Search Engine Optimization – South Africa – Why SEO is NB !

Search Engine Optimization is important for everyone but probably even more so for small business. There is a fast growing gap between large and small businesses when it comes to occupying the first page of google and what many small companies do not realize is that there is so much business that is converted from online traffic that could be coming to their store. When we look at SEO (short for Search Engine Optimization ) we are looking at a long-term web traffic source that is way cheaper than pay per click advertising.

10 Reasons why Search Engine Optimization is important for small businesses.

1. Perception

Remember that on a Google results page all companies seem equal to the viewer. They do not necessarily know who on the list is a Blue Chip and who is a one man company. If you rank high in Google results it already acts as a sort of sub-conscious credibility check. You can compete for customers with some of the major players in your field just by getting traffic from the same keywords that the “big guys”use.

2. Traffic

This is exactly the same thing as relocating your business to a busy part of town. You will get more business just because of an increase in potential customers. Search Engine Optimization gets relevant traffic to your website. If done correctly the traffic coming to your website is targetted at your specific products or services. This allows new customer acquisition from places you have never reached before. You may be surprised at how many potential customers you have been missing just because they did not know about you.

3. Brand Awareness

If your company is displayed on the first page of google many people will see it. They may not click on it but the visual memory will be stored in their brain. This is exactly what major brands such as Coca-Cola and Apple do to build trust. Search engine optimization will get a lot more eyes on your brand than you previously had. More eyes on your products and service … sounds good to me. Here is an interesting article I recently read about the relationship with a brand and SEO : http://www.audiencebloom.com/modern-seo-building-brand/

4. Your website changes into a Sales Tool

If your website is currently not generating any business you are wasting an extra “sales person”. A modern website is no longer just a business card that displays information about you and your company. It should be a tool that gathers the details of potential customers and it should be a key focus in your sales process. A website not converting web traffic into clients is like a salesperson that sleeps all day – absolutely useless.