Web companies pop up every day in every corner of the Internet. However, not all of them will succeed. It is simply the nature of the game that some will sink to the bottom and some will consistently float on the surface. So, what is the secret to keeping your head above water? One word: Google.
If you have a web company you are looking to expand, the search engine industry should be your best friend. Online marketing relies heavily upon it, not to mention great web design and engaging social media management. But searches, especially those with Google, can take you to the top of the search engine rankings. Here is how:
1. Get noticed.
In so many regards, email has replaced traditional mail services, and this transition happened rather quickly. In much the same way, consumer research into products is now happening very frequently online, with 58 percent of consumers looking into products using search engines like Google. Compare this with only 24 percent who look at actual company websites and 18 percent that inquire via social media, and you will see how Google is king.
2. Go organic.
When utilizing search engine marketing, your results should appear organically, or naturally, right in the rankings along with other relevant results. In other words, they do not show up as paid advertisements. This is important, as these organic results generate a 25 percent higher click-through rate than typical pay-per-click models of marketing. Customers like to think it is their idea.
3. Optimize.
Search engine optimization, or SEO for short, is how to get these organic search results. By creating and maintaining plenty of creative, engaging and relevant content through SEO, you can be discovered much more easily, which leads to higher traffic and higher client leads. In fact, 57 percent of business-to-business marketers say that SEO has the largest influence on their generation of new leads than any other type of marketing.
4. Go mobile.
Still waiting for this whole smartphone craze to blow over? Good luck with that. By 2014, smartphone and other mobile browsing, such as on a tablet, is expected to completely eclipse standard desktop Internet usage. That means you have to get your site ready for mobile viewing, if it is not already. Your future self will thank you.
5. Start blogging.
Let your clients and customers know about your business. More posts means more pages, which, ultimately, means more site traffic. Studies show that companies who blog have 434 percent more indexed pages. This generates more leads because it highly increases your visibility in the Google rankings.
Consider this your beginner Google toolkit. Your Search Engine 101 course. Your baptism into the wide world of search marketing. You have everything you need, so what are you waiting for?