What is SEO Anyway: Exploring the Importance of Proper SEO Strategy

It’s because in today’s world, online visibility is absolutely everything.  From small businesses to large corporations, it is essential that your customers have the ability to find you online.  For that reason, Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is crucial to the success of your business.  For businesses in Phoenix, you want to partner with a Phoenix SEO Company which can change the trajectory of your business and become a key partner as you grow and scale.  Are you still asking, “What is SEO?  Why is it so important?”  Well, let’s dive in and explore the major components of a proper SEO strategy.

Understanding SEO:

You already know that SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization.  But what does that mean, exactly?  Let’s break it down.  SEO is the process of optimizing your website to allow it to rank higher in search engine results pages known as SERPs.  In other words, SEO helps you rank higher in Google, BING, or other search results pages.  Why do you want this visibility?  The more visible your business is on search engines, the more traffic your website will receive which can result in customers, therefore increase your revenue!  Organic traffic is non-paid traffic which means that these are leads you don’t pay for.  SEO encompasses a variety of strategies and techniques that improve your website’s visibility and even extend into other aspects of your online presence such as your Google Business Page (GBP) and other social media pages.

Key Components of SEO

SEO is like an elaborate puzzle with various pieces that must be in place for your website to rank.  The algorithm that Google uses is intensive and changes often, which is why working with an agency full of experts in Phoenix local SEO is the best way to ensure that your website will be competitive and become a lead generating machine!

First, let’s explore On-Page SEO.  Your expert web designer will optimize the content on your site including written content and images.  Some of the key factors include keyword optimization, meta tags, header tags, and internal linking.  Keep in mind that this is not an exhaustive list.

Next, let’s look at Off-Page SEO.  This is when we zoom out to take a look at areas outside of the website that have an effect on your ranking.  Once again, this list doesn’t include every factor within the algorithm.  Some examples of off-page SEO are backlinks from reputable sites, link juice, guest posting, social media marketing, and even online reputation management.

Moving into Technical SEO, your SEO expert will make sure that your website is technically structured in a way that enables search engines to easily crawl and index it.  Your site speed, mobile-friendliness, and site security are all factors that weigh in this category.

Now, we’ll bring our lens a little closer to home and look at Local SEO.  According to business data, roughly 44% of businesses are small, locally owned businesses and up to 99.9% of business in the United States fall under the umbrella of “small business.”  For those that target specific geographic areas, local SEO is vital to their success.  Phoenix SEO helps businesses appear in their local search results such as “best coffee shop in Phoenix,” or “top plumber in Phoenix.”  In order to gain the traffic from this search volume, you need to optimize and properly manage your GBP and have a steady stream of positive reviews coming in.

Top Reasons Why SEO Matters

So, we talked about what SEO is, but why does it matter?

1- It increases your visibility and traffic.

Without visibility, you can’t have traffic, and well, without people coming onto your website you won’t have the customer conversion.  People can’t become your customers if they don’t know you exist, right?  More than 90% of people begin their search for products and services on Google.  If you’re not in those search results, the companies that are are the ones taking the business.

2- It’s the most cost-effective marketing.

Unlike paid advertising (I’m looking at you pay-per-click ads), SEO is cost-effective over the long-haul.  Once your site has gained visibility, you’re only paying for maintenance in comparison to the ever-rising costs of maintaining cost-per-click ads only to lose your online presence once you stop paying for them.  Ultimately, SEO is like owning your own home on the internet.  You have to make sure to maintain your landscaping and home repairs.  You can’t just do them one time and expect it to look great all the time.  You can either do SEO yourself or pay an expert to do it, just like you would pay a landscaper or handyman to take care of your home.  Either way, you want to make sure that your digital real-estate looks amazing and brings your business value.

3- SEO builds credibility and trust with your customers.

When your website ranks higher in the search results (especially on Google’s first page) your future and existing customers will view you as more trustworthy.  Users tend to put faith in search engines and in businesses that have reliable sources of information online.  If you want to boost your credibility even further, make sure that you focus on gaining positive reviews from your customers.  Reading positive reviews persuades potential clients to do business with you.

4- Great SEO provides your customers with a better user experience.

SEO isn’t only about search engines, it’s ultimately about your customers and their experience with your business.  If your website doesn’t provide a phenomenal experience, those who visit won’t stay on the site long enough to become your customers.  You want to ensure that you have fast loading times, mobile friendly designs, and easy navigation.  In addition to that, you want to provide a website that meets ADA accessibility requirements and that looks amazing!

5- Competitive Edge

We all know how competitive the market is for Phoenix businesses, but did you know that great SEO can give you the edge over your competitors?  When your SEO expert implements effective SEO strategies, your business can outrank your competition in search results which will attract more customers and earn you more revenue.  Investing in Phoenix local SEO ensure that you’re targeting the right local keywords which will bring the right traffic to your site and boost your chances for success!

SEO is a critical investment of the future of your business.  The world has shifted and everything is digital.  If you don’t have a digital marketing strategy in place that includes SEO, you’re missing out on hundreds of thousands and even millions of dollars.  Leveraging the expertise of a Phoenix SEO company ensures that you will navigate the landscape of SERPs with ease while your business remains ahead of your competitors.  Let Rae of Light SEO shine a light on your business with the best SEO strategy Phoenix has to offer.