What is Search Engine Optimization (SEO)?

A quick search on Google for Search Engine Optimization reveals standard definitions such as this one from Wikipedia; “Search engine optimization (SEO) is the process of growing the quality and quantity of website traffic by increasing the visibility of a website or a web page to users of a web search engine.”  Yeah, a bunch of unhelpful blah, blah, blah.  Looking at a definition like that, you may begin to ask yourself how can this boring definition possibly help my business?  Well, luckily you are reading this article and all is about to be revealed.

What Search Engine Optimization Really Is

Search engine optimization or more commonly referred to as SEO is probably the most cost-effective and efficient way of promoting your business on the internet. If you have ever invested in television ads or magazine ads or even billboard advertising then you know this can be extremely expensive and a lot of your hard-earned cash is wasted.  For example, let’s say you own a pizza restaurant so you advertise on a billboard that is located on the highway in a great spot.   The marketing company tells you that 1,000 cars pass by this billboard every hour and you will get so many eyes looking at your business. 

You’re like that is great! So you whip out your credit card (have to get those airline rewards) and you pay for those 1,000 per hour views and sit back in your restaurant and wait for the people to roll in.  Sure, business may pick up some but are you really getting your money’s worth?  The problem is you have no control over who views that street billboard.  You sell the greatest pizza ever made but it doesn’t matter if the next 1,000 people to pass by are hungry and looking for burgers.  Did n’t see that coming did you?  Wouldn’t it be great if your ad showed up to hungry people that wanted pizza when they wanted it?  That would be wonderful and yes my friend it is possible with SEO. 

How SEO Helps Your Small Business

Literally, when people go to their laptops, cell phones, and voice devices and say “Where can I find the best pizza in my city?” your business can show up directly in front of them.  This is a win, win for everyone.  You can’t get a more qualified lead than a person that is looking for your exact service or product at the exact time in their life that they need it.  As a business owner, this is a dream come true!