Small Business SEO Strategy

What is an SEO Strategy?

An SEO strategy is a plan designed to increase the visibility and ranking of a website in search engine results pages (SERPs). This strategy aims to drive more organic (non-paid) traffic to the website, thereby increasing the likelihood of conversions. Many parts make up an effective SEO strategy and in this article, we will cover each one at a high level. For example, a web design agency might want to develop an SEO strategy so that it starts acquiring more customers from organic search.

Why is an SEO Strategy Important?

An SEO strategy is important for numerous reasons, mainly revolving around improving your website's visibility, increasing traffic, and ultimately contributing to your business's growth and success. Here are some key reasons why an SEO strategy is important:

More Visibility and Ranking

One of the most important functions of SEO is increasing visibility, which means making it easier for prospects to find you when they search for something you have to offer. Visibility is directly related to your ranking. The higher you rank on a search engine result page (SERP), the more likely prospects are to see you and click through to your site. The more effective your SEO efforts, the higher your ranking and the greater your visibility.

Increased Web Traffic

Increased visibility and ranking lead to more web traffic. Most people who use search engines only click on the first few results, so if your site ranks higher in the SERPs, you're more likely to attract these visitors.

Higher Authority

A good SEO strategy can help your business build a higher authority (see page authority & domain authority) online. This involves creating high-quality, well-written content that is valuable to your visitors. Over time, search engines recognize this value and rank your pages higher in the SERPs. The more value you provide, the more authority you gain. Another aspect is that high-quality content attracts backlinks from quality and reputable websites, which further boosts rankings and traffic.

Enhanced User Experience

SEO is not about pleasing search engines but mostly about delivering a positive user experience. The best kind of SEO strategy is one that improves the user experience and usability of a website. This includes providing users with the information they are looking for in fewer clicks, quickly and easily.

Higher Conversion Rates

Search engine optimized websites are more likely to convert visitors into customers or subscribers. By presenting relevant content and making it easy for visitors to navigate your site, you increase the chances of turning these visitors into leads and then customers.

Greater Competitive Advantage

In a world where most business is conducted online, having a solid SEO strategy can give you a competitive edge. If your competitors are not implementing effective SEO, they are leaving a gap that you can take advantage of to capture more of your market share.

Sustainable Long-Term Strategy

SEO is a long-term strategy. It can take 6-12 months to see optimal rankings. However, just as it takes time to move up the rankings, it can take time to move down the rankings. Once you are placed in top positions, you rarely move down. The only exception would be due to rising SEO competition or changes in Google's algorithm.

Audience Research

One of the first steps in your SEO strategy is to understand your audience at a deeper level. Audience research is a crucial part of your SEO strategy as it helps you understand the needs, interests, and behaviors of your target audience. 

Knowing what questions they're asking, what problems they're trying to solve, and what kind of topics they are interested in enables you to create more relevant and engaging content, which decreases bounce rates. This not only improves the user experience but also increases the likelihood of your content being shared and linked to, which boosts your website's authority and rankings. 

Furthermore, understanding your audience's language - the words and phrases they use - is essential for effective keyword optimization. By incorporating these terms into your content, you can improve its visibility in search engine results for queries relevant to your business. Therefore, audience research is not just about knowing who your audience is, but also about understanding how they interact with and search for content online, which is essential for optimizing your website to meet their needs and improve your SEO performance.

To learn more, read the full article about audience research.

Keyword Research

Keyword research is a vital component of an effective SEO strategy as it helps you identify the words and phrases that your target audience is using to search for the products, services, or content that your business provides. Understanding these terms allows you to optimize your website and content to match these queries, improving your visibility in search engine results. This, in turn, can drive more relevant traffic to your site, increasing the chances of converting these visitors into customers. 

Additionally, keyword research can help you understand the intent behind these searches, allowing you to tailor your content to meet the needs of your audience more effectively. It also enables you to identify potential gaps in the market or areas where your competitors may be weak, providing opportunities for you to gain a competitive edge. 

Therefore, keyword research is not just about improving rankings but also about gaining deeper insights into your audience and the competitive landscape, which can inform and enhance your overall SEO strategy.

To learn more, read the full article about keyword research.

Competitor Research

Competitor research is a fundamental part of an effective SEO strategy as it enables you to understand the tactics and techniques your competitors are using to achieve high search engine rankings. 

By analyzing their content, keywords, backlinks, and site structure, you can gain insights into what works well in your industry and identify areas where you can potentially outperform them. This not only provides a benchmark for your SEO efforts but also reveals opportunities for improvement and innovation. For instance, if your competitors are ranking well for certain keywords, but their content is lacking in depth or quality, you can strive to create superior content around those keywords to gain an edge. Similarly, if they have high-quality backlinks from websites that you don't, you can target these sites in your link-building efforts. 

Thus, competitor research is not just about keeping up with similar competing businesses, but also about finding and implementing opportunities to overtake them, making it a crucial part of any successful SEO strategy.

To learn more, read the full article about competitor research.

Hike + SEO Strategy

Hike is an SEO platform designed to make it easy for small businesses to take control of their SEO and make measurable progress toward getting higher rankings and traffic. Hike has many different tools that are all an essential part of the SEO strategy and using cutting-edge AI technology, it guides users and recommends the best course of action forward. For example, it recommends keywords that are relevant to your business, it highlights possible competitors based on your current rankings, and much much more.

Try Hike today risk-free with our 14-day money-back guarantee!