In today’s digital world, search engine optimization (SEO) is an integral part of many companies’ marketing strategies, regardless of their size or industry. With ever-increasing competition in the online space, it is becoming increasingly important for businesses to differentiate themselves and be easily discoverable by potential customers.
Most businesses are aware that SEO can improve their search engine visibility and increase organic traffic to their website.
But did you know that SEO can do so much more for your business than just improve your Google rankings? Many companies underestimate the full potential of SEO and miss the opportunity to reap its added benefits.
One of the least understood but extremely important benefits of SEO is that it greatly improves the user experience of your website. In the process of search engine optimization, you focus on multiple factors that make your website more appealing and user-friendly. This includes fast loading pages, mobile optimization, easy and intuitive navigation, quality and relevant content, and attractive design.
Site speed is a critical factor. According to a Google study, 53% of mobile users leave a site that takes longer than three seconds to load. Furthermore, each additional one-second delay can reduce conversion rates by up to 7%. Mobile optimization is also essential, as over 60% of all web searches are conducted from mobile devices.
When you improve the user experience on your site, you not only attract more visitors, but you also keep them longer, increasing the likelihood that they will take the desired action – whether it’s making a purchase, signing up for a newsletter or requesting a service. According to Forrester Research, a well-designed user interface can increase conversions on your site by up to 200%, and a better user experience can lead to 400% higher conversions.
SEO isn’t just a tool for attracting traffic; it’s also a powerful source of data and insights for your audience. By analyzing the keywords by which users find your site, the pages they visit most often, the time they spend on each page, and the actions they take, you can gain a deep understanding of their needs, interests, and preferences, as well as find a host of available niches.
Tools such as Google Analytics, Google Search Console and various SEO platforms provide detailed reports and analytics about user behaviour on your website. This data can help you identify which products or services are most popular, which pages have a high bounce rate, and where there are opportunities for improvement.
According to McKinsey & Company, companies that use data to make marketing decisions are up to 23% more likely to acquire customers and up to 19% more likely to be profitable than their competitors. These insights can help you tailor your marketing strategies, personalize your content and offers, and improve the overall customer experience.
If you run a local business or have physical outlets, SEO can be a powerful tool to attract customers to your store or office. Local SEO focuses on optimizing your website and online presence for local searches, such as “restaurants in Sofia,” “hair salons near me,” or “auto mechanic in Plovdiv.”
According to Google research, 46% of all searches have local intent, and 88% of consumers who perform a local search on a mobile device visit a physical store within 24 hours. Additionally, 78% of local mobile searches lead to offline purchases. This shows the huge potential of local SEO to increase traffic to your business and drive sales.
Combining local SEO with Google Ads can increase the effectiveness of your local marketing. Paid ads allow you to appear at the top of search results for specific keywords and locations, complementing your organic SEO results. According to a WordStream study, local businesses that use Google Ads see up to a 200% increase in traffic to their physical stores.
SEO is much more than just a tool to improve search engine rankings. It can improve the user experience of your website, provide valuable insights into customer behavior, and support local marketing by increasing traffic to your physical locations. By taking advantage of these additional benefits, you’ll not only increase your business’ online visibility, but also improve your overall marketing strategy and customer satisfaction.
