It is pretty much common knowledge, that as a business owner in the world of commerce today, unless you have an online presence, your business doesn't exist in the public's mind. The good news is that the challenge of designing sites has become less expensive and much faster. What is even more fantastic is that even novices to the world of computers can build their own sites thanks to easy-to-build templates available on the GoDaddy and WordPress websites.
The actual challenge is attracting attention for your website. A great website is worthless without visitors and SEO is what attracts visitors. So! What IS SEO? First, it stands for "Search Engine Optimization." It is how you maximize your website's exposure on search engines. Google is currently the dominant search engine, so you want your website to have a high ranking on Google. Ranking is where you are listed, hopefully on the first search engine page, when someone searches for your category. To make your website more enticing to Google, you must frequently add fresh content (information such as a blog or articles) and invite visitors. You can improve your SEO by posting engaging content that visitors read, respond to, and share with others. More quality content=more shares=more links=higher SEO ranking. See! Simple! Well, it's not quite that easy considering the vast competition in most industries, all of whom are fighting for that coveted first-page spot on Google.
All of this begs the question, "What can you do to help boost your Goggle ranking?" The key is in your key words. Key words are simply the words that are key to your business and industry. What are the words you use most often in your business? If you are a car dealer, you often use the terms gas mileage, coupe, sedan, etc. If you put your key words in the titles of your website pages and in the headlines of your website content, you will attract the Google "spiders," or little searchers bots that crawl around the web to find where keywords are located. That's geek-speak but it's important, so pay attention. Make sure you either do your research on how best to utilize key words or better yet, hire an SEO professional to code that for you in to your website. It will absolutely be money well spent.
Fortunately, Google has created Google+, which is like Facebook for adults. Google+ is one of the best ways to increase your SEO on Google. You can create a Google Local page. You can post your blog and other content, being sure to include images, a couple of hashtags, and your top keywords.
After you attract lots of visitors, don't ignore them. Engagement usually occurs before the purchase, while the shoppers are "kicking the tires." Think of a good shopkeeper who greets and engages shoppers in casual conversation. If someone has a complaint, you need to address it right away, with utmost courtesy.
Your ultimate goal for your website is to make money. This is where the word "conversion" is introduced to the website conversation. Conversion is when a window shopper peers through shop windows, then steps into the store and purchases a product or service. When business owners say, "My conversion rates are low and my website doesn't convert" that means that there may be high traffic (a lot of window shoppers) but few purchases. SEO experts will remind you that they may be able to deliver the window shoppers, but only your website and your products or services can convert them into purchasers.
In short, you want Google to smile on your website and bless it with a high ranking. But remember, what the Google gods can give, they can take away. You do not want to annoy the Google gods, so don't commit transgressions such as duplicating content from another website. You could be sent to Google jail, and just like Facebook jail, it is lonely and embarrassing.
Bottom Line:
SEO adjustments require time to gradually attract visitors. There is no overnight wonder with SEO. Website owners who manage to generate tremendous traffic and conversion on their sites are to be admired. There is a little bit of luck, as in every marketplace, with offering the right product at the right time at the right place. Nonetheless, your website is vital to the success of your business. You can transform it into valuable Internet property. Adopt the strategy that you will give Google what it wants and Google should give you what you want.
Marketing Strategies For Your Business: Content Marketing | Social Media | Your Website | In Person
