Search engine optimization or SEO is one of the primary and most effective online marketing tools for small businesses.
SEO is a set of tools and strategies that work together to help a business or individual have his web pages placed prominently on search engines. Since there are billions of web pages on the internet, and more than 70% of people use search to find things, having your web pages or website placed high on search is very desirable.
Bing, Google, Yahoo, and the other top search engines each utilize complicated, proprietary algorithms and strategies that determine which web pages will place where on a web search. It takes a trained professional to understand how this works and then to come up with the right tools and strategies to assist a small business to gain an edge.
One of the best tools for small businesses that have retail locations, or are seeking customers in a particular area is local SEO. Here is why it is so valuable to small businesses.
It is Low Cost and Cost-Effective
Many companies think that local SEO is expensive, and certainly out of their price range. However, rates for local SEO start very low and you can scale-up as you see success, and your company budget for this service increases. In terms of its effectiveness, local SEO offers more potential than any other type of online marketing. Because it is focused directly on your target consumer in the markets that you determine, but everyone that comes to your website or web pages will be interested in purchasing your goods or services.
Local SEO offers a phenomenal rate of return.
Maximizing your local SEO strategy requires that you spend the time to make your own website search-friendly. This can take time, but it is time well spent because it will bring more potential customers to your website.
Improve Your Visibility Online With High potential Customers
Most small companies decide to work with a reputable local SEO agency. These agencies form a dual strategy of both improving your company’s visibility with potential customers, and helping you to convert them. Understanding the power of local SEO will motivate you to hire the right SEO agency and do the work needed to place your website highest on a search engine. Higher visibility will create word of mouth and add to your bottom line.
Reach More People on Other Platforms
Local SEO is not just valuable to small businesses through Google, you can also use it to attract potential customers on many of the other largest internet websites. Today’s sites including TripAdvisor, Yelp, Waze, Yellow Pages, and many others utilize local SEO to help small businesses target their advertisements. So no matter what platform someone you want to attract is utilizing, they can be directed toward your business if they fit your customer profile. The great advantage of local SEO is that it can place your company in real competition with other businesses that sell the same products, even if they are much larger than your company.
Become More Trusted With Your Targeted Potential Customers
Research shows that companies that place higher on the search I looked at more favourably by those searching. The connection seems to be that those searching feel that a search engine will place the more reputable companies toward the top of a search. Additionally, when a potential customer comes to your website from a high search position, and your website is well-designed, it creates a strong sense of trustworthiness. This feeling of trust will often translate directly into sales for your company. Local SEO is the first step
The best approach for getting the most out of local SEO is to hire a reputable SEO agency.
