Role of Search Engine Optimization in Internet Marketing

Using search engines to find information is the most popular activity on the Internet. According to PEW Internet study, while 92% of the entire Internet users use search engines, 59% do it on a regular basis. As per the comScore reports, Google alone accounted for 13.4 billion searches in 2011.

It is evident that Internet is the right place to reach your target customers/audience, as people are searching more on Internet than at any other place, for any kind of product/service. However, this can happen only when you are listed in the top search results. Securing top place in the search results by overtaking hundreds and thousands of already existing websites not only drives huge traffic to your website, but also imparts trust in users.

SEO is one such digital marketing strategy that will help your website get listed in the top search engine results.

SEO – a powerful digital marketing strategy
Most of the well-known search engines on the Internet, rank websites using complex algorithms, designed to determine websites which are most relevant for particular search terms. So, the main function of SEO is to optimize a website for relevant search terms in order to bring high search engine rankings. It uses different strategies like keyword research, web design, quality content, meta tags, quality link building, etc., to make the website search engine-friendly.

Benefits of Search Engine Optimization: To better understand how SEO works for your website, let us look at the other benefits offered by SEO techniques.

  • Increases the visibility: The better you optimize your website by customizing its content or structure for relevant search terms, the better are the chances of getting high search engine ranks. Good rankings will let your website appear on the first page of the search results, thus, enhancing your website’s visibility and brand awareness. Since, it is common for the Internet users to review only the first few results, traffic to your website also increases.
  • Drives more traffic: Once your website starts ranking in the top 10 search results, it will be able to receive traffic continuously as long as it stays there. Further, if you are able to find the keywords used by your prospective customers and optimize your SEO strategy accordingly, you can get targeted traffic to your website. Apparently, more traffic means more sales.
  • High ROI: When compared to other forms of paid advertising, SEO helps you to get higher returns on investment. Initially, it may take some time to get ranked for specific terms, but once you are positioned at the top of the search results, you can generate huge targeted traffic, who are potential enough to get converted in to sales.
  • Increases credibility: Many studies reveal that, people trust the organic search results more, compared to sponsored or paid results. SEO techniques are mainly intended to improve the organic rankings of a website in search engine result pages, hence, they play an important role in improving the credibility of your business.

    Affordable by SMBs: Another advantage of SEO is, it is highly cost-effective. Compared to all other online marketing strategies, SEO services are economical. Therefore, even small and medium sized businesses can also easily afford SEO services.

    A strategic SEO plan is must to get quick and better results. No matter how much time, cost and effort you put in to developing your website, unless you design an effective SEO strategy, your efforts will not yield satisfactory results. If you are entirely new to Internet marketing, it is better to take the help of professional SEO experts who have a successful track record of helping their clients get first page rankings.