SEO 101: What Online Marketing Can Do For Your Business

In this digital age, you’ve likely come across the term “SEO,” but may not know much about it. It stands for Search Engine Optimization and refers to your website’s ability to rank highly on search engines like Google, Bing, Yahoo, etc. For simplicity’s sake, I’ll use Google as our main search engine example.

How does Google make sure people find what they need?

We’ve all used Google for something (or everything). Let’s use an example to illustrate how SEO works. Let’s say you need to find a vet in the area to make an appointment for your dog, but you don’t have a regular vet. You’d likely pull up Google and search for vet clinics in the area. The results will range from websites, to phone numbers, to PPC (pay per click) ads for a variety of vets.

What are PPC ads?

Quick side note: PPC ads are ads which are purchased through Google. They’re typically found on the top and side of the search results page and include an indication that they are paid ads, such as a different colored background.

As for unpaid results, Google filters the most relevant websites to the top, meaning they need to have relevant content on their website that pertains to your specific search. It seems simple, but including relevant content around specific keywords can affect your search results immensely.

How can ranking higher on Google make my company money?

Studies show the first 5 results receive 67.6% of all clicks. Results 6-10 only get 3.73%. People want results quickly so they’re much more likely to click on the highest search results.

How do I get my website to rank high on Google?

Start by asking yourself the following questions:

  1. Who is my audience?
  2. What do I want them to buy from me or find on my website?
  3. What would they search for on Google if they were looking for my product or service?
  4. Do I have relevant content on my website that provides information about the product or service my audience is searching for?

To learn more about how to rank on Google, read the rest of this blog, originally posted on the Deluxe website.

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