Introduction
Most small businesses lack the resources to compete with larger businesses online. However, they can still be very successful by optimizing their website for local search results. In this short blog, we will go over the key reasons why it’s critical for small businesses to have an SEO (Search Engine Optimization) strategy in place.
Improving Online Visibility
One of the most important benefits of SEO, in general, is that it can help small businesses improve their overall online visibility. By optimizing their website and local listings, small businesses can reach more potential customers and generate more leads!
Driving Relevant Traffic
Driving relevant traffic is key and when it comes to local SEO. 72% of local searches result in an in-person visit, so if you’re not targeting local consumers, you’re missing out on a big opportunity.
With that being said, the opposite is true as well, using a broad SEO approach for a business that relies on local traffic can be counterproductive. You could end up with a lot of web visits from people who will never convert because they’re not in your target area.
For example, let’s say you have posted an article with helpful tips and tricks relating to your product or service. If you’ve neglected to use locally targeted keywords, you could be getting hits from all over the world. So if someone in New York City searches for “best XYZ product” and finds your article and business, they’re not likely to come visit your store if you’re located in San Deigo.
Makes for a User-Friendly Website (Good UI/UX)
SEO can also help improve your website’s user interface and user experience. When a website is well-optimized, it will rank higher in the search engine result pages (SERPs). This means that your site will be one of the first options that potential customers see when they perform a relevant search.
This increased visibility can lead to more website visits, which in turn can lead to more conversions and sales. Additionally, a well-optimized website will be easier to navigate, which can make for a better overall user experience. This is important because you want your customers to have a positive experience when they visit your site, as this will encourage them to come back in the future.
Bypass Your Competition
If you’re a small business, it’s important to do everything you can to stand out from the competition. A great way to do this is by optimizing your website for local search results. As mentioned in the introduction most small businesses lack the resources to compete with larger businesses online when it comes to SEO and marketing in general. With a solid SEO strategy in place, you could be taking business from the biggest names in your industry by simply being in the right place at the right time in your ideal customer’s search results.
Conclusion
SEO is one of the most important aspects of any marketing strategy. As mentioned It helps businesses improve their online visibility, drive relevant traffic, and bypass their competition. As a business owner, you can start to understand why local SEO is such a key component of any marketing strategy, especially if your business primarily serves your local communities.
Stay tuned for my next blog post where I’ll go over some tips and tricks you can begin to implement on your website to improve its ranking on Google and other major search engines.
