You’ve hard about SEO, and you know you need it. But be honest, do you really understand what it means? Many small business owners are so busy with the day to day of their business that it can be difficult to educate themselves on necessary marketing tactics like SEO. If you aren’t familiar with the practices of SEO, or “Search Engine Optimization,” it’s time to learn. If you have a business that’s trying to reach customers, either online or at a brick and mortar store, SEO is what you need.
So what does “search engine optimization” even mean? It’s the practice of increasing the quality and the quantity of your website traffic. It also increases brand awareness through “organic” (non-paid) search engine results. Working on your SEO will help get your website in front of more viewers as they search for a new plumber, kitchen supply store, vegan restaurant, or whatever you offer.
A great SEO strategy stars with understanding what people are searching for online. Discover the questions they have, the words they use, and the type of content they’re looking for. When you know what your customers really want, you can offer it to them.
Let’s say you own a coffee shop in Berkeley. To start you SEO, you want to ask yourself these questions and start to research the answers”
- What types of coffee drinks, bakery items, coffee shop services. are people searching for?
- Who is searching for these terms?
- When are people searching for coffee, baked goods etc.?
- Are there seasonality trends throughout the year?
- How are people searching for coffee?
- What words do they use?
- What questions do they ask?
- Are more searches performed on mobile devices?
- Why are people seeking coffee?
- Are they looking for a caffeine fix, a place to work, or a place to meet with friends.
- Where are potential customers located — locally, nationally, or internationally?
The answers to theses questions will help you find your customers and understand what they need. After all, promoting a business that no one is looking for in the first place proves extremely challenging.
So how do you improve your search engine rankings for SEO? For small businesses, these are the main areas to consider:
- Website. A simple, well-designed site that utilizes keywords and important info is essential.
- Content. Pages on your site will help Google understand what your business does.
- Content marketing. Interesting blog content helps you reach new viewers.
- On-page. Making your site easy for Google to “read.” This includes page titles and meta descriptions.
- Local SEO. Local businesses need to consider local SEO best practices (Yelp pages, etc.)
- Authority building. When reputable sites link to your website, Google notices. Getting these sites of high “authority” to boost your website through articles with links or other measures is valuable.
- Credibility. Case studies, portfolios, reviews and testimonials help you prove your worth.
SEO is complicated, especially to beginners and those who aren’t experts on digital marketing. Luckily, for many small, local businesses, the job is easier. The main focus typically falls to content, links, and web design. It’s important to remember the elements of SEO that are in your control.
This just scratches the service on SEO. If you want more info, give us a call for a consultation on your SEO strategy for small businesses.