A strategy to utilize common search engines such as Google and Yahoo to attract new business could be just the plan to increase sales. Global companies invest heavily in optimizing their web presence so that company web pages will be more likely to attract viewer traffic from prospective clients. Search Engine strategy though, is not only for large companies. Businesses of any size can use SEO strategies to win new customers and attract internet traffic.
Consultants in the field frequently get the question – “What kind of company can profit from an SEO effort?” The answer is simple. A web page that draws the attention of potential customers is an important advertising and marketing methodology for any size or type of organization. Still, there are differences among company types that would determine how an SEO program would be effectively implemented.
Several considerations face those wishing to use Search Engine Optimization. The answers to these questions can help determine a rough SEO strategy. So before you start researching its use, examine your business and ask “is the organization:”
Small or Large? Local or National? Product or Service Oriented (or both)?
How one answers these questions impacts the way an effective SEO plan would be implemented.
Small or Large? SEO programs can be expensive for large firms. These companies compete for every customer possible using a wide product/service offering, pricing strategies and delivery options. The high volume of detail requires a great deal of human effort to handle and manage. Accordingly, optimization of the company’s website would mean careful analysis of the products being offered so that these features may be effectively presented on the web page.
Smaller businesses don’t have anywhere near the SEO budgets found in large companies. Still a website is highly effective for these enterprises if it can be focused on the unique qualities offered. Location, understanding of local buyer behavior and local support or service can all be inexpensively presented on the web page as unique assets or advantages that the local company provides. People prefer to buy from people they know. Small companies can present ownership information and make local buyers comfortable with the business relationship much more than large companies. This can be a huge advantage over the mega-chains.
Local or National Company? Large companies usually have the benefit of a central web site with lots of established traffic and link value. These companies can afford to utilize keywords that attract a lot of search traffic and competition. A well optimized internal page focused on these keywords can frequently return a great deal of traffic by itself. Large companies can also invest in ‘product pages’ or pages dedicated to a certain product type and focus on keywords relevant to that product’s use.
Smaller or local businesses that don’t have the high traffic website already have to set a strategy to acquire the traffic and links. Link building in particular is a main focus for smaller companies to compete using SEO. This can be accomplished using a strategy similar to the ‘product page’ noted above, and should also include the location element. In other words, configuring a page to focus on a product related search term and then including the name of the city or town can be extremely effective. Searches for “kitchen cabinets” would return all the major cabinet manufacturer sites. Searches for “kitchen cabinets in Raleigh NC” should return local dealers. And since many large companies don’t compete well locally, this could be a productive niche upon which to focus – at least initially.
Product or Service? Web page message strategy should certainly include the value provided by the organization through its product or services. Product web pages can offer a wide variety of product feature detail, functional specifications and other pertinent product facts. Many organizations offer product pages specifically for certain product families. These pages can be uniquely optimized individually to attract the attention of people looking to purchase the products. This applies to all sizes of organizations. Product and support features are very important to present to prospective customers.
Companies providing services must rely on creating a value statement to characterize and quantify the value of the service provided to customers and clients. Saving money or time with the service is a good economic argument to present, but in the end, service companies have to state and restate the value of what they provide in terms customers can grasp. Service web pages an often focus on key phrases that customers would commonly use in asking questions.
Search Engine Optimization can indeed work for any organization to drive traffic and attract potential customers. Each business though, is different. An effective SEO program then requires careful analysis of business type, development of a unique web message strategy and careful implementation of an individually prepared SEO plan.
Matthew Stone and SEO Consultants Denver assist organizations attract new customers using the web search engines. From highly focused consulting firms to manufacturing organizations, SEO can be a key part of any sales and revenue strategy. Contact Denver SEO Consultants today to start increasing your sales!