It’s important for businesses both big and small to have an effective search engine optimization strategy. But if you’re a small business owner on a tight budget, having great SEO may seem like a huge challenge. There are many SEO marketing companies that put their sole focus on these small businesses in order to level the playing field. But in case you’re feeling a bit hopeless about how you can compete with your search engine marketing strategy, here are five SEO tips for businesses on a budget:
- Use social media
Social media marketing isn’t really optional these days. While social media may not be an effective SEO tool solely on its own, it can be a great asset to your overall marketing strategy. These platforms can allow you to create interesting content, engage with your audience, and promote your services or products. Being visible on social media is important for brand visibility and authority, and it can allow you to build a loyal customer base. By linking often to new content on your site and answering questions on these platforms, you will be able to drive traffic and improve upon your web presence. - Start blogging
A lot of businesses don’t understand why their website needs a blog. But it’s way more important than you might think. Having a blog gives you a platform for consistent content creation. You can share information that your target audience wants to know. By using relevant keywords and by answering questions people have, Google will see you as a leader within your industry and will often reward you with a better page ranking. For best results, you need to publish new and interesting content often, ideally a few times a week. SEO marketing companies can help you with content creation, as many have dedicated writing teams for this exact purpose. You should also supplement with your own posts, as no one knows your business better than you do. - Optimize for mobile
If your web design isn’t mobile-optimized, you could be hurting your page rankings. You want to make sure that your site is accessible on any device. Ignoring those who use their phones for web browsing is not an effective way to do business in the technological age. If your website looks “off” when you view it from your cell phone, you should get this fixed right away. You don’t alienate potential customers. If they can’t view your site, they’ll look elsewhere. - Use local business listings
If you own a small business, local clientele likely make up a large portion of your customers. That’s why you need to utilize local business listings — these ensure that customers in your area can find you faster. Once you “claim” your business on Google Places and Yelp, you’ll have better visibility in your location. That’s really helpful when someone does a web search for “plumbers near me” or “dentists in Memphis TN.” You’ll show up more easily with help from Google Maps, and that will help bring in business. - Identify target keywords
Here’s where SEO marketing companies can really come in handy. Determining the best keywords to focus on is one of the most effective ways to get more web traffic. If you specialize in HVAC repair, you need to make sure that you’re using that keyword in organic ways throughout your content. Doing so will increase your chances of your site showing up in the search results when someone wants to find a business like yours. Make sure that keywords are relevant and that you’re using them in ways that make sense (and don’t look spammy). Although using SEO marketing companies can be an expense, it’s an investment that’s well worth it.