23 Feb What is SEO?

No matter what industry your business falls into, chances are that you’ve found yourself asking, “How do I get my brand recognised and on the first page of Google?” If like most people, you also rely on Google to answer 99% of your questions, then you probably recognise Google as a reliable way to reach new people who don’t necessarily know about you or your brand. After all, that’s how you, yourself, discover new and exciting brands, products and services.

To answer your question about how to be found on Google, you’ll need SEO.

Simply put, Search Engine Optimisation (or SEO), is a form of digital marketing that works by optimising your website and tells search engines like Google that you exist. In turn, it helps your website gain visibility online and more people are able to find you through free, organic search results.

The major search engines like Google, Bing, and Yahoo rank websites according to a list of requirements by considering things like the load speed of your website, whether you have titles and descriptions defined, and whether your content is relevant and helpful to your targeted audience. This is why it’s important to have an effective SEO strategy that helps search engines rank your website better.

If you’re wondering if your company needs SEO, the answer is always yes! But because that sounds a little too “salesy” for our liking, let’s play a game…

If you had to imagine yourself as your target audience but had never heard of your company, how would they find you online? Think about what they would type into Google to find your company. If you’re a guesthouse in East London, perhaps they’d type something like, “accommodation in East London” or let’s say you’re an online store offering bespoke kiddies clothing, so they’d type something like, “buy children’s dresses online” or “shop kids clothing online” Try searching a few of those search terms that you think people would type into Google, and see where your company shows up.

If you’re not on the first or second page of Google, it’s time to seriously consider your SEO strategy. In fact, only 7% of Google searchers will ever see the third page of search results which means you need to make sure you’re in the top 20 results on Google!

But there’s good news! As a Digital Marketing Company, we’re experts at getting your website to the first page of Google. Our approach to SEO is effective, smart and efficient. Best of all, it’s been fine-tuned for more than 10-years and is currently the foundation to more than 60 existing clients’ digital strategies. In fact, our approach has been so effective that one client even expanded their property to accommodate all the bookings that they were receiving!

We thought we’d compile a list of some frequently asked questions about SEO that have popped up from time to time. If you don’t see your question here, email info@somsdigital.co.za and someone from our team will be in touch!

SEO FAQ

What does SEO stand for?

Search Engine Optimisation

What is the difference between SEO and Google Advertising?

Google Advertising and SEO are two separate marketing approaches that can be used together or separately. SEO is a long-term strategy and provides continuous growth that is not dependent on a budget but rather strategy, whereas Google Ads or PPC provides immediate results but only shows up for as long as you have a budget, so once your budget runs out, your ads will no longer display and there is no impact to your Google ranking.

Why is SEO a monthly service?

SEO is a long-term marketing strategy and anyone who says they can get you to the top page of Google within your first month is likely trying to take advantage of you. There are several things that Google considers when looking at your ranking and it’s up to us to implement a strategy that works for your industry and brand. Keep in mind that you don’t go from 0 to hero overnight and that it’s a gradual and consistent climb to the top that takes consistency, nurturing and constant fine-tuning.

How long does it take for my SEO strategy to be effective?

We recommend giving your SEO strategy at least 6-months. However, most clients start seeing the benefits of an effective SEO strategy in far less time, depending on their industry and other marketing efforts like blogging for your business.

If you’d like to chat about your SEO strategy, have questions or would like to enquire about our SEO packages, don’t hesitate to contact us by emailing info@somsdigital.co.za or calling +27 11 568 7419.