What are the benefits of SEO? You’ve been told to use search engine optimization a few times as a business owner or marketer. That’s because it’s key to your marketing strategy.
If you’re not familiar with search engine optimisation, you might think it’s not worth the time or money to put into it. Still, you know search engines care about it and you want to gain market share in a competitive industry. You’ve seen reputable sites focus on SEO, not paid search results, and you want to know more.
What is Search Engine Optimisation?
SEO, or Search Engine Optimisation, is all about tweaking your website so it shows up more and easier in search engines like Google. Relevant keywords are crucial in this process as they help in optimizing website content and improving search engine rankings. The idea is to get to the top of the search results page so people will find your site when they’re looking for info, products or services. Essentially SEO helps your website get noticed.
Getting to page one is achievable with a good SEO strategy.
But remember SEO isn’t a set it and forget it deal. As user behaviour and search engine algorithms change you need to keep up to date and adjust your SEO accordingly to stay on top.
Benefits of SEO for your business:
1. Better User Experience
SEO not only increases your site’s visibility but also user experience. Your website is your digital storefront so it’s important that visitors get a good first impression. Issues like slow loading times, difficult navigation and poor mobile responsiveness can hurt how visitors perceive your business.
A good website experience is important and SEO is the key to that. Here’s how SEO improves user experience:
Faster Page Speed: SEO involves optimising various website elements to speed up page load times. A faster website means users don’t have to wait for content to load.
Mobile Friendly Design: With the rise of mobile internet SEO highlights the need for a mobile responsive website. This means a good viewing experience on all devices and increased accessibility and usability.
Clear Site Structure: SEO encourages a tidy website structure so users can navigate your site better. This clarity means they can find what they’re looking for quickly without frustration.
Optimised Images and Videos: Part of SEO is optimising visual content to make your site look good and load fast. This balance means your site is engaging without slowing down.
SEO is more than just search engine ranking; it’s about giving your visitors a smooth experience. By focusing on these you can make sure your website not only attracts but also serves your target market.
2. Mobile Friendliness
66% of web traffic now comes from mobile devices so having a website that works on all screen sizes is important. If your site doesn’t adapt to mobile visitors will leave quickly.
Google moved to mobile-first indexing in 2021 so if your site isn’t mobile friendly you’ll see a drop in visibility in organic search results. Both Google and Bing’s algorithms favour mobile optimised sites especially when users are searching from mobile. So mobile friendly sites generally rank higher in mobile search results than non mobile optimised sites.
SEO goes beyond basic site design to include optimising images and multimedia to load fast on mobile devices. It also means creating mobile friendly URLs and making sure the overall website structure transitions smoothly across different screen sizes. By focusing on mobile usability SEO improves user experience and helps websites stay visible and ranking on search engine results pages. This is key for any business to succeed in the digital world.
3. Long term benefits
SEO, or Search Engine Optimisation, is a long term digital marketing strategy because it’s about gradually and sustainably increasing a website’s visibility in search engine results.
Tracking SEO performance through various metrics such as search engine rankings and traffic data is crucial to evaluate the effectiveness of SEO tactics.
Long term Results Beyond Short term Tactics – Unlike short term marketing strategies such as pay-per-click (PPC) advertising which gives you instant visibility but only as long as you keep paying, SEO gives lasting benefits. Once you stop funding PPC visibility drops almost immediately, whereas SEO continues to drive traffic and improve your website’s presence over time. Let’s look at how SEO gives you these long term benefits.
Organic Traffic Growth – SEO involves optimising your website’s content, structure and on-page elements to rank higher in search results. As your site climbs the rankings it starts to attract more organic traffic. This type of growth is sustainable; instead of dropping off when the ad budget runs out, SEO traffic can continue to grow and give you a steady stream of visitors based on the relevance and quality of your content.
Building Credibility and Trust – A consistent presence on the first page of search engine results can greatly increase your brand’s credibility and trustworthiness. Users trust websites that are at the top of their search results and view them as more authoritative and dependable. Over time as your site maintains high rankings the trust in your brand solidifies and your site becomes the go to resource in your industry.
Adaptable to Industry Changes – The digital landscape is constantly changing with search engine algorithms updating frequently which can impact how websites are ranked. SEO is built to be flexible so it can adapt to these changes more easily than many short term tactics. This flexibility means a well planned SEO strategy will keep your site competitive and visible regardless of the digital trends.
Cost Effective Over Time – While SEO does require an upfront investment especially in time and resources, the cost effectiveness becomes apparent over time. The cost per visitor decreases as your website’s organic reach increases. This means after the initial phases of SEO implementation you continue to get visitors without the ongoing costs of direct advertising. Essentially SEO turns your website into a self sustaining asset in your marketing portfolio.
4. boost your social media profiles
SEO can help boost your social media presence indirectly. This is all about creating high quality, shareable content that resonates with your audience. When visitors like your content they are more likely to share it on social media. That sharing acts as a bridge to expand your content’s reach and introduce your brand to a wider audience which can lead to more social media followers.
Plus being active on social media and engaging with your audience can help your website’s performance in search engines. That engagement can drive more traffic to your site, boost your brand’s credibility and overall SEO impact. As your content circulates more on social media it not only attracts more views but also signals to search engines that your content is valuable which can boost your rankings. So a strategic approach to SEO and social media can create a virtuous cycle and boost your overall digital marketing.
5. helps local customers find your business
SEO or Search Engine Optimisation is important for helping local customers find products, services and businesses through tactics specific to local searches. This niche within SEO is called Local SEO.
Local Keywords: Including location specific keywords in your website’s content is a key part of Local SEO. For example including terms like “best bakery in Melbourne” helps search engines know where your business is. This targeted approach will get you more visibility in search results for your area and increase the chances of local customers finding your business.
Google My Business Optimisation: Another part of Local SEO is creating and optimising a Google My Business (GMB) profile. A well managed GMB profile means when customers search locally they will find accurate and helpful information about your business. This includes your business address, phone number, opening hours and customer reviews which are all important in building trust and persuading customers to choose your services over others.
Localized content and review management are powerful tools in Local SEO to get you more visibility in local search results and build trust with potential customers.
Localized Content: Customising your website’s content to the local audience and issues can boost your search rankings locally. This could be blog posts, landing pages or promotions that are tailored to the local community’s needs and interests. That targeted content will not only improve your SEO but also make your business more relevant and attractive to local customers.
Online Reviews: Encourage customers to leave reviews and manage those reviews on platforms like Google and Yelp can impact your local search rankings. Reviews build trust with potential customers by showing real experiences and also signals to search engines that your business is credible and authoritative.
For example a coffee shop in Perth. By optimising its website with local keywords like “coffee shop in Perth”, having an accurate and informative Google My Business profile, having consistent details across online directories and encouraging positive reviews the coffee shop will increase its chances of showing up in local search. When someone in Melbourne searches for a coffee spot this coffee shop will be more likely to be at the top.
In short SEO strategies for local search is important for businesses that want to connect with regional customers. These strategies will not only increase online visibility but also drive more foot traffic so it’s essential for any local business to succeed in its community.
Need a local SEO Perth team you can trust? Contact our local SEO experts and the Perth Digital Edge team will get you more local search visibility.
6. Builds Brand Credibility
SEO is a key tool in building and establishing brand credibility for businesses. By ranking high in search engine results a business gets visibility and earns reputation as an industry leader.
Enhanced Perception of Leadership and Quality: Ranking at the top of search engine results especially in the top few spots tells customers that your business is a major player in the industry. That top spot is often seen as an indicator of quality and reliability. As customers associate higher rankings with better offerings being at the top can influence their buying decisions.
Trust and Reliability: Customers are more likely to trust a brand that’s at the top of search engine results. That top spot is seen as an endorsement of credibility by the search engines themselves, that the business is a trusted source of information or solution. The psychological impact of this is huge, customers feel more secure when interacting with a business that ranks well.
Reputation Management: Brands that are lower in the results are perceived as less reputable or less credible, often getting overlooked by potential customers. In the digital age a strong online presence – through effective SEO – is crucial in shaping public perception of your brand. This will not only attract new customers but also retain existing ones by continuously reinforcing your market position as a authority in your industry.
In short a solid SEO strategy is important for any business to build and maintain a strong brand reputation. By being at the top of search results businesses can increase credibility and trust with customers and influence their buying decisions and loyalty.
7. Improve your digital marketing ROI
One of the biggest benefits of SEO for your business is the potential for high ROI. In digital marketing the ultimate goal is to maximise ROI and a well planned and executed SEO strategy is the key to that. Integrating SEO with other digital marketing strategies can enhance overall effectiveness and drive better results.
High Conversion Rates from Search Engines: Google stats show that search engines can convert at 15% for new leads. That’s higher than traditional marketing channels and that’s the potential of investing in SEO.
Visibility and Accessibility: Visibility of your website in search engine results is key to achieving this high ROI. If your site is on the second, third or fourth page of search results you won’t be found. Most users don’t go beyond the first page of search results and heavily favour businesses that are at the top. So if your website is not in the top results you’re missing out on lead generation opportunities.
Page One Presence: Being on the first page not only increases your visibility but also the chances of clicks which can lead to more sales and customer engagement. That top spot in search results is key to driving traffic and conversions.
In short the importance of SEO can’t be stressed enough when it comes to your online presence and profitability. Investing in SEO is not just about ranking higher but also about taking advantage of the high conversion potential of search engines and maximising your digital marketing ROI.
8. SEO is more cost effective
Unlike paid advertising where you pay per click, organic traffic from SEO doesn’t have per visit charges. That’s why SEO is a more attractive option for businesses looking for long term cost efficiency. Once your site is well optimised and ranking well, it can attract visitors without any ongoing cost.
Effective search engine optimization can significantly enhance the amount of website traffic directed to a website, leading to higher engagement and authority within the industry.
Sustainable and Cost Effective Traffic: Imagine a business that invests in both SEO and paid advertising. Paid ads give you instant visibility and can drive traffic fast but that has a limitation – the visibility stops when the ad budget is exhausted. SEO efforts build momentum over time. The initial investment in SEO will continue to pay dividends long after the work is done, driving organic traffic consistently. That’s why SEO is a more sustainable and cost effective strategy in the long run.
Level the Playing Field for Small Business: SEO is a powerful tool for small businesses because it allows them to compete with big corporations without the big ad budgets. By creating quality content and optimising strategically smaller businesses can rank high in search engines. That gives them a chance to grab market share and attract more customers without the need for expensive ad campaigns.
So if you’re a small business owner investing in SEO could be one of the best and most cost effective decisions you’ll make. It levels the playing field and ensures your marketing dollars deliver ongoing long term results. It saves you resources and builds a foundation for future growth.
9. Brand awareness
SEO gives small businesses an advantage by increasing brand awareness which is key to business growth. Brand awareness is the degree to which your target audience knows and recognises your brand. The more people know your brand the more they’ll engage with it.
Increased Visibility Through Higher Rankings: SEO plays a big role in increasing brand awareness by increasing the visibility of your content in search engine rankings. When your content ranks higher it becomes more visible in search results and more likely that potential customers will see your brand. That visibility is key because it translates to more organic traffic and subsequently higher engagement rates.
Using Touchpoints for Brand Exposure: These are opportunities for potential customers to interact with your brand are called touchpoints. Each touchpoint is a chance to wow and engage your audience with your website, products and other content. Whether it’s an article, a product page or a helpful guide every piece of content that ranks well in search results is a gateway for new customers to find your brand and for existing customers to deepen their loyalty.
By using SEO to leverage these touchpoints small businesses can increase their brand visibility without the need for expensive ad campaigns. That saves you marketing costs and builds a more recognisable and trusted brand over time.
10. SEO gives you an edge
Having a search engine optimised website gives businesses an edge. Imagine two businesses in the same industry, offering the same product at the same price. The business with the optimised website will outperform the one that doesn’t prioritise SEO.
Competitive Advantage through SEO: Where all other factors are equal – product quality and price – the business that does SEO well gets an advantage. That advantage is increased visibility in search results which translates to more customer traffic and potentially faster growth.
Beating Competitors and become a Leader: SEO allows businesses to outshine their competitors and position themselves as leaders in their industry. By doing competitor SEO audits businesses can find gaps and opportunities in their own SEO. That insight allows them to create better content and optimise their website to rank higher.
Increased Visibility and Attract Customers: The increased visibility that comes with higher rankings in search results means more potential customers see your brand. That’s more traffic and more brand perception as a leader in your space. As more people visit your website your brand becomes more recognisable and that can cement your position as a leader.
In the end using SEO not only helps you keep up with your competitors but can help you beat them and be the top choice for consumers in your market.
Get more sales with SEO through PDE!
Now that you know the benefits of SEO you’re probably wondering how to get started and what to do next. That’s what we’re here for. Our team of SEO experts at PDE are ready to help you with our SEO services and show you how to rank your website.
Contact us today! FREE consultation. Let’s get started! 🎉👍🏼
