Small Business SEO: Ranking Your Business on First Page Google

Are you a small business owner who’s looking to increase your revenue?

Although there is a myriad of ways to do so, the digital age has introduced a rather hands-off technique in the form of SEO (Search Engine Optimization). 

In this article, we will talk about SEO, its recent trends, and how it can help increase business revenue. 

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What is SEO and How Does it Work?

SEO is the process of improving your website’s visibility on search engines such as Google. Improving the visibility of your website will help attract more traffic and with that, the possibility of more prospects. 

Google uses bots that go from site to site to collect information. This data is stored in an index which is sort of Google’s library. Google’s algorithm will then analyze the index for ranking factors and data to determine the order in a page should appear.

For example, if data from your webpage is compatible with Google’s algorithm, your page will be ranked higher. It is important to invest in a legitimate SEO expert to get the best results.  

SEO for local businesses is usually less complex than larger ones. This is due to the small geographical area of most local businesses. 

Let us take a look at the various implications of SEO and its importance to your local business. 

Why is SEO Important for Your Business?

As mentioned above, the geographical area of local businesses is usually small. Interaction with the local marketplace is essential and a lack of visibility may be the deterring factor to your sales. 

Our search engine results are dominated by “near me” intended questions and Google will direct these searches towards the nearest business available.   

SEO strategies are tailor-made to help bring your website on top of these searches. 

Here are some implications of SEO to help you better understand how it works.

Know Your Audience

Familiarizing yourself with your audience and what they want should be of utmost importance. 

It gives you a better idea of what content to publish on your page. Keep in mind that Google ranks your website based on its data compatibility and that includes having the right content. 

Having your webpage optimized will also help potential customers navigate through your website more efficiently. 

Understanding your audience also includes getting to know their “lingo” or keywords and with that, let us move onto the next point. 

Keywords

Keywords are phrases or terms that people enter into search bars. Searching for the right keyword will direct customers to their designated webpage.

As a business owner, you’d want to capitalize on the possible keywords related to your business. This is where keyword research comes in.

Keyword research is an SEO strategy that helps determine what potential customers are searching for. 

It begins by noting down all the possible keywords related to your business. SEO experts will then use keyword research tools to narrow down the right keywords for your website. 

Understand the Google Algorithm 

At the end of the day, Google controls all, and it’s best to acquaint yourself with its complex behavior.

The Google Algorithm is constantly changing and most of them aren’t publicly announced. It keeps us users on the guessing end to maintain order within the system.

Google’s main mission “to organize the world’s most useful information” is more like a subtle gesture to ensure users maintain their integrity. Adhere to their guidelines and you will be rewarded.

This mainly applies to business owners who look to optimize their webpage. Understanding the algorithm will teach you about the dos and don’ts of SEO. 

Content

“Content is king” as Bill Gates once said but what does it actually mean?

He used the phrase to describe the future as a marketplace for content and he was not wrong. 

The SEO market is driven by content, making it the most influential factor on search engine rankings. Do note that great content is often the difference between good and bad visibility. 

Your website’s content should be constructed around the wants and needs of your customers. Along with the use of keywords, your content also helps Google understand the nature of your business and your level of expertise. 

Benefits of SEO

Now that you’ve got a better understanding of SEO and the way it works, let’s take a look at the benefits SEO can provide your business. As mentioned earlier on, bear in mind that to achieve the best results, is to invest in a legitimate SEO expert. 

Builds Brand Awareness 

First and foremost, having your page ranked higher on Google will give your business more recognition. This is due to the large number of traffic that roams around the first few pages.

Having a strong web presence will also help the credibility of your website. Potential customers are more likely to trust your business when they come across your website on the first page.

Turns Your Business Into a Worthy Competitor

It is important to bypass the competition within your market.

SEO strategies can equip your business with the necessities to give you the edge. There’s a possibility that other companies within your local market have already capitalized on SEO.

If your competitors have already obtained the “holy grail” then it’s about time for you to do the same!

Helps Generate More Customers 

The main purpose of your website is to help your business stand out. An SEO-regulated website can help bring in more customers twice as fast. 

Efficient and effective, SEO will help narrow down your target audience to customers who are actively seeking your product. It does so by directing traffic to your website.  

User Friendly Websites 

SEO is implemented to help improve user experience too. Nowadays, SEO tactics can help business owners refine the structure of their websites. 

A well-structured, smooth-running website is the epitome of having a good user experience. 

Customers want to browse through your website efficiently and effectively. It follows the simple equation of satisfying Google by providing high-quality information to your customers.

FAQ

Q1. Is SEO Important for Your Business?

SEO is important as it helps your business rank higher on Google. The higher you rank in Google, the more potential customers you will generate. SEO also improves user experience by improving the structure of your website. 

Q2. How Does SEO Work?

SEO is based on a number of strategies that can help improve the visibility of your website. 

Q3. How Long Does SEO Take To Work on Google?

SEO will take as long as it takes due to the ever changing nature of Google’s algorithm. This could be weeks or even months. This is also based on the strategies you have implemented and the credibility of your SEO expert. 

Q4. Is SEO affordable?

SEO isn’t always cheap especially if you’re looking to invest in a legitimate one. To get the best results possible, it is important to acquire the best services when it comes to SEO. 

References

https://www.forbes.com/sites/mikeswigunski/2021/07/06/small-business-seo-ranking-your-business-on-top-of-google/?sh=563307e97c9d

https://www.mtu.edu/umc/services/websites/seo/

https://neilpatel.com/blog/improve-google-rankings-without-getting-penalized/

https://www.veem.com/library/the-importance-of-seo-for-small-businesses/

https://www.bizjournals.com/bizjournals/how-to/marketing/2020/08/what-seo-means-for-your-small-business.html
https://www.improvemysearchranking.com/5-key-benefits-seo-small-businesses/