Are you looking to bring more leads to your business?
Who isn’t?
The real question is, how do you generate the kinds of leads that bring sales and revenue. There are a lot of different options, but one of the most long-term is search engine optimization (SEO).
SEO consists of optimizing your site and your local business information (like Google My Business) so that you rank more highly in search results for keywords related to your industry.
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Here’s why SEO strategies are so important and how they help you bring in new leads.
SEO Gains You Targeted Visibility
Who would you sooner be noticed by – a random person, or someone who exactly fits your customer profile?
Obviously, it would be a potential customer!
SEO helps that happen. You build your website and your content strategy to focus on specific keywords. These can be general industry keywords or local keywords that include the name of a city or neighbourhood.
When someone searches for those keywords, that’s a strong indication that they’re looking for exactly what you’re selling. Showing up highly in those search results is exactly what you need to gain targeted visibility.
From there, you draw people in with helpful information and encourage them to engage with you and eventually make a purchase.
If this sounds like a lot to do while you’re already running a business, you may choose to work with a company that does local SEO in Toronto.
Did you know that 84% of consumers trust online reviews just as much as a recommendation from a friend? That’s a massive vote of confidence – and it makes a big difference in how many leads you get.
A big part of search engine optimization is managing your online reputation. The number of reviews you have on Google, Yelp, and other platforms help search engines see your website as authoritative and trustworthy.
It also helps potential customers trust you as well.
How do you get reviews? The easiest way to ask for them! Send a survey to customers after they receive your product or service. Include links to online review sites.
If someone leaves you a bad review, see that as an opportunity rather than a problem. Respond to it and resolve the issue if possible. Other readers will see your professionalism, and it will improve your brand image even more.
Inbound Marketing Is More Effective
They say “Everyone loves to buy, but no one wants to be sold.” Inbound marketing takes advantage of this tendency by offering an invitation to possible buyers, rather than interrupting what they are doing to show them an advertisement.
When it comes to ads, most people ignore, block, or skip them. Inbound marketing gets around that tendency by sharing useful information that people want, rather than interrupting them with what they don’t want.
SEO encourages you to meet people where they are. Whether it’s searching for information, sharing on social media, or inviting them to join your email list, you show up where people are and offer your brand.
To use inbound marketing well, you start with information. Help people understand your industry, your products and services, and provide ideas on how to choose a provider. From there, you can engage with them more through comments, social media, and email.
Finally, you give them the chance to buy your product or service. At this point, a relationship has been built, and they know, like, and trust you. As a result, they are much more likely to do business with you.
In 2018, 52% of all website traffic worldwide came from mobile devices. A lot of those users are on the go – and quite possibly looking to visit your store!
Local searches – searches that involve the name of a town, neighbourhood or street – frequently result in visits to physical locations within 24 hours. If your website and store are among the top search results, that visit can be yours!
More than that, proper SEO requires a mobile optimized site. That means that people who view your website on a smaller screen will still be able to see all the content. The more friendly you are to those who use mobile devices, the more likely you will be to win those leads over your competitors.
Given how many people use mobile devices, you can’t afford not to position your company to get those customers!
SEO Can Make All the Difference
Search engine optimization isn’t just about pleasing search engines. It’s about making your website genuinely helpful to your potential customers and helping them understand that you’re a reputable and reliable company.
While SEO is a long-term strategy, it pays off handsomely over time. Your cost per lead will drop and you’ll have people discovering you, on their own, every day. It can be a great way to add revenue to your bottom line and boost your other marketing methods.
Author Bio:
Louise shares a passion for creative writing and enjoys being detail-oriented in her work. Working as an SEO specialist and copy editor has increased her ability to meet new challenges with an open mind.
A degree in Industrial Technology (Major in Computer Technology) also made Louise “tech savvy,” and she prides herself on her ability to recognize the latest trends and technologies in the digital industry. She hopes to someday visit many of the best dessert places across the globe. She’s also a proud “parent” to six beautiful cats.