you done a search online to decide where and what to buy lately? All of the other marketing out there is passive. It has been put in front of numerous individuals in the hope that it would grab the attention of a small percentage.
“I have seen terrible looking websites that shown up very well in searches and I have seen beautifully designed websites that would land on page 7.”
Searching online is intentional. You are looking for something, whether it is a brand, a product or trying to find a service that will solve your issue. The problem is, the search engines you are searing on don’t know what you have to offer until you tell them about your company. When you do, they will be more than happy to put your website up in front of those very people that are conducting those searches.
It’s not just about having a website. I have seen terrible looking websites that shown up very well in searches and I have seen beautifully designed websites that would land on page 7. It’s about having a website that is specific, easy for the search engines to index and store that information, has authority, credibility and has been fully optimized to give it the best shot at being found on Page 1. This can all be accomplished by implementing a solid search engine optimization strategy.
Tags: Search Engine Optimization
