Are you a business owner or manager trying to understand SEO and how it works for your company? You’ve probably heard your marketing team mention it, seen it discussed online while doing research, or this is your first exposure and you want to know what the fuss is all about and how you can do it yourself at home.
SEO stands for Search-Engine-Optimization. This is the technique of making your website search-engine-friendly as set forth by Google’s standards. By optimizing your SEO with website content adjustments and other techniques, you will appear on the first page of Google search results when people look for something related to your industry. With successful SEO optimization, you will rank within the top five search results, earning you more clicks, purchases, and clients.
A digital marketing company will have many tools, software, programs, and resources to really boost your company. However, there are adjustments you can make today, at home, to begin the process.
SEO doesn’t have immediate results and can be a long term process. Beginning today, however, will increase your online presence so you stand apart from your competitors and reach more of your target audience.
Two Types of SEO
There are two types of SEO: Organic SEO and Local SEO. Organic SEO is focused on your website content and ranking for the services you provide without any relation to your location. This is best for people who are not targeting a certain area, like their city or state, to get more clients.
Local SEO is focused on ranking your physical location and your services within one specific area. If you have a physical location that people visit, or you provide services in one central area, Local SEO is what your business should focus on.
We break down the differences between Organic SEO and Local SEO on a more technical level on our SEO Services Page. This how-to guide is to help you figure out which SEO is best for your company, without needing to know all the technical details.
Organic SEO
You want to focus on optimizing your Organic SEO for your business if any of the following apply to you and your services:
- Your business is almost entirely online
- You provide services almost anywhere across the country or world without location restrictions
- You ship your products to a lot of different locations, and your customer base is primarily online orders across the country
- You are not limited by a singular location to conduct business
Are you?
- A Blogger
- Online Retailer
- Media Creator
- Any Other Online Business or Freelancer
Then Organic SEO is Right for You
Optimizing your Organic SEO means when people search for your product or service, you’ll be the first to show up, no matter where they are located. This is great for online retailers who have universally popular products, like jewelry or home decor. Organic SEO also helps bloggers reach wide audiences because your blogging topics probably aren’t restricted to one location and you want audiences everywhere to read your content. The same goes for media creators – reach audiences from California to New York to provide graphic designs and website builds.
How Do You Optimize Your Organic SEO?
Now that you know Organic SEO is where you want to focus your time and resources, you need to know how. Website updates are always a good idea: format your website with headers and descriptive content for both users and Google, and always make sure you have a mobile-friendly website design.
Local SEO
You want to focus on optimizing your Local SEO for your business if any of the following apply to you:
- Customers primarily shop at your physical location
- You travel within one local area to provide services
- You provide services or products online but you primarily serve one location
- You have a central location that you cater to or are based in
Are you?
- A Shop Owner
- Restaurant Manager
- Local Caterer
- Contractor
- Hospital or Clinic Admin
- Or a Business Located in One Area
Then Local SEO is Right for You
Optimizing your Local SEO means that you will show up in search results related to your industry that are done in your area. You will be more likely to show up on mobile searches when people are Googling the closest place to eat or shop for a new dress. You’ll also show up in map pack results, so people can easily get directions to your location. And when people begin to Google “Roofers near me” Google will fill in their city, match it to yours, and promote you to the top of the results.
How Do You Optimize Your Local SEO?
Optimize your Local SEO by claiming your Google My Business listing. Optimizing this listing is just as important as your web design and content when ranking in local search results, so begin the process today so more people can find you and stop in for a visit. Claim your listing, list your services, and update your information so people can easily visit or contact you with the push of a button.
Conclusion
Optimizing SEO is always a good decision for your business, and choosing which SEO to begin with will help your business even more so you can use your time and resources wisely.
If you still have questions, or you want to share how our guide helped you with your business, comment below! You can always email us or connect with us on social media.
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