SEO or Search Engine Optimization is the process of preparing content, especially so that it reaches more people on Google and other search engines. It involves writing and doing web design in a way that Google can easily understand so that it can categorize your website properly.
A search engine is a matchmaker between a person with a question and an answer online. When someone types in a question like “where is the closest pizza to me?”, they are showing intent. They are curious about pizza and they might even want to buy some. Google recognizes that many people perform similar searches, and goes looking for the best page to direct people to. SEO is about making that page your website.
SEO Brings Targeted Traffic to your Website
SEO brings more visitors to your website, but they are not total strangers. They are coming to you because they have a specific question or concern that Google told them you could answer. These are targeted readers who will be interested in what you have to say and may end up buying from you.
SEO Helps you Outrank your Competitors
Most people don’t look very far down on the results page when they do a Google search. It pays to be at the top. If your competitors are above you on Google’s search page for key terms, they will almost definitely get website visitors and more sales.
You can fight back with SEO and web design. Creating more SEO content teaches Google that you have these answers too, and you might even be more of an expert than your competitors. SEO experts can do a lot to push your website up in the rankings, above your competitors.
SEO Helps Local Marketing
People think of SEO and search as being global, but a huge number of searches every hour are extremely local in their search intent. Keywords like “Best Pizza in Newport, Maine” are only competitive between a few local businesses, not the entirety of the internet. That means they are attainable, especially if your competitors are sleeping on the potential that web design and SEO have to drive local foot traffic to businesses.
Search engine optimization is the best way to increase targeted traffic to your business and outrank your competitors. If you are a local company, it is especially important to show up for local searches.
