Launching or running a small business is hard enough in this highly competitive digital market and achieving sustained growth is infinitely more difficult.
Research shows that 81% of users conduct an online search before making a purchase, so boosting your site’s visibility on search engines can definitely drive traffic. One of the best ways to do that is Search Engine Optimization (SEO).
SEO can level the playing field for startups and small businesses by leveraging digital marketing to gain organic exposure. It uses best practices of on-site, off-site and technical optimization along with local SEO, to help business owners compete with larger competitors online.
In this blog post, we’ll look at how small business owners can use SEO as an efficient marketing tactic:
Keyword research is the process of finding out which terms your target audience is likely to type in the search bar when looking for businesses like yours.
While there are tons of tools on the internet that can give you an idea of what people usually search for, start with an old-fashioned brainstorm.
Once you have a list of terms in front of you, type them in a search engine and analyze the variations suggested in the search box and search results pages.
With the rise of voice searches, consumers are likely to use long-tail keywords during searches. Long-tail keywords are keywords that don’t have as much search volume as the mainstay keywords but could result in higher conversions. Therefore, it’s a good idea to incorporate trigger words like ‘how,’ ‘what,’ ‘best,’ etc., in your keywords.
Small businesses can make the most of their SEO efforts by focusing on keywords in their niche. This way, they’ll be able to reach out to a smaller, more specific audience.
A great way to boost your website’s online visibility is by optimizing your Google My Business Listing. It’s a free, easy-to-use tool that allows customers to find all the information about your business in one place—especially if you want people to come by your storefront. By providing details like contact information, business addresses and adding relevant pictures, you can control how search engines display information about your company in local search results.
Adding frequently asked questions and videos will further attract customers to your business.
The right content marketing strategy can give your small business a significant boost. Incorporate a mix of content (text, videos and infographics) to attract, engage, and convert your consumers. Studies show that content marketing can generate three times more leads compared to other marketing strategies.
Long-form content (a minimum of 1200 words) is also a great way to earn your customer’s confidence and establish yourself as an expert in the industry. Be sure to optimize the content for keywords and the local area you’re targeting.
This blog, for instance, was generated for all of the above purposes, so we practice what we preach.
If you’re looking for a creative marketing agency Houston to help you reach out to a larger audience, give us a call. Besides our SEO services Houston TX and digital marketing services for businesses of all sizes, we can help you create engaging content that converts visitors to leads and customers.
Contact a member of our team at OAK Interactive today for more information.
