SEO is needed more than ever. For many years, the importance of SEO has been neglected as the trend of Social Media Marketing took over the marketing budget for most of the companies. But they didn’t realize it earlier that merely having a website is not enough. I am gonna ask you some hard-hitting questions:
- Do your website is having enough traffic without spending on ads?
- Is your website visible on the first page when you search for the target keywords?
- Is your local business listed under Google My Business?
- Does your website communicate the exact message that you want it to?
- Are you tracking your competitor’s moves on search engines?
If the answer to the above questions is ‘No’, then you’re totally missing out on the super important Marketing Trend of 2020 and that is Search Engine Optimisation (SEO).
“SEO is making your website visible to the target customers and provide them with a piece of relevant information and message that your business is based on, to convert them as a customer or client through search engines like Google.”
51% of people visit the company’s website to make a purchase.
68% of users say they use Google to discover or find a new item or product.
Don’t you think you’re losing a huge chunk of business to your competitors by not optimizing your website as per Google standards? That’s where SEO comes into the picture.
If you’re not convinced enough, we’re gonna give some more reasons to start SEO or hire an SEO agency to workout for you as soon as possible. Lookout:
1) Everything starts with a simple ‘Google it’
From online cooking classes to medicines or groceries home delivery, People search in Google. Why? Because they trust Google and the first five results shown by Google are super-hit.
75% of people never scroll past the first page of search engines.
Businesses located locally are becoming so popular and in-demand due to restrictive delivery services by big players and people want everything from small stuff to big delivered at their door-step.
In the year 2020, Google has seen a hike on search terms containing ‘nearby’ like doctors nearby, salon nearby, cafes nearby etc. and the first few results are shown by Google takes a majority of the business.
Is your website among the first few results shown by Google?
2) People are used to getting services by staying at home
Who would have thought that even the fashion shows will be held virtually? People are participating in them with equal excitement as they used to do before Coronavirus.
There is an endless number of services that we didn’t even think would be possible online. But look around you. Everything is digitalized. Goods, services, people, places. You can have everything by sitting at home.
But is your business still lacking an online presence? Or maybe you have an online presence, but are you genuinely exploiting this superb opportunity to upgrade your business and use digital platforms at its best?
3) Great time for domestic business
Imports have taken a lapse since past few months due to International transport restrictions during Coronavirus. Also, a national movement of ‘local for vocal’ has been on a buzz. People are genuinely supporting domestic products and services.
This is a great time for domestic born businesses to capture this opportunity and make their awesome products reach to the right audience.
4) Less foot traffic on physical store
Even though the process of gradual unlock is in process but the Coronavirus has no expiry date. With the rising number of COVID cases, people still prefers to stay at home. The stores are literally burning their budget on electricity, staff salary, rents and many unseen costs.
Whereas, you have the opportunity to make your online store worth reaching for the people looking out for new products. Of course nothing comes for free. You have to bear some costs but I can bet that these costs will be much lesser than the cost of operating a shop plus your reach will be wider.
5) User experience is important more than ever
This is just like how a store would make sure customers are comfortable during their visit. You’ll have to ensure that site visitors stay on your page instead of just hitting “back” once they get there. This user behavior indicates to Google whether users’ consider your site worth a visit or not.
6) SEO is less expensive than others
As, we are constantly saying that with proper SEO structure in place, you’ll be creating an asset for your business which will drive you revenue and build you a trust of people.
The results are long-term. The returns that you’ll get with good SEO will be far much more than the cost that you have spent.
During this pandemic, where marketing cost has taken a seat back, spending on SEO will be much more worthy as it’ll create a backbone for your business in long run.
7) People are searching for new things that makes their life easy
There has been increase in internet users to 3 billion people. With this COVID outbreak, new demands, new necessities and new required services has opened the door for new budding businesses. People are buying products that helps in dealing with this blue situation.
When we say search, what comes into our mind? Obviously Google. It’s time for your business to be out there where the people are spending their most of the time.
What should you do now?
It’s your duty to provide hope to people and to yourself for after pandemic, it’s all going to be worth it.
For many businesses, the future is uncertain. The world is dipping into a recession and picking yourself up during and after will not be easy. Please make sure to invest in a long term marketing strategy that will provide a way out after the pandemic. SEO is considered to be a long term strategy.
What you do today will bear fruits later in the future. Since the pandemic has no expiry date, it makes sense to put more effort into a long term strategy so that once this virus has crawled back to wherever it came from you are ready to receive customers.
SEO done now is a seed for the future.
Final Word
It’s a real tragedy for the world as so many people and businesses are affected by this pandemic. Remaining indoors will keep you safe and when the pandemic finally comes to an end, we will be ready to rebuild our lives and economy.
And, NOW is the best time to make the best use of SEO to build your brand.