3 Techniques to Create a Resourceful SEO Strategy without Splurging
The entire concept of search engine optimization can be difficult to muster— especially for the startups and other small businesses. While the mega-corporations keep fueling their marketing strategies with truckloads of cash, smaller organizations are usually left overwhelmed and intimidated. However, one can still construct a robust SEO roadmap on a restricted budget with guaranteed results and minimal splurges.
Then again, startups and small business need to understand that it will still be impossible to compete directly with the bigger firms who have a lot of financial firepower to work with. Mega-corporations have massive head-starts which automatically put them in a lucrative position. However, smaller corporations can still build their desirable business hierarchy without having to go overboard with the budget.
In this post, we will be detailing 3 specific ideas for drafting a utilitarian SEO strategy. Before moving any further into this post, we need to understand that smaller business have to make the best possible use of their restricted resources in order to make a customized SEO technique work. The idea here is to rely on creativity and focus rather than getting disheartened by the lack of a massive monthly budget.
No doubt there is a temptation to indulge into the complexities of branding, backlinking and social media marketing. That said, smaller businesses often have lesser financial stability and it is advisable to go conventional and address the SEO specifics, in order to compete against some of the bigger names in the industry.
These ideas work regardless of the industry and other segregations. However, the throughput might vary according to the resources, goals and even audience.
#1. Make Use of Long-Tail Keywords
Long tail keywords are extremely beneficial for small businesses who are looking to carve out a specific niche for themselves. More often than not, customers look for answers and long-tailed phrases are better suited towards getting them through. Long-tail keywords showcase user intent and are better ranked by Google’s myriad algorithms.
General keywords are pretty good but most of them have been leveraged by the bigger businesses with massive financial backing and advanced techniques. Therefore, it is advisable to work on the specific needs of a user by offering more accurate and longer results for their searches. Here are some of the exact benefits of this long-tailed keyword strategy:
- Showcases user-oriented approach in addition to better content publication pathway and publication.
- Long-tail keywords are less competed for as compared to the generic variations.
- As these are highly specific, long-tail keywords boast of higher relevancy when it comes to online searches.
- Lastly, higher conversions are guaranteed as these keywords eventually bring in qualified traffic courtesy the exact answers on offer.
Needless to say, long-tail keywords generally drive lesser traffic as compared to the generic ones but for smaller SEO campaigns the quality of leads and conversions matter more than the quantity. The approach here involves ranking for those exact keywords which are searched by your audience instead of going for the general terms with massive corporate engagement.
Therefore, summing up the first budget-oriented SEO strategy involves focusing at specific customer requirements by producing content with these long-tail keywords.
#2. Guest Blogging Done Right
There are many who would denounce guest blogging as an obsolete method of generating backlinks. However, it all depends on how we do it and a correct strategy can actually be the most beneficial method of generating exceptional backlinks, thereby improving authority and rankings.
The only pointer should be to stay away from low-quality websites when it comes to guest blogging. Apart from that, guest blogging is great and in this section, we will be discussing certain ideas to amplify this procedure.
- Look for sites which are relevant to your business and accept guest posts.
- Once the sites have been selected, you need to produce content that fits perfectly and is of great value to the readers out there.
- You, as a marketer, should never opt for one-off blog posts and instead must look to create a rapport with the editors. Continuing an amicable relationship will surely help you get relevant backlinks with ease.
The sole idea of guest blogging should be to provide value. Anything you get in return should be treated as a bonus. It might be slightly difficult to approach a blog with qualitative eyes when you are looking to skyrocket sales but you must understand that quality and patience go a long way in establishing authority.
#3. Make Local Optimization Work
Sometimes, you need to let go of that ego and look for smaller achievements. This is where local search engine optimization comes into the play. Most companies look to establish national credibility in a short span of time— decimating truckloads of money, time and energy.
You must first look to establish domestic supremacy which in turn is a simpler job than indulging in the national warfare. If you are reading this post, it means that you are plagued by the anomalies of a shoestring budget and the only way out is to utilize the resources in a perfect manner. Focusing solely on the domestic market improves the ROI and also skyrockets the growth opportunities.
Local SEO is what matters most for small businesses and the entire approach can be segregated further into three pointers:
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Setting up Accounts
Before reading any further, I would advise you to head over to ‘Google My Business’ and create an account. In simpler terms, this is one directory for local businesses to appear in— based on the number of searches. Having a Google My Business account can also have other benefits in addition to better search results.
Creating an account allows you to display the business over Google Maps, Google Plus and even the search results. In addition to that, one can set multiple business locations using the same. If you want to make the best use of this account, it is advisable to uploaded pictures and relevant videos for the best possible first impression.
Customer reviews can and need to be highlighted for better credibility and social proofs. Lastly, Google My Business Account can help businesses create a loyal fan base. This is one aspect which amalgamates perfectly with the previously mentioned aspect of long-tail keywords. Local SEO is a rage in the Asian countries like India where even the government organizations rendering Aadhar card or biometric IDs are also using similar approaches for catering to regional audiences.
It must be known that having a Google My Business account offers premium exposure in search results which in turn is immensely beneficial for direct entrepreneurial access. Not just Google, but one can create business accounts spanning across myriad local directories.
Last but not the least, Google My Business also offers a company-specific no follow backlink for helping out registered businesses.
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Generating Reviews
Local reviews are the best exponents of social proofs and often the backbone of a localized SEO approach. If you are looking to improve the online presence without compromising on budget, it is important for businesses to create a loyal fan base.
This approach helps propagate the word of mouth and helps build reputation. One can also increase exposure with these reviews which would immediately show up in the local search database.
For the shoestring budget, it is always advisable to redirect energy and resources to the local community. Asking for reviews, receipt invitations and running marketing campaigns go a long way when it comes to establishing better online listings.
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Get Involved
Meeting individuals and interacting with them can take you places. For a budget conscious business, credibility is of paramount importance. What works out here is the perfect amalgamation of connections and local networking.
Setting up affiliates and partnerships can positively impact your local networking roadmap. The best part about this approach is that it works on goodwill and doesn’t come with a monetary angle. The idea here is to work with the audience by being a part of them.
Bottom-Line
SEO is a dynamic affair with changes identified each day. Therefore, it is indeed necessary for small businesses to keep up with this nature of optimization by creating a robust and flexible strategy. Having constrained financial resources can therefore work in favor of these small businesses as they need not invest way too must into an approach lest it turns obsolete.
The only hack would be to be creative with the strategies and invest a lot of time into the same. Content is still important but these three strategies for low-budget SEO can surely spice up any existing optimization plan— by driving in better sales and leads.