

Search remains the number one way to drive traffic to content websites today. In fact, it beats social media by over 300 percent. Meanwhile, conversion rates for search are 10 times higher than they are through social media.

If you want to attract people to your website, boost your brand, and increase conversions, search engine optimization (SEO) is the place to start. SEO helps you appear on search engines like Google. The higher you rank, the more people you’ll likely attract to your website. 

The purpose of SEO is to help your business grow! That’s not all, though.

Here are 11 benefits of using SEO in 2020. By adding SEO to your marketing strategy this year, you can experience these benefits and give your business the boost it needs to succeed.

Still on the fence? Keep reading to discover the 11 benefits of using SEO.

1. Improve The User Experience

When people search for a product or service online, they want fast, easy access to what they need. A website that’s fast and easy to use prioritizes the user experience (UX). A better UX, the more likely people will learn to love your brand.

Better UX can lead to more conversions, too. 

Search engines like Google prioritize providing users with a happy, efficient UX. Many of Google’s ranking factors consider ways to make the user’s life easier.

For example, Google looks for websites that load quickly.

No one wants to wait around for a website to load. Advancements in technology have brought us to expect fast internet speeds. If you plan on using SEO this year, you’re going to need a faster site.

You can use Google’s PageSpeed Insights to determine what’s slowing your site down.

By using SEO, you can improve your website’s performance. Even visitors who don’t appear through search will recognize the ease and convenience you provide. A slow-loading site, however, will cause you to lose visitors and potential customers.

2. Gather High-Quality Leads

The purpose of SEO is to help you attract relevant, potential customers to your website. By targeting specific keywords, you can attract the people most likely to become paying customers.

Focusing on these consumers will save you time and effort you might otherwise waste on pointless leads.

3. Improve Close Rates And Conversions

SEO and other digital marketing strategies are more likely to help you increase close rates and conversions. SEO focuses on consumers who already have an interest in your business. Instead of outbound strategies like cold-calling, SEO appeals to that initial interest. 

This can save you time and effort trying to convince someone to choose your product or service. Instead, you can focus on relaying your unique value to convince them to choose your brand.

4. Attract Local Customers

Local SEO allows you to use location-based keywords to attract people to your business. By updating your Google My Business listing and appearing in the Google Maps Three Pack, your business will take up prominent space in a Google search.

Both options will provide users with your address and phone number. Users can also click on your listing to get immediate directions. 

Using local SEO tactics, you can appeal to nearby customers and attract them to your store. 

5. Boost Brand Awareness

How will people choose your business if they don’t know who you are?

By using SEO, you can rank higher on search engine results pages (SERPs) than ever before. If you’re not on the first page of a Google search, it’s unlikely people will find you. Most people click on the first few websites they see on a SERP.

The more often people see you, the more brand awareness you’ll generate. It can take multiple impressions for people to recognize your brand. The more awareness you generate, the more likely they’ll recognize you in the future.

6. Create Credibility

People are more likely to trust a brand they see at the top of a SERP than at the bottom. Top-ranking websites usually provide users with helpful information relevant to their search. By reaching the top of a SERP through SEO, you can show consumers you’re a top resource in your industry.

Improving your brand credibility will help you generate a following of loyal customers.

7. Ensure That You’re Mobile-Friendly

Google uses mobile-first indexing to determine website rankings on SERP. If you’re not mobile-optimized, you’re unlikely to rank about the competition.

Using SEO will push you to optimize your site. A mobile-optimized website is easy to use on any device. As a result, you’re improving the UX, too. 

If users have a negative experience on their mobile devices, however, they become 62 percent less likely to purchase from your brand.

8. Long-Term Strategizing

Once you start improving your SEO rankings, it will take a long time to push you down. Remember, the purpose of SEO is to help more people find you online. By using SEO, you have a long-term strategy that will increase your brand awareness and website visits.

9. Compete In The Big Leagues

Large corporations dedicate thousands if not millions of dollars to their advertising efforts. Smaller businesses can’t compete.

SEO evens the playing field. You don’t rank based on how much money you have. Instead, your SEO ranking is based on your content and overall SEO strategy.

By using SEO in 2020, you can rank above big competitors. Then, you can attract more people to your business and convert them into sales. However, SEO and traffic don’t always mean more sales.

You can learn more here to improve your marketing strategy.

10. Increase Social Sharing

Sharing your content on social media will attract more people to your website. The more traffic and clicks you generate, the better for your ranking.

Combining SEO and your social media strategy will help you attract more site traffic and social followers. As you build an online following, you can keep your followers informed of new deals and services. Then, you have a chance to convert those followers in the future. 

11. Unite Your Strategies

An incohesive marketing strategy can confuse consumers. They might not even realize your social media and website involve the same company. SEO can help unite your marketing efforts into one cohesive strategy. 

Discovering The Purpose Of SEO: 11 Benefits To Boost Your Business In 2020

The ultimate purpose of SEO is to boost your brand, attract website traffic, and help build your business. Now that you know the 11 benefits of using SEO, you can get started with a sound strategy. 

Searching for more SEO tips? Explore the Search Engine Optimization section of the blog today!