- Blog
- Marketing & SEO
- What is SEO and How Does It Help My Business?
In the beginning, man created the web, and the web was chaotic. The first search engines emerged in the 1990s to organize information. Yahoo!, Netscape, and Altavista were among the most recognized. However, it was with the arrival of Google that things truly became easier. And thus, businesses saw the opportunity to reach consumers by understanding how search engine algorithms worked and using it to their advantage; SEO was born!
What is SEO?
SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization. It refers to a set of techniques and strategies used to improve the visibility and ranking of a website in the organic search results of search engines such as Google, Bing, Yahoo, and others.
The main objective of SEO is to increase the visibility of a website in search results for relevant keywords through various practices, such as content optimization, site structure, keyword selection, link building, and improving user experience.
Optimization: The Keyword
If a law firm creates a website to promote itself on the internet, will it be the only law firm with a website in the world? Perhaps in its country?... Maybe in its city?... In the building where its offices are located? So we ask ourselves: How does a search engine determine the order in which it will display the results? Optimization!
Optimization starts with the choice of keywords. Keywords are the terms that users use to search for information on the internet. "Law firm in my city," "how to start a company," "divorce lawyers" are some examples. Search engines use algorithms to determine the relevance of a website's information to a given keyword. Understanding how relevance is assigned is crucial to increase it and appear in the top results because most people do not go beyond the first page of results.
Types of SEO
There are two types of SEO: on-site and off-site. On-site SEO focuses on the relevance of the website, optimizing elements such as keywords, page load time, user experience, and URL structure. On the other hand, off-site SEO focuses on the site's popularity, including the quantity and quality of backlinks, presence on social media, mentions in media, and brand authority.
The Importance of SEO for My Business: Let's Talk Numbers If your website is a personal project, SEO may not be relevant. However, if you have a business or project in mind, SEO is essential to increase online visibility, attract traffic, and convert visitors into customers.
-
80% of people research online before making a purchase.
And I would say that this figure is increasing and outdated. If you are over 50, you may still remember the Yellow Pages, although I doubt you use them. If you are over 40, you may still look at the newspaper on the pharmacy shelf, but you certainly don't buy it; you know that all the information you need is at your fingertips, and for younger generations, this is not something they have "learned," it's how life has always worked for them.
-
95% of people do not go beyond the first page of results.
It is said that the best place to hide a dead body is the second page of Google. People prefer to perform a new search rather than look through the following pages, and this may be due to the following statistic...
-
60% of people believe that the company ranked number 1 in Google search results is the best.
-
75% of consumers consider that searching on the internet makes their purchase smarter and more accurate.
No one likes to feel like they are being sold to; we prefer to feel like we are buying. We want to be the ones making the decision, and marketing, in my opinion, is the science of making the consumer believe that is the case. The ability to research before acquiring a product or service also plays an important role in the psychology of purchasing.
Conclusion
Seriously! Are you still expecting me to write something else?
When I was young, I used to hear people say, "If you're not in the Yellow Pages, you don't exist." Today, the Yellow Pages are a website that tries to rank on Google to get customers.
SEO continues to be a fundamental strategy to ensure the visibility and online success of any business or website. As search engines become more sophisticated, it is crucial to adapt and stay up to date with the latest trends and recommended practices.
Through solid SEO optimization, it is possible to increase rankings in search results, attract quality organic traffic, and enhance the user experience. However, it is important to remember that SEO is not an instant process but rather a continuous and long-term effort that requires research, analysis, and constant adjustments.
If you need support to optimize your website, do not hesitate to contact our digital agency. We are Websesor, we are web advisors.