Okay, what is SEO and why do I need it?
As a business owner you should have heard the term SEO or Search Engine Optimisation around the water cooler. So, what on earth is it? Why is it important?, and why should you speak to an SEO expert today?
Below we’re sharing some common questions we get asked here at KBB Digital and how we answer them.
What is Search Engine Optimisation (SEO)?
SEO is a term that simply means making your website rank higher in Google search results when certain phrases or keywords are searched.
The main purpose of SEO is to find keywords and search phrases that your customers type into Google to find you and your services. Knowing and using these in SEO can help you boost your website’s position in searches and allow it to come up higher on the search page, preferably position one. We all know the higher up on the search page, the better for business!
Is SEO the same as the ads that appear in Google?
No, the ads in Google are not the same or have anything to do with SEO. The ads or Pay-Per-Click ads that appear at the top of Google searches are created in the Google Search Console that anyone with a google account can sign up to for free. Once signed up you can pay for and create ads to appear in the results, but they are not the same as increasing your website’s position in searches and organic traffic through detailed analytical reports and thoughtful word and phrase choices.
Why do I need SEO?
Think about it, in today’s world everyone Google’s everything. Anytime anyone needs to find any product or service the first step is to Google it, find the best price, find the closest provider etc. If you aren’t appearing in the Google Results when your customers are searching for your products or services, you will never get new organic customers.
But doesn’t it take ages?
It can. SEO is a slow burn process and can take a long time depending on competitiveness, which is based on several factors. (1) The keywords you are trying to rank for (2) The location you are trying to rank for. Be prepared to invest up to 12 months to get solid rankings across a campaign. If you are in a smaller country area with less competition then you should find results a lot faster than if you are in cities or areas with more competition.
Can I do it myself?
Kind of. You can perform all the onsite optimisations yourself, this is editing content on the website to include the keywords that your customers are typing in. Here’s an extra tip, add keywords into your page headers as well for extra optimisation.
The main part of SEO is in the offsite campaign. The most basic way to explain the offsite campaign is to build links into your website by contacting and contributing articles to other websites blogs. This is where finding an SEO company with access to a network of websites blogs can really boost your SEO performance, and save you time to focus on the nitty gritty of your business.
My website is a bit older, does that matter?
Absolutely! SEO is so important in getting new organic traffic to your website, BUT we always recommend you make sure your website is modern and clean before investing budget into bringing more customers to your website. If your website is old and outdated you may get new customers to your website, but they won’t want to contact you. How many times have you clicked off a website because it was old, outdated or didn’t run smoothly?
Google has recently announced the importance of the customer’s experience on your website and how it can affect your rankings. (Is there a study article we can link in here for those interested in reading?) If you haven’t updated your website for a while, now is the time!
Are there any free tools I can use to measure my performance?
Absolutely. If you have access to Google Analytics you will be able to track your organic search visitors each month and over time you will be able to tell if your organic traffic is going up or not.
There are also paid services you can sign up to that can track your ranking positions. We provide this service and would be happy to provide a report to you based on the keywords you provide, which shows you how you are ranking. Unlike Google Analytics we can help explain what all the data means and what to do next, so you don’t have to do all the hard work on your own. Get in touch with us today to get your report, and if you have any questions about SEO don’t hesitate to reach out. We love helping businesses reach their full potential online!
