What is Search Engine Optimization (SEO)?
The process of optimizing your website pages and content to be indexed in Google’s search results is called Search Engine Optimization (SEO).
A common misconception is that SEO will automatically drive traffic to your website.
What SEO actually does is develop a giant billboard letting Google know you exist and where to find you. (i.e. makes your website pages, blog entries, services, PDFs, images, etc visible and recognizable for Google to find and crawl for indexing).
Lets take a trip shall we?
……Imagine you own a restaurant off of a busy interstate. Your restaurant is 3 miles west of the exit ramp. You want hungry drivers to know you exist, but you are too far away from the exit ramp for them to see your building or sign out front. How can you let drivers on the interstate know you’re there?
Now imagine you have a billboard 2 miles before the exit ramp. It lets drivers know:
- which exit you’re off of,
- that they need to turn right of the exit,
- that you are 3 miles down,
- and what type of cuisine you serve.
You are more likely to get traffic by letting drivers know you exist, how to find you, and type of food you serve, but it doesn’t guarantee that they will choose you over another restaurant off the same exit.
Likewise SEO will:
- make it easy for Google to find and crawl your site (with that giant billboard)
- when Google crawls your site SEO will make it easier for them to determine the relevance of your content to what is being searched.
- make it more likely that searchers will find your website pages and content in the search results
Then how can I get visitors to choose my site?
What drives the actual traffic is relevant content. If you have the information, services, resources, cuisine, etc. a customer is searching for on your website, you’re more likely to get the traffic.
Think of how you search for things on the internet now and include the answers or information on your website. Commonly searched criteria:
- How much does [insert service or product here] cost?
- How do I [insert a service here]? Many people start out looking for a DIY option. Be that option and make a compelling argument for using a professional such as yourself.
- Phone Numbers and Driving Directions
- Before and After Photos
- Products and Services they need based on location or price point
- Conditional searches like “My air conditioner is making a loud noise….” Or “Best place for dog grooming….” Or “Things to do in [insert area of town]….”
SEO is not complete rocket science, but it can be very time consuming. Our SEO consultants can do the optimization for you and report on your sites progress along the way. Let us know you’re interested; we would be happy to work with you! Contact Sales Today!
