What is SEO (Search Engine Optimization)?
Even though internet marketing is now quite old, some of our clients still ask us, “What is SEO?”
It’s simple. It stands for Search Engine Optimization. A Search Engine is like Google, Yahoo or Bing. It’s where you go online to search for whatever it is you’re looking for. It is the “Engine” for searches you’re doing online.
Now, what is Optimization? You’re optimizing something for the Search Engine, in other words, to make it better for the Search Engine. So, for your website SEO enables (optimizes) your website to rank higher in the Search Engines to be found easily by your potential customers.
Why does this matter? Because the Yellow Pages are dead. For most U.S. Citizens now, they are recycling material. When someone needs a service they don’t go to the phone book anymore, they go to Google or Yahoo or Bing and type in “plumber” or “carpet cleaner”. The results they see are who gets the calls.
SEO is one of the two largest internet marketing industries on the planet and for good reason. It’s an absolute must these days for the successful business owner. It is just as important as it was to put up a large phone book ad in the early 90’s. We have clients that don’t even put ads in the phone books anymore, but they absolutely keep up on their SEO every single month.
It’s not really an optional thing if you want to stay competitive these days. It would be similar to not putting up a sign in front of your building where cars drive by. If there is no sign, they can’t see you and you get no business. If you’re not doing SEO, your customers are not finding you when they are looking for you, but they are finding your competition – I assure you of that.
SEO is very competitive. Unlike a sign in front of your store or a full page phone book ad. It doesn’t just sit there once paid for, it changes – sometimes daily. It’s extremely competitive. Google flicks a switch and the whole game can change on you and you have to adapt, if you don’t adapt, you disappear.
So, when a customer asks me, “How long should I do this for?” I give them the truth for this modern time of advertising:
Do it monthly, like clockwork – just like you pay your phone bill.
Sincerely,
Dan York, CEO
The SEO Surgeons