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You finally have a great looking website for your business. You spent a lot of time designing, revising and selecting just the right photos. It’s both cool and professional, unique and original, a perfect expression of your business and its products or services.
But can anyone find it? Do you ever Google your business’ name to see where your business appears? Is it on the first page of the results, or do you have to go through page after page of results before you find your website?
If your business has a great website, and you want potential customers to find your business, then you MUST invest in Search Engine Optimization for your website.
Search Engine Optimization is the active method of analyzing, improving, and reconstructing a website’s internal and external features to increase traffic and improve your ranking on the web’s major search engines such as Google, Yahoo, and MSN.
Not optimizing your site is like buying a high-end sports car, not putting any gas in the tank, and expecting it to take you anywhere you want to go. Optimization is the fuel that drives visitors, and more importantly—potential customers, to your site. It can be your most valuable marketing tool. Let’s look at some of the major benefits:
Visibility
You wouldn’t have an unlisted phone number or address for your business, so why should your most visible asset of your business be hidden from potential customers? Your customers are looking for your business! Make yourself easier to find. Search Engine Optimization helps move your website upward in search engine results for the keywords and phrases related to the services that your business provides. Search Engine Optimization brings customers that are already interested in you to your doorstep.
Affordability
Search Engine Optimization is one of the most inexpensive ways to market and advertise your business. Consider that Yellowbook and local print ads can run almost $2,000 dollars a month, and have a limited reach. Pay Per Click (PPC) rates and online banner advertising can cost up to $3,500 per month, and exist only for as long as your marketing budget does. However, Search Engine Optimization of your site offers a low–cost option (typically only $150-$600 per month) to promoting and advertising your business online. Remember, consumers are more likely to purchase from a high–ranking site rather than from one that has (obviously) sponsored ads.
Simplicity
Imagine going to bed each night knowing that if someone Googles “interior decorator California” or “Chicago accountant”, or “Philadelphia landscaper” your business will be right near the top, and you will have a new business opportunity waiting for you the next day. That is very possible with Search Engine Optimization. Take the work and the hassle out of finding new customers, and let your website do all the work.
Search Engine Optimization is a powerful marketing and advertising tool for any small business. By adding Search Engine Optimization to your professional web design, you will ensure that your business has at least one simple and cost–effective sales generating tool.
By Daniel Natale
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says:
Thanks for adding value to our blog Barbara. I do agree with your comments. Happy 4th to you also.
Nicely and concisely written concerning ‘big picture’ pro’s. Worthy of mention also is that while ‘optimizing’ is always the right direction for our businesses, the ideal times to consider a Search Engine Optimizer (SEO) are when planning a new site launch or a site redesign.
I’d be remiss not to also mention the con’s factor. Con’s are just as critical (if not more critical) to address from a reader’s perspective. Educated consumers not only want to see the ‘big picture’ – they need to see the ‘full picture.’
Finances may very well be a determining factor when considering our options – but it’s not the most critical SEO consideration. ‘Cost-effectiveness’ can run an even greater risk of detrimental ‘ineffectiveness’ if not thoroughly researched. Overly aggressive and irresponsible SEO practices can result in short-lived added value (if any), ultimately resulting in more damages than good for the business. The wise consumer should and will consider the advantages and disadvantages of going with a particular SEO and is always looking for (and appreciative of) tried-and-true resources for educating themselves.
Google Webmaster Guidelines is a great place to start.
Wishing everyone a happy 4th of July and prosperous rest of the year!
Barbara Suarez