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What is SEO?

What does SEO mean? SEO, or “Search Engine Optimisation,” is a strategy that can be used by businesses of all sizes to improve their website’s visibility and organic search results. 

So, if you invest in SEO, you are investing in your business’s future.  

In this blog post, we will discuss what SEO is, the benefits of using SEO, and why you should invest in SEO even if you are a small business.

What is SEO and how does it work

SEO is a mid to long-term marketing strategy employed to improve the quality and quantity of organic traffic to your website from search engines such as Google, Bing, and Yahoo. And what is organic traffic? Organic traffic is the term used for all those visitors who find your website through a search engine without being prompted to do so through paid advertising. 

How does it work? SEO works by optimising the content of your website, conducting effective keyword research, and earning inbound links from external websites. 

a) SEO and Google’s algorithm

Google’s main search algorithm is a highly sophisticated system called Hummingbird. This algorithm decides how to order, rank, or present information on Google SERP, according to relevance rather than just popularity. 

In addition, Google also has a sub-algorithm known as RankBrain. Thanks to RankBrain, Google understands queries by converting keywords into known topics and concepts, providing better search engine results even when a user enters an unusual keyword. 

So, when implementing an SEO strategy, you need to optimise your website to improve user experience (UX) and try to get the most out of the RankBrain ranking factor. And the three most effective methods to do this are: 

  • Optimise content to increase dwell time (how long people stay on your page) and reduce the bounce rate (the percentage of users who leave after only viewing one page of your website); 
  • Optimise for medium-tail keywords, which are key terms made of two to three words 
  • Optimise page titles and descriptions.  

b) SEO and content

SEO has been around since the early days of the internet, but it has only become more critical in recent years as Google has become the dominant search engine. With over three billion daily searches, any business that wants to be visible online needs to invest in SEO.  

Indeed, whenever you use a search engine, you are looking for content. Whether you end up reading a blog, watching a video, or looking at an infographic, it’s all content! And when your content is optimized, it drastically improves your visibility.  
Therefore, adding high-quality content to your website will ensure your web pages reach the first page of a search engine.  

But remember that SEO is an ongoing process, and you won’t see your traffic to your website increase overnight! You can’t just do a few things and then forget about it – SEO means continuously optimizing your site if you want to maintain or improve your ranking.

The benefits of using SEO

If you are not already including SEO in your marketing strategy, you are missing out on a significant opportunity to grow your business by reaching new customers and increasing sales. 

SEO is not just something for big corporations. Anyone who has a website can (and should) invest in SEO. Investing in SEO is a wise decision for any business, as it is an affordable and effective marketing technique that can help you to reach new customers and get a great return on your investment. As a matter of fact, SEO is one of the most effective marketing strategies with the highest ROIs. 

So, let’s dive deeper into the real benefits of implementing SEO effectively:

1) Improve your website visibility and brand awareness

Being able to stand out from the competition has become increasingly difficult in these modern times; every business is challenging each other for visibility, especially on digital platforms. Getting your name out there to potential customers is paramount in today’s business world.  

Ranking on the first page for a specific search has more benefits than just increasing traffic.  

By ranking on the first page, potential customers will associate your brand name with providing solutions to their queries. Even if they did not click on your website, your brand would be on the customer’s minds when they search for another solution. 

2) Drive traffic to your website

The main reason you should implement SEO into your marketing strategy is that it is a highly effective way to drive traffic to your website. SEO, in fact, can increase your web traffic by ensuring that your website features in relevant searches and so draws in visitors. 

But does being on page one of Google search results matter that much? The answer is yes. Research shows that the first five organic results on a search engine account for 67.6% of all clicks! Therefore, it is understandable that being able to rank high on a results page is so coveted for businesses.  

Several factors contribute to SEO. A successful SEO strategy includes on-page SEO, also known as on-site SEO, which means optimizing elements on your website with intent-based keywords, and off-page SEO, which refers to actions taken outside your website, like attracting inbound links from other websites. 

3) Increase leads and sales

Users who find your website through organic research are more likely to convert into actual leads, as they perceive your business as more trustworthy. Think about it: the more often you show up on the first part of the search engine’s results page (SERP), the more potential customers can find and interact with your business. 

4) Implement a long-term marketing strategy

As mentioned, SEO is not a one-time event. It is an ongoing process that helps you develop a long-term strategy for your website. 

To keep your website visible in the search engines, you must continually work on your SEO and optimize your site. And one of the most important processes to keep up is ‘content marketing.’ Even during your SEO success, you must keep adding new relevant content to rank for new keywords and build new links. 

Although it can be a lot of work, SEO is worth it in the long run. And with the help of a professional SEO agency like MMC, it doesn’t have to be all that difficult or time-consuming. 

If you are serious about growing your business online, then SEO should be a part of your overall marketing strategy. Contact us now to find out more about SEO! 

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