why_search_engine_optimization_is_important_for_your_small_business

Why is Search Engine Optimization Important For Your Small Business?

September 21, 2012 | By: Rivien Media LLC
The quick business school  answer why search engine optimization is important for your small business is directly related with two very basic marketing concepts of “maximizing market exposure” and “minimizing lost revenue opportunities”.  It all comes down to understanding why your small business has a better chance of maximizing market exposure and minimizing lost revenue opportunities by having a healthy online reputation over a competitor operating without a website and / or no understanding of their own company’s online reputation. This article discusses why search engine optimization is important for your business and also introduces the concept of having an “online reputation”.

Various drivers affect a small businesses need to formulate a web presence strategy and ultimately represent your success or failure online. With the explosive proliferation of web-friendly devices such as smart phones, tablets, notebooks and personal computers an increasing number of consumers are performing online searches for relevant information in making their decision to purchase a product or service.  A recent research study by Google and other search engine indexing companies indicate businesses appearing in the top three positions on the first page of a natural (organic) web search obtain more than 50 percent of all the business.  Another study in 2011 by “Cone Online Influence Trend Tracker” says 87 percent of consumers say a favorable online review has confirmed their decision to purchase.

For whatever reason many small businesses operating a company website pay little or no attention to their search engine ranking position – resulting in significant lost revenue opportunities.  If your small business operates a company website and isn’t appearing at the top of the search rankings,  you need to immediately pay more attention to search engine optimization practices. If your small business doesn’t have a website on the Internet, you need to consider establishing a website right away in order to help improve your online market exposure and competitive position.

With the recent inception of customer review and authority sites such as Google Places, Yelp, Yahoo Local, Angie’s List, Insider Pages, Rank My Dentist, Health  Grades, Rate MD’s, Trip Advisor, Wellness.com and many others, your small business will likely gain an online reputation sooner or later where reviews by your customers will significantly influence your online reputation in a positive or negative fashion. In the past year search engine indexing companies implemented new rules specifying more relevance (importance) in their search rankings for customer review content. Positive reviews will help your online reputation and move you to a better position in the keyword search results. Negative reviews will hurt your online reputation and depress your position in the keyword search results.

Your small business will likely have or will soon gain an online reputation no matter if you operate a company website or not,  due to positive and/or negative reviews posted on customer review sites. This is the main reason why it’s very important to implement effective online reputation management practices right away.  For the most part you may or may not need a company website but you will almost always require some level of search engine optimization practices, especially when you consider managing the online reputation of your small business!

In conclusion:

  • It’s highly imperative your small business implement and maintain search engine optimization processes in order to maximize market exposure and minimize lost revenue opportunities with respect to your competitors.
  • Don’t wait to address your businesses online reputation – take immediate action promoting new positive customer reviews as well as resolving negative customer reviews.
  • Consider taking advantage of the new customer rating rules and implement them as part of your overall Internet marketing strategy, especially since your business may be seriously impacted by customer reviews posted on authority sites.
  • You have learned from reading this article your small business doesn’t necessarily require a website to have a positive or negative online reputation and search engine optimization techniques will still apply in managing your online reputation.