Have you been wondering why Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is so important and why businesses need it? If you have, you’re on the right page. As the world has become reliant on the internet over the years, businesses have had to put a lot more effort into their websites and online platforms. People spend hours on the internet so wouldn’t it make sense to find the best ways to drive traffic to your website?
Why is SEO important?
Search Engine Optimization allows Google to decide which websites should be ranked on its first page. The SEO process holds such great importance because Google uses the appropriate methods to decide which websites are worthy of having a high ranking. The decision is based on how relevant the website is to a specific search. As users we almost never click on Google’s second page to find the answers to our questions, which is why it is so important to rank on the first page. If SEO did not exist, we would have to go through hundreds of websites before finding the answers to our questions. Since search engines organize websites from most relevant to least relevant, they allow us to find the information we are looking for in the fastest way possible.
4 Reasons why businesses need SEO
1. SEO creates credibility
When SEO first began, people would try to rank their websites on the first page through the use of unethical techniques, which is commonly referred to as Black Hat SEO. However, it has become much more difficult to engage in these techniques due to the intelligent algorithms that are used by search engines. In order to increase in ranking, websites are required to provide good quality/authentic content, keywords and excellent user experience. This is what helps brands create trust and recognition between themselves and consumers. It is important to note that building trust takes time, as a brand you need to be consistent and stay committed to improving your online platforms.
2. Provides good user experience
In order to have better SEO, it is important for websites to create a seamless user experience. A great way to improve user experience is by making a website that is easy to navigate and provides relevant content. Headings on websites are a great example of user experience because they allow you to organize content in a way that is simple to understand for both search engines and users (can be seen in the picture on the right). Using headings to break down the information explains the order of the content and shows which topics the website is focusing on. Moreover, having a site that can easily be navigated has become essential for user experience. This is as it makes the website simple to use and does not overwhelm the user. Essentially, the information architecture of the website should be clear and concise so that consumers and search engines do not have a hard time finding pages on the website.
Last but not least, the loading speed of a website is an essential part of user experience. Living in a world that is so fast paced, it is hard for us to be patient. This is especially true in regards to the internet; how long are you willing to wait for a YouTube video that buffers every 5 seconds? My guess is not long. Therefore, it is important to consider the loading time of your website, if it’s taking more than a few seconds for the site to load, users won’t stick around long enough to consume your content and neither will Google.
3. SEO is measurable
One of the great things about SEO is that it is very easy to track and measure. You can analyse how well your website is doing by using platforms such as Google Search Console and Google Analytics. Through the use of Google Search Console you can analyse search terms, best performing pages as well as the indexability of your site. In addition to this, Google Analytics can allow you to see where users are located, your most engaging content and devices that are being used to access your site. Overall, These platforms will help you understand how well your business is doing in regards to SEO.
4. More traffic and conversions
SEO is a great way to increase the amount of traffic and conversions your website has the potential to receive. When individuals are using search engines to ask questions about products and services, SEO can serve as an advantage because it can help users unexpectedly come across your website. For example, if a user asks a question such as “how to get rid of acne scars?” and you are selling a cream that can help solve this issue, using the keywords from this question increases the likelihood of people visiting your website and purchasing your product.
Conclusion
Investing your time and effort into SEO is going to make your business more successful. It may take a while to see the results from all your hard work but when you do, you’ll know that SEO was the best choice to help your business succeed. By providing relevant content, creating a user-friendly interface, researching keywords and analysing your progress, you can achieve the best results. Your audience is already surfing the web, SEO is your chance at giving them what they want.
If you are trying to learn more about SEO, check out this blog about White, Grey and Black Hat SEO!
By: Alina Khan
References
https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/black-hat-seo
https://www.searchenginejournal.com/why-seo-is-important-for-business/248101/#close