Anyone that stumbles into the world of online content is immediately lambasted with the acronym SEO. SEO, SEO, SEO! But, what does it stand for, what does it even mean, and why does it even matter? Basically, SEO stands for search engine optimization. It is the way a website is optimized to allow its content to appear in search engines.
While it may sound like a lot of technical jargon, it is incredibly important if you want people to find your website and give you business. Without website views, you won’t sell your product. And, if you are not showing up in search engines, I can guarantee your potential customers will go somewhere else. If you are still unsure why search engine optimization and link building are crucial to success, let’s look at four reasons why SEO matters.
1. Google Search Results Matter
SEO works to make sure your website appears in Google search results. However, it is not an easy task to get your website to show up in Google search. Why? Well, Google closely guards its SEO algorithm and changes it often. Therefore, it is important to learn as much as you can (or hire a professional) to help you identify what you need to do to make sure your website appears in the coveted Google searches.
For instance, statistics show that most people do not even go past the first page in a Google search. This means if your website has not been optimized for search engines, there is a very real possibility that your website will not be found – even by those searching for what you are selling.
2. Keyword Searches Matter
An essential part of SEO is finding keywords. This means researching the main keywords individuals use that are related to your website content. Once you have identified the main keywords people use to search online for your product, then you work on finding ways to include these keywords within the content of your web pages.
This may mean hiring content writers that specialize in SEO writing knowing how to seamlessly embed keywords naturally. These writers also understand optimal keyword density – how many times keywords should appear on your webpage in comparison to other terms.
3. Your Target Audience Matters
SEO also matters in identifying your target audience. While you may have researched keywords, they will be ineffective if these keywords do not match your locality. For example, if you are in the air conditioning business, general keywords relating to air conditioning businesses will not result in website views from your target audience.
However, if you determine the way your target audience will search, you have much better chances of making your website show up in their search engines. For example, finding how people in your area search for air conditioner repairs (i.e., air conditioning repair Ocala Florida) is significantly more useful than a general keyword search (i.e., air conditioning repair).
4. Credibility Matters
Finally, SEO goes hand-in-hand with credibility. Google can determine whether the content of your website is credible. Often, this is done through link building. If you link to a credible, popular website, it makes your website appear more credible. Therefore, link building is useful for SEO purposes.