Is SEO Dead? Here Is Why You Should Ignore This Myth
The ongoing debate on the role of search engine optimization (SEO) has left many small business owners confounded. The question that everyone is looking for answers to is whether SEO is dead. If you are a website owner, there is so much you would like to know about SEO before getting started and this debate without doubt leaves you even more confused than you already were. One thing that everyone seems to agree on is the fact that the internet is not where business is happening. If you are ready to leverage the growing online market, it is always good to get more insight, which will help you make a more informed decision.
Impressive SEO Numbers
They say numbers don’t lie and if this is so, then SEO is not going to die any time soon. A HubSpot report says that search is the top driver of website traffic, beating social media by over 300%. The same report shows that 93% of internet experiences start with a search engine. Looking at these numbers alone, it is obvious that only a business that has a high presence on search engines will get noticed by its target audience. A Search Engine Land survey in 2015 showed that 75% of internet users don’t care to check anything beyond the first page of search engine result pages (SERPs).
Based on these statistics, it is obvious that high ranking on search engines, especially Google which dominates the market, must be apriority. If your site is not optimized for search engines, there is no way you are going to compete with other companies in your niche. It follows that search engine optimization (SEO) is the only way for your business to stay ahead of the competition in your niche.
Traditional SEO Is Dead
If you have been trying to break into the online market without any success, it is highly likely that you now believe that SEO is dead. Well, it is true SEO is dead but to be specific, traditional SEO. Forget the formulas you might have learnt along the way because Google algorithm updates have named such strategies obsolete.
You have to do away with the link exchanges and other black hat SEO techniques because they will eventually land you in trouble. This aspect of SEO is without doubt dead and there are no two ways about this. If anyone approaches you with SEO guarantees, run and don’t look back because that type of SEO is dead and buried. It is time to stop trying to outsmart the search engines and instead adapt to their changing demands.
Hiring a reputable SEO company is a good start in your SEO campaign. Such a company will not give any guarantees but will instead leverage new trends in the SEO industry to boost your site’s performance. Among the effective strategies used in SEO include machine learning, mobile-first indexing, responsive websites, more focus on user experience, remarkable content, long-tail keywords, and conversational content to optimize for voice search among other techniques. This is where SEO stands today and the only way to leverage the growing internet user numbers is by adopting these strategies.
Practical Reasons to Invest in SEO
Optimizing your website for search engines is not a one-off project and will take time. Most website owners want quick results, eventually leading to costly penalties when they flout Google Webmaster Guidelines. There are many reasons why you should rely on OODA SEO to boost your business. Take a look:
- High Returns on Investment (ROI)
SEO leads have a close rate of 14.6% compared to outbound leads with only 1.7% close rate. Outbound leads include advertising, direct mail, and cold calls among other strategies that are still common in modern business. An SEO campaign is a worthwhile investment which will achieve long-term results boosting conversion, driving traffic and ultimately boosting your bottom-line.
- Customer Insight
During the SEO campaign, there are many analytical tools that can be used to gain customer insight. Such information not only helps in the ongoing SEO campaign but will also shape your overall marketing strategy. It is possible to segment your customer base in terms of demographics and preferences, among other parameters. This in turn helps you carry out targeted marketing with better outcomes.
- Tailored SEO Solutions
When you hire an SEO company, the first phase of the project is an evaluation of your needs. The services provided are packaged to meet your unique business needs. There is no one-size-fits-all package and this results in better business outcomes. If you are more interested in brand awareness for instance, your SEO company will use techniques that fit your needs. This means you pay for only what you need, making this one of the most affordable tools in your marketing campaign.
Search engine optimization is your best employee, always delivering the goods. It adds value to your marketing strategy and gives your website a more prominent presence in your niche. If anyone tells you SEO is dead, just remember what they probably mean is that traditional SEO is dead.
