SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is an important part of doing business in the digital age. After all, your business can’t be a success if no one can find it. Several years ago, most people probably didn’t know what SEO was, but these days, it seems sometimes like it’s all anyone talks about when it comes to digital marketing. How important is SEO for business?

What is SEO?

Search Engine Optimization is a process to direct more organic traffic to your website. The methods used to achieve this are intended to improve search engine ranking so that more potential clients or customers find your services and products. The video below from Bluehost is a pretty good breakdown.

Are Search Engine Rankings That Important?

Search engine rankings are extremely important. In the early days of the internet, people were accustomed to typing in web addresses and visiting small numbers of websites. However, people today are much more likely to use Google to access a much wider collection of information.

This means that there is more access and more competition. Ranking on Google and other search platforms can be essential to success. Just think of it this way, If your competitor is the second search result on Google, and your business is listed on page 4, who’s going to get more traffic?

Why Focusing on SEO Might be Wrong for Your Business

SEO is important. However, some people focus too much on Google rankings and forget the human element. Paying attention to building strong connections and demonstrating value to clients can be more important than search analytics. One of the best things to do is to focus on content strategy.

Content is important to connect with website visitors in a meaningful way. Furthermore, good web content significantly improves SEO. People tend to get caught up in things like keyword analysis and link building as though these things are a secret code to get to the top of the Google search results. Keywords and links are very important. However, without strong content, they are not enough. Do not fall into this trap.

Michael J. Snow is a writer, Social Media Manager, and Digital Marketing Enthusiast. Please direct any questions, concerns, love letters, or kindly-worded hate mail to: contact@snowmichaelj.com