Search engine optimization (or SEO) tends to be a costly endeavour that generally does not result in immediate gains, either in terms of search engine rankings or in increased profits. This, combined with many fly-by-night SEO companies promising the world and delivering little can make SME owners with already tight budgets think twice about investing in this particular form of marketing.
But, when SEO is undertaken correctly and with the help of a seasoned professional, SMEs generally see great returns on investment and even find themselves competing well against much larger competitors. The key to gaining such results is investing in local SEO. By optimizing for the specific area wherein a business is physically located, it’s possible to gain far more organic traffic to your website. This increased traffic then results in increased conversions to actual sales.
How? Well, local SEO services ensure that you’re not only targeting people who can easily and physically access your business, but that you’re marketing to those specifically looking for what you have to offer. More than 50% of all Google searches are localised, with over 80% of these consumers looking for very specific products or services by using exact keywords like ‘near me’ or ensuring that they’ve turned on their phone location setting. Optimizing for these kinds of searches means that more people looking for your particular product or service will not only see your entry in search results but likely actively purchase what they need.
While it takes time to reap the rewards of local SEO, SMEs’ patience most often results in great marketing campaign savings, quality reputation building, and a loyal customer base. Great local SEO can, thus, help your SME grow and reach more relevant customers in ways that other marketing approaches simply cannot help you do.
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