By now, we’ve all heard or read about search engine optimization (SEO). If you’re a business person who wants to expand their online presence, then SEO is exactly what you’re looking for. In fact, you’re not alone in contemplating whether to acquire the services of SEO Specialists, as it is estimated that companies will be spending $65 billion in SEO this year.
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Sure, there are other types of online marketing available like pay-per-click (PPC) advertising, social media marketing, or even email marketing; all of it has its own importance in helping you establish your online presence. But in the extremely competitive search engine results war, there is no substitute for SEO. No other online marketing service can replace its value and importance in terms of organic search results.
Some would argue that SEO is just one of the many avenues to reach potential clients and will outright dismiss the advantages of it, but you have to remember that not all types advertising campaigns might be an option, especially for SMEs and start-ups due to financial constraints.
The longer you wait in getting SEO services for your website, the bigger the chance that your competition will outrank you. SEO is not an overnight thing. Reputable SEO experts will tell you that it will take some time before results begin to appear in search engines; therefore, now is the perfect time to start investing in SEO for your business.
This reason alone could tickle your imagination in so many ways as a businessperson. In this day and age, nothing comes close to the impact of the internet in our daily lives. Whether it’s the conventional desktop computer, laptop, mobile phone, tablet, or smart TV; almost all of us own or at least have an access to these devices. There’s no better way than to make the most out of this opportunity and ensure that your website will have an online visibility.
What good is your website if nobody knows that it exists?
Nowadays, everything we need and want to know can be accessed with the help of search engines. There’s even an argument that people have become too dependent on it, particularly in Google. Every search results that appear, especially the top three on the first-page, have the potential to become the go-to websites in their respective keywords. If you’re lucky, they would even bookmark your website or share it with other people.
Online visibility leads to prospective customers; prospective customers could turn into clients, which can lead to long-lasting customer relationship. All of these are possible because of SEO.
Not all SEO services are created equal, as each company differs on how they implement this process. Therefore, you will find that their price range varies from one SEO specialist to another.
Also, as I mentioned at the beginning of this article, SEO will soon become a $65 billion industry by the end of the year. Be sure that you have done your due diligence before picking the right people to do your SEO. Look for SEO companies who specialize in SMEs and start-ups as they tend to have more affordable prices and packages.
Affordability and low-quality don’t always go hand in hand.
When you have already set your sight on your prospective SEO Specialist, try to do a little background check. Reputable specialists are more transparent by placing their portfolio on their official website, and some would even have client testimonials.
It’s not even hard to verify if what these SEO companies are trying to claim are real. One easy way to find out is by comparing the actual search engine results with their chosen keywords for their clients. If it turns out that the ranking of the keywords in their portfolio actually appears in Google, then there’s a good chance that they are a legitimate company.
For most small and medium-sized enterprises and start-ups, SEO might be the best investment that they could possibly get for their business. It truly is the great equalizer for those who have a limited budget in terms of advertising their business.
Trust takes years to build, seconds to break, and forever to repair.
This saying can also be applied to perfectly describe SEO in terms of its impact on your business’s reputation. As you’re gradually trying to build your online presence, you’re also building your reputation as an authority in your industry with the help of high-quality contents from your website.
Gone are the days that website owners and SEO Specialists can manipulate Google’s search results with tricks and irrelevant contents. With constant algorithm updates like Panda, Penguin, Hummingbird, Pigeon, and many other major and minor changes that happen 500 to 600 times annually; Google has evolved in making their search results mainly for users, not for search engines.
In other words, do not write content with the purpose of trying to deceive search engines and expect a first-page result. Instead, try to contribute unique, helpful contents that would help you build a strong online presence.
Patiently build you online reputation until you become an authority in your specific industry, and do not break Google and user’s trust.
In reality, there are some similarities in SEO and stock market. Both are subject to fluctuations, and will take some time before you reap their financial benefits. Another similarity is the return on investment, as you have to be aware of how much you’ll be earning from these investments. Although it would be harder to monitor the ROI from the former, it is still possible by keeping track of all the client information on how they were able to reach you.
With all the rewards that may come from these two types of investments, there are also the inevitable risks that are out of anyone’s control. Just like the stock market, SEO should be viewed as a long-term investment; and with long-term goals being set, you should be able to properly control your emotions while having a good understanding of your risk tolerance.
Lastly, your investment, whether it’s SEO or stock market, will ultimately depend on the person you hired to do the job. At the end of the day, the decision in choosing the right SEO Specialist or Financial Advisor will decide the faith of your investment.
Image courtesy of Michael McGimpsey on Flickr.
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