Is SEO still a valuable investment for small businesses in 2023, especially with the option to purchase a top spot on the search results page with Google Ads?
With the rise of social media, some small business owners may question whether it makes sense to prioritise their website’s search engine rankings. Every investment a small business makes is important, so it’s crucial to evaluate the benefits of SEO.
The internet has evolved significantly over the past decade, and as a result, small business owners may wonder whether investing in SEO is still worthwhile in comparison to other digital marketing strategies.
Let’s take a closer look at the value of SEO for small businesses in 2023.
Benefits of Investing in SEO
Our digital marketing agency provides SEO services, and we firmly believe in the value it can bring to businesses. However, we understand that it is important to consider the opinions of others.
In fact, if you were to ask small business owners about the benefits of investing in SEO, we believe you would find a consensus that it is a worthwhile investment.
Even if your business is successful without an online presence, imagine the potential revenue that could be generated if your website was ranking at the top of Google’s search results for your targeted keywords.
Below are the primary benefits of investing in SEO:
Attracting Ready-to-Buy Customers
Search engine optimisation (SEO) enables you to draw in more relevant traffic from users who are already seeking your product or service. As these users’ search intent aligns with what you provide, it can result in greater conversion rates.
Free Traffic Once You’re Ranking
Although Google Ads can be effective, they require continuous payments for traffic. However, with SEO, the traffic doesn’t stop once you stop investing. If you pause your SEO efforts during a slow season, you’ll still continue to get traffic from previous efforts.
Nonetheless, it’s important to sustain your SEO rankings with ongoing work or investment to stay ahead of your competitors. Compared to Google Ads, SEO’s drop-off in traffic is less severe when you stop investing.
Good SEO Helps Conversions
To potential customers, a business with a high search engine ranking appears credible, making it easier to close sales. By improving your website’s visibility on search engine results pages, you can establish consumer trust and brand recognition, which are invaluable.
Well-optimised websites aid in conversions, which means they are well-structured and easy to navigate. These websites have clear categories and hierarchies, allowing users to access any page from any page on the site.
They are uncluttered, with minimalist designs that enhance usability. They offer good content that people find useful, entertaining, and want to share. By meeting these requirements, your website can have a lower bounce rate, increased time spent on the site, and more conversions, all of which are beneficial to your business.
Potential ROI from SEO
One advantage of SEO that requires further exploration is its return on investment (ROI). Although calculating the ROI of SEO can be challenging, you can assess your traffic and conversions, compare them to your pre-SEO investment results, and determine if it has been a profitable investment.
How Much Does SEO Cost?
The cost of SEO can vary significantly depending on the scope of the project or ongoing services. Factors that influence the cost include:
- The size of the website
- The number of pages that require optimisation
- The amount of new content that needs to be created
- The number of technical SEO issues that need to be addressed
- The number of locations that require business profile listing setup or edits for small businesses with brick-and-mortar locations
- The current number and quality of backlinks
- The level of competition, and whether some aspects of the work will be done in-house by you and your team.
If you’re interested in learning more about our digital marketing services, including SEO, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us. Our team of experts is always ready to answer any questions you may have and provide you with more information about our services.
What is the Timeframe for SEO to Produce Results?
Clients often ask us about the timeline for SEO results. Unlike Google Ads, SEO is a gradual process that requires patience. The time it takes to see results depends on various factors such as the level of competition and the current state of your website’s optimisation.
For a new website, it may take between 6 to 12 months of optimisation to see a significant improvement in search rankings, while established websites may see results in 3 to 6 months.
We recommend that clients invest in SEO for at least six months to stay ahead of competitors.
If you’re hesitant to make a financial investment, we offer educational resources and affordable consulting services to help you get started.
We can work with you to develop a customised strategy that meets your business goals and budget. Contact us today to schedule a consultation and take the first step towards boosting your online presence and growing your business.
What’s the Benefit of Starting SEO Now Instead of Later?
Creating a strong online presence through SEO is a competitive process. With only one top spot on Google, it’s important to take action and begin optimising your website sooner rather than later. However, don’t be discouraged if you haven’t started yet, as it’s never too late to begin.
The Final Verdict
If you’re wondering whether SEO is worth it in 2023, the answer is a resounding yes. SEO has always been and will continue to be a crucial aspect of online marketing as long as search engines and websites exist.
However, the timeframe for seeing a return on your investment can vary depending on your competition and your website’s current state of optimisation.
If you haven’t started working on your SEO yet, it’s essential to begin as soon as possible to stay ahead of the competition.
Want Us to Manage Your SEO?
If you’re a small business looking to improve your online presence, consider having Gekkoshot handle your SEO. Our team of experts has years of experience optimising websites and generating organic traffic for small businesses.
Whether you need help with on-page optimisation, creating high-quality content, or building strong backlinks, we have the knowledge and experience to get the job done.
Our team stays up-to-date with the latest trends and best practices, and we use only ethical, white-hat techniques to help our clients achieve long-lasting results.
We understand that every small business is different, and that’s why we take a personalised approach to our SEO services. We take the time to get to know our clients and their businesses, so that we can develop strategies that are tailored to their unique needs and goals.
Our team also provides regular reporting and analysis, so that our clients can see the results of our efforts and make informed decisions about their marketing strategies.
Don’t let your competitors get ahead—contact us today to see how we can help your small business succeed online.