Understanding and applying SEO best practices is one of the first steps in setting your business up for success. But a common misconception is that optimizing your website for search engines is simply a checklist you do once and never think about again. In reality, it’s a constantly evolving process, but our team of SEO experts helps to make things simple, starting by answering some of the most frequently asked questions about small business SEO:
1. Do I need SEO?
Wondering if SEO is that important? It really is, and common SEO mistakes small businesses make can significantly hinder you from showing up in organic search results, driving more traffic to your site, and getting more leads and conversions. Think of SEO as an investment in your local business; it will take a little time, but the effort will yield the best results.
2. What are the types of SEO?
While there are certainly more advanced categories, here are the four main types of SEO:
- On-page SEO: Your website should be tailored to your target audience, keeping the user experience in mind, while also creating a good content strategy for SEO that incorporates informative and specific content with relevant keywords.
- Off-page SEO: Small business SEO must include a strong backlink strategy, creating content that can be used on multiple platforms like social media and email marketing channels, as well as engaging with your audience.
- Technical SEO: This has to do with website speed and performance, optimization for mobile devices, and making sure sitemaps and other website data can be found and read by search engines and AI agents.
- Local SEO: While the previous types are examples of organic SEO that target a national or even international audience, local SEO gets more specific. So, what is the difference between local and organic SEO? As the name suggests, local SEO helps your site rank for location-specific searches. This is one of the most important aspects of search engine optimization for small businesses!
3. Why isn’t my website showing up on Google?
If you’re wondering why your website isn’t showing up in Google search, or if your website’s conversion rate isn’t meeting your marketing goals, then it’s a pretty big sign that you haven’t laid the right framework. In order for a website to have a high domain authority, you need to apply the basic principles of SEO for small businesses, including an easy-to-navigate design, optimized metadata and URL structure, high-quality content with relevant keywords, clear CTAs, as well as internal, external, and backlinks.
4. What about AI and the future of SEO?
If your current SEO strategy has worked for you in the past, don’t assume it will continue to give you the results you’re looking for now that generative search engines and AI search have entered the picture. AI and the future of SEO require an active shift in approach, and if you don’t keep up, you’ll be left behind. But you don’t have to try and learn all of the new information about GSE yourself; that’s where our marketing expertise comes in!
Partner With the Business Growth Experts at IMEG
If you are ready to take your business to the next level, reach out to us about our SEO services for small businesses! We aren’t just a marketing agency you can hire to manage your marketing, but rather a partnership with your local business to reach your goals. Get in touch today, and let us know how we can help!
