Unless you've been living under a rock for the past year it's no surprise to anyone that the country is in the grips of a stifling recession. The worst since the Great Depression from many have proclaimed. Businesses are cutting back, especially small businesses. With a reduction in people, resources and a much reduced marketing budget business owners are increasingly turning to Search Engine Optimization (SEO) strategies to improve their bottom line.
Search Engine Optimization is affordable and targeted. It's much less expensive than traditional advertising and most importantly...offers a measurable return on investment. Everything a smart business owner is looking for, right? So, what's the problem? Why doesn't everyone get with the new times and start optimizing right now? Well, for most people it's confusing, complex, always changing and hard to keep up with for the normal person who doesn't immerse themselves in it 24/7. Oh, and they have no idea where to start. So, it's kind of a throw your hands up in the air type of thing with lots of mumbles of "just forget it, I don't get it." There is a solution. And, I'll get to that soon.
SEO will improve how your site is ranked with Google, Yahoo, Ask and all the other major search engines. The higher the ranking, the more traffic. The more traffic, the more sales. And of course, more sales equals more money for your business. And you. It's that simple.
With effective SEO strategies, companies of all sizes and from all industries been able to market to such a specifically defined target audience. SEO has leveled the playing field. As many smart entrepreneurs are realizing, when you can spend less money and reach out to a better quality prospect the results can be nothing short of astounding.
So, you ask, what exactly IS Search Engine Optimization? How does it work? And, most importantly... how can it help me and my business?
All good questions. Let's start at the top and work our way down.
There are numerous definitions for Search Engine Optimization and most only define one side of the equation. So, here's my definition: Search Engine Optimization, or SEO, is a twofold process of first making on site page enhancements and second implementing off site marketing strategies designed to bring more visibility and traffic to your website.
So, let's take that apart a bit. And, don't worry, this is a 3 part post and I promise I'll get to the part about how it helps you improve your sales and take away some of the business pain you are undoubtedly feeling right now.
First... the on site stuff. Stuff? Yeah, stuff. Let's not get too technical here, we'll all enjoy the conversation much more.
Here's the teaser to bring you to part 2 of this post which explains On Site Search Engine Optimization... get ready to learn, in simple terms, about the wild, wonderful world of targeted Keywords, making your site "easy to read," how to think like a prospective customer and even how to think like a search engine. We'll chat about Meta tags and Meta Descriptions and even how to use Search Boxes. I may even teach you how to spy on your competitors... who knows? Plus much, much more. Actually, if I cover all that stuff I just mentioned I'll probably be done at that point. Either way, you'll learn and your business will benefit, I promise you.
Part Three will delve into Off Site strategies, which have become of paramount importance over the past year.
