Business owners master SEO for online success
Issue date: 2/15/09 Section: Technology
(ARA) - Everyone - businesses and individuals alike - is struggling in today's economy. When you need extra income or are facing a layoff, taking your talents online can generate big business and even a new career. Whether you already have a Web site or are considering one, it's important to think about how to attract customers to your business.
Nearly everyone uses search engines to find a product or service, so having your business show up in a Google search is far more important than an advertisement in the phone book. In fact, according to a 2008 eMarketer study, only 2 percent of advertisers believe they receive a worthwhile return on investment with a Yellow Pages placement, compared to more than 50 percent who engage in online marketing and advertising. Small, strategic investments in online marketing can make your business Web site much more visible, and grow your revenues.
Get Found by Search Engines
Search engines scan Web sites for keywords to determine what the site is about, and then rank the sites in order of relevance. To get your Web site listed in these natural (also called organic) listings, many businesses engage in search engine optimization (SEO). SEO incorporates specific key phrases into the content and programming code, so that a search engine is more likely to reward your site with higher rankings. SEO also includes building up a Web site's popularity by getting links to it from other Web sites.
According to a report from iProspect and Jupiter Research, 62 percent of searchers click on a link within the first page of results. Using SEO is a great way to increase your site's natural search rankings and drive more traffic to your Web site (and more revenue to you).
TIP: For the best results in SEO, start early. If you can incorporate optimization into the structure of your Web site as you build it, you'll already be ahead of the curve. Consult an SEO expert about ways to get your site maximum exposure on search engines. Although SEO is an ongoing process, getting your site designed with SEO in mind can save a lot of time and effort down the road.
Nearly everyone uses search engines to find a product or service, so having your business show up in a Google search is far more important than an advertisement in the phone book. In fact, according to a 2008 eMarketer study, only 2 percent of advertisers believe they receive a worthwhile return on investment with a Yellow Pages placement, compared to more than 50 percent who engage in online marketing and advertising. Small, strategic investments in online marketing can make your business Web site much more visible, and grow your revenues.
Get Found by Search Engines
Search engines scan Web sites for keywords to determine what the site is about, and then rank the sites in order of relevance. To get your Web site listed in these natural (also called organic) listings, many businesses engage in search engine optimization (SEO). SEO incorporates specific key phrases into the content and programming code, so that a search engine is more likely to reward your site with higher rankings. SEO also includes building up a Web site's popularity by getting links to it from other Web sites.
According to a report from iProspect and Jupiter Research, 62 percent of searchers click on a link within the first page of results. Using SEO is a great way to increase your site's natural search rankings and drive more traffic to your Web site (and more revenue to you).
TIP: For the best results in SEO, start early. If you can incorporate optimization into the structure of your Web site as you build it, you'll already be ahead of the curve. Consult an SEO expert about ways to get your site maximum exposure on search engines. Although SEO is an ongoing process, getting your site designed with SEO in mind can save a lot of time and effort down the road.
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