Over the past few years, it’s no secret that Google has made dramatic changes to their algorithm in an attempt to provide the highest quality search results for their users. In turn, small businesses have become discouraged that getting ranked high in the search engines is an impossible feat. Not to mention, apart from these never-ending major updates that have caused businesses to fear Google more than ever, there are thousands of tiny changes that are happening all the time. With the overpowering rise of mobile domination in SEO and the threats of social media outlets like Facebook, Google is constantly covering their tracks to ensure they stay on top.
If you haven’t feared Google yet, or have sworn off adopting SEO marketing strategies, now’s the time to rethink your mindset! According to a media forecaster, Borrell Associates, SEO spending from small businesses will be just over $65 billion this year. However, that number is expected to grow to $80 billion come 2020.
So, why the SEO increase?
Whether you choose to believe it or not, the landscape of marketing for your business has forever changed. In the past, marketing was centered on an immediate response. If you produce enough content that consistently screams the same deal or include a “Hurry! Act Now!” offer to as many people as you can, you’re bound to have a few people convert, right? Maybe this was the case a decade ago, but today, businesses have hit a wall with their traditional efforts and are only force feeding potential customers information they aren’t interested in hearing.
Use yourself as an example; can you vouch that you’ve become numb to junk mail, commercials and other types of print advertising? Do you resort to watching shows on Netflix or On Demand to avoid the commercials you’ve programmed yourself not to pay attention to? Same goes for your customers! People no longer want to be told what they should or shouldn’t buy. They want to do this on their own terms and actively go out to look for it. And when that time comes to actively go looking, a majority of the time, their first stop is usually Google search. They might be searching things such as “Best pizza near me”, or “Car Dealers in my area” or even “How to knit a scarf.” The one thing these search terms all have in common is they are people with a question looking for an answer.
Search Engines drive traffic for businesses all over the world and taking full advantage of reputable SEO tactics will help put your business is front of the people that are most likely to make a purchase or utilize your service. In a nutshell, the projected SEO marketing spend of $80 billion by businesses is for good reason. Sure your strategies will have to change with each new Google update, but the indication is to stay ahead of the curve, invest in these tactics and find a team of SEO experts that can anticipate and amend to these changes.
Stream’s Kick-Start Step
When entering into the black hole of search engine optimization, the keyword to keep in mind is “users”. Search engines like Google, drive economic activity but it’s the users who are out there actively looking for a solution to their problems. Your business can be that solution, so make sure you are creating a website and the content on it around that information.
If you’re interested in learning more about the potential that SEO marketing can offer you’re business, visit our blog or contact us for a free SEO consultation. We’d love to hear from you!
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– Amanda Nickels is an SEO Content Strategist at Stream Companies, a full-service Philadelphia-area advertising agency.