If you operate a small business, you might be wondering why the concept of SEO should matter to you. When you’re new to SEO, it may seem like little more than a group of abstract ideas, and it may feel somewhat remote from your daily concerns as a small business owner. Is it really the best use of your valuable time and energy?

The truth is that SEO is far more important than you may realize. For small businesses, staying visible in your local market can make all the difference for your future—and search engine optimization is essential for maintaining that visibility over time. These are some of the most important reasons why crafting a smart SEO strategy is absolutely imperative if you want to make your small business successful.

SEO brings new customers to your doorstep.

Every business needs new customers, and that’s especially true for small businesses. If you want to grow your business and make a profit, you can’t simply rely on the same group of loyal customers; you need to make sure that you’re appealing to new ones. That means expanding your visibility and making it easier to find your business in the first place—and that means optimizing your online content so that it shows up on search results for your area.

SEO is an affordable investment.

If you’re a small business owner, you know that every penny counts. Small businesses need to be cautious about where they direct their money, since they have more limited resources to draw on than larger companies. One of the advantages of SEO is that it’s a small investment that can result in significant dividends. By devoting a certain amount of time to optimizing your content for search engines, you can help to ensure that your business continues to be prominent in local results for your industry.

SEO helps you build your brand.

Unlike larger companies such as Google or Amazon, small businesses usually don’t have an established brand to draw on. You can’t count on your business’s name springing immediately to mind when somebody needs your services. Brand awareness is one of the reasons why optimizing your content for effective keywords is so critical for success. The more highly you rank in search engine results for your industry and location, the more trustworthy you will seem to consumers. By making it easier for your potential customers to find you, you can ensure that you stay competitive even in crowded local markets.

SEO lets you optimize for mobile.

When you’re looking for a business in your vicinity, how do you find it? If you’re like most people, chances are you reach for your smartphone. With more consumers using their mobile devices to look up businesses than ever before, optimizing for mobile is a must for small businesses. An effective SEO strategy is one that takes the popularity of mobile searches into account, reflecting factors such as the rise of voice search and the importance of making your website responsive and easy to read on mobile devices.

SEO allows you to compete with larger businesses.

There aren’t many areas in which small businesses can effectively compete with their larger rivals. Bigger companies have more money, more resources, and often more famous brands. Search engine rankings is one of the areas where you have a fighting chance. If you’ve thought out your SEO strategy, you may be able to match and even outshine your local, larger competitors.

SEO can be used in tandem with social media.

Making effective use of social media is a must for any business in the 21st century. There is a symbiotic relationship between a good social media strategy and a smart SEO approach. Optimizing your content can help make your social media accounts more visible. In addition, working to build your social media presence can provide more viewers for your online content.

SEO is already being used by your competitors.

Almost all businesses have to deal with some degree of competition, and that means that they need to learn how to predict and respond to the marketing strategies being employed by their rivals. Search engine strategy becomes more important with every passing year, so it’s imperative that you know how to make effective use of it to promote your business. After all, if you don’t, your competitors will.

Does your business have the content you need to keep your online presence fresh, dynamic, and engaging? If not, Pennington Creative is here to provide it. Our team of skilled content experts can create the quality content you need to catch the attention of potential customers. When you connect with us, we’ll develop a custom strategy that matches your business’s specific needs. To set up a discovery call with us, send us a message through our website.

About the Author

Justyn - Digital Marketing Manager, Special Projects
Justyn Dillingham

Digital Marketing Manager, Special Projects