You know that search engine optimization must be important because it seems like every business and marketing blog can’t stop talking about it. However, it can be easy to get caught up in the hype around SEO without really understanding why it’s so important for business.

To set the record straight, here are the top three ways that good search engine optimization will benefit your business.

Search Can be a Source of Free Traffic

If getting leads from website traffic is a part of your business model (and for most modern businesses it is), then perhaps the most important aspect of SEO is its ability to bring you free traffic.

The most obvious ways to bring more visitors to your website usually involve paying for advertising. For example, Facebook Ads are a direct and straightforward way to increase awareness and traffic on your site. And while social media advertising services are an important part of a balanced marketing strategy, for most businesses they aren’t enough by themselves.

For one thing, placing ads online might do more to make you blend in than stand out — 87% of people feel that there are more ads now than there were two years ago and they would be right, as advertising is constantly growing. And while a well-designed, effectively-targeted ad can certainly do wonders for a marketing campaign, it’s by no means a magic bullet.

While advertising is a costly and often complicated way to get traffic, you don’t have to pay search engines to feature your website. Not only that, but people using search engines are actively looking for solutions and content like the ones you offer. As long as your site is optimized for search discovery, you can generate traffic and leads without paying for expensive ad space.

Your Site Must be on Page One to Get Found

Even though we just finished going over over the amazing opportunity of getting free traffic with SEO, it comes with a catch: if your website doesn’t appear on the first page of search results, you’re not likely to get found. Very few people scroll down or click to the next page on Google. The first three search results are the ones that get the most attention.

This demonstrates another reason why hiring an SEO agency is important: with proper optimization, your website can appear in those first three search results. But it’s going to take more than haphazardly publishing blog posts. By writing about the right topics, using the right keywords, and optimizing your website, you can get your site featured on the first page of search results.

Better SEO Means a Better User Experience

When deciding which websites to promote first, Google and other search engines take things like your website’s ease of use into account. It’s not all about keywords. Loading time, browser compatibility, website structure, and even design all play a part in determining whether your webpage gets ignored or skyrocketed to the top.

By optimizing your website for Google, you’re also optimizing it for your users. From new leads to returning customers, they’re going to have a better experience on your site when it’s been engineered for search discovery.

As you can see, SEO goes a long way towards improving your overall web presence. Contact Fasturtle Digital today to start investing in SEO for your business.