Does my Site Really Need SEO?

Search Engine Optimization (or SEO) is the combination of efforts that make your website visible whenever a related product or topic is searched in the internet.

SEO is not only for online stores.  It does not matter whether you are selling a product or service.  You may be running a site to exchange ideas.  You believe your product or idea is needed by someone out there, and this is why you put up your site.

Think of SEO as a matchmaker.  SEO will note when someone looks for you.  SEO will present you to that person.  SEO will take you and the person looking for you together.

Great SEO will not only line you up to meet the person looking for you.  Great SEO will put you first up at the queue.

Here are the effects of being up visible in the search engine results:

1.      More web traffic.  When surfing, people click the top results in the first pages of the search.  The deeper down you are, the less chance anybody will come clicking through your page.  People generally like to click from pages 1 to 3 when searching.  If you are in page 10, there is the greater chance of searcher to ditch the search before s/he finds you. 

2.      More sales. A customer who searches for a particular product is tinkering with the idea to buy.  When a person intent to buy sees your site immediately and sees your site offers what is wanted, you have a better chance to be loved at first sight.

3.      More brand awareness.  A person who has not yet heard of your company but finds you offer similar services will check you out first and see what you have to offer.

4.      Step up to the competition.   If you and your competitors haven’t optimized your search engine performances, it is time enough that you lead the trail.  If your competitor company is already using SEO and you are not, expect that company to always come in front of you, thus it gets the traffic, the sales and the awareness.  Or imagine the horror when your previous customers type in your company name to search for your contact information, and the searches give them the competitor’s website at the top of the list.  Don’t worry if the competitor started ahead of you with SEO, you can still catch up. 

So you think your site can use the traffic, the sales, the awareness and leveling the field?  Think you need SEO?