Why search engine optimization Nonetheless Issues In 2020

It seems like a new “strategy” or technology is coming out every day that claims to be the next best thing for business owners. It then becomes difficult to determine what will actually work for your business growth and what is just snake oil.

Also, if you are disillusioned with the myriad of methods and tools, you may be wondering whether traditional marketing methods are old news. Entrepreneurs often wonder whether strategies like search engine optimization (SEO) or search engine marketing (SEM) will still work in 2020.

The reality is that SEO is still important in 2020, although many of the practices and methodologies have changed. For example, Google’s 2019 BERT update sparked a fire among SEO pros to focus more on optimizing content based on search intent rather than keywords. Many companies still need SEO, but have to adapt to the changing landscape.

Customer acquisition for locally oriented companies

SEO is still one of the best customer acquisition strategies for local businesses. What better way to get customers in the door (or onto your website) than outperforming your local competitors?

With local search engine optimization, you can reach prospects and customers by targeting users who are searching in your area. Google adapts the search results to your geographic location. When properly optimized, your website can dominate local search results for your niche.

Optimize your locally targeted company website with local keywords, fill out your Google My Business profile and other directory profiles, collect positive reviews from previous clients or customers, and conduct backlink contacts to increase your visibility in local search.

Optimization for search intent through site content

Google’s BERT algorithm update at the end of 2019 showed that Google understands the context of users’ search queries and the intentions behind them (by processing natural language) much better. This means that websites that post content that matches what users are actually looking for may get a higher priority in their search. The key is focusing on the intent behind the search, not how often that particular keyword is used in your content.

The goal is to create content that is optimized to answer users’ questions and provide as much value as possible. For example, if the keyword you’re trying to rank for is “B2B Lead Generation”, do a quick Google search for that term to see which pages are ranking in search results. Are most of the results service pages (e.g., B2B lead generation services) or blog posts (“What is B2B lead generation?”). The current ranking can give you a good idea of ​​what type of content you should be creating. Then create content that best fits what the user wanted to find. For a service side, this means that you break down the B2B lead generation services you offer, the contacting you, the customer results, etc. For a blog post, define what B2B lead generation is, how it works, how to get started, and everything else a user may want to know more about this topic.

This update is important for bloggers and business owners who rely on organic traffic for their goal of generating ad revenue, leads, and sales. You can maximize your traffic-generating potential by creating optimized content that best fits the needs of your target audience and offers more value than the pages that are currently ranked.

Adopt a multi-channel approach

We all know the saying “don’t put all your eggs in one basket” and this certainly applies to marketing. If you rely on a single source of traffic to drive business to your website, you are putting your business at risk if that channel ever runs dry or disappears altogether.

Google organic search isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. Hence, savvy business owners should make good use of SEO alongside existing traffic channels. By taking a multi-channel approach, you can continue to get results with your current campaigns while opening a consistent stream of new leads.

While SEO may not be a set and forget strategy, it has the potential to increase traffic and lead to autopilot. You can easily outsource SEO and / or content creation to attract organic traffic without devoting time to your primary marketing channels.

Brand Authority and Reach

According to a 2014 survey, 84% of millennial respondents said they don’t like ads (and many of them don’t trust them). It seems that many of this generation of buyers are becoming more resilient to traditional tactics like cold calling, email spam, and even paid ads.

But with SEO, companies can reach that demographic that they’re already looking for brands – search engines. SEO works as a form of inbound marketing that attracts customers rather than interrupting their natural scrolling with intrusive sales tactics.

Additionally, you can expand the reach of your brand by targeting long-tail keywords that will attract targeted traffic. The ranking for question-based (“How do I do …?”) Or comparative (“Brand A versus Brand B”) keywords can consolidate your brand as an authority on a topic and position you in relation to your competitors.

In addition, there is tremendous potential for you to rank for descriptive keywords that appeal to a wider audience. For example, general terms like “digital marketing practices” or “budget travel tips” can be very competitive, but they also get a higher number of searches per month. As you gain momentum (in terms of rankings and traffic) by targeting long-tail keywords, you can target broad terms with higher traffic-generating potential.

Conclusion

While some traditional marketing methods may be out of date, SEO will remain in 2020. Whether you invested in SEO early or are just starting out, it can still be a major driver of traffic and lead to your website.

SEO is especially beneficial for local businesses, those who want their content to reach more users, and businesses hoping to take a multichannel approach. By writing content that is tailored to your audience and optimizing your website for high traffic keywords, you can expand your reach and strengthen your brand’s authority online.