Why search engine optimization (SEO) matters

Today, companies aren’t just competing with local competition. Online companies of all sizes are trying to take a piece of the your industry’s pie, and it is up to you to stay relevant in an increasingly diverse landscape. One way companies can gain new customers or regain those they’ve lost to the online giants is through ensuring their websites are up to date for search engine optimization, or SEO. 

SEO is a buzzword throughout business. It feels complicated, but it can be easier to comply than it may seem. SEO helps websites improve their search page ranking. This means that if the rules are followed, they will help your website move higher on the search results page, giving a much higher likelihood that your website will appear alongside other online retailers as well as your brick-and-mortar competition.

And that’s important for a few key reasons.

Updated SEO enables more detail — hours, a photo of your storefront or company, and key sections of your website — to appear with Google search results. Since Google has 88% of the search engine market share in North America, it is imperative that your results on Google search look great.

A well-thought-out social media strategy is also important. Social platforms that direct traffic to your website also help improve your Google rankings. According to eMarketer, 90.4% of millennials, 77.5% of Generation X and 48.2% of baby boomers are active social media users, making social media a portion of your advertising and marketing campaign that can’t be ignored. And you don’t necessarily need to be a web designer to fix some of the issues that might be putting you on the third or fourth page of a search.

How to make SEO work for you:

1. Stop keyword stuffing A decade ago, the habit of including search terms both as a list on the homepage and within the code was all the rage. We used to have to tell Google what we were about via listing keywords. However, that’s something that actually will “downrank” your website in results. Downranking is just what it sounds like — it lowers your position on the search results and might push you to later pages — and it’s exactly the opposite of what your business needs.
2. Tell your story on your homepage Google uses computer programs called “spiders” to read what you have on your website. From the text on your homepage, Google will figure out what your company does — it will learn where you are, your company’s contact information and other important details that can appear in search results. 
3. Connect your social media
4. Add your location and phone number to every page
5. Update your website on a regular basis
6. Consider adding a blog
7. Include great photography

Every company has a story — and at SmartSolutions, we’re passionate about helping you tell that story. 

Looking to give your company’s social media marketing presence the boost it needs to start seeing a more positive return on your investment? Click below or call us today to get your free consultation!