Multi Media Group > Blog > Why SEO is Crucial for Your Business Website

Why SEO is CRUCIAL for your business website.

The importance of SEO for your business website is becoming ever more relevant as the internet progresses.

Many think they can ‘do it themselves’, when in fact it’s a lot more complicated and time-consuming than first expected.

If you want to rank well on Google, in today’s complex algorithmic standards, it’s almost a necessity to have an SEO expert working on building this for you. Despite the costs, this means you’re getting direct exposure to the formula that works and is proven to get you results.

From sounding like hoodoo voodoo to becoming the single largest factor in ranking on Google, it has become the cornerstone of gaining organic exposure. SEO simply isn’t an option anymore; it’s an absolute necessity.

Still, need convincing? Read on, we’ll explore 5 compelling reasons why your business must embrace SEO (and often pay lots of $$ for it) to thrive in a competitive online landscape.

Top 5 reasons why you need SEO optimisation for your business website

1. Organic Search

Organic Search is most often the primary source of website traffic.

There are over 1.2 trillion organic Google searches per year, equating to 40,000 per second. For this reason, organic search plays a pivotal role in a website’s performance.

While other search engines also contribute, Google’s influence is undeniable, thus you must rank well for organic search. To begin this process, the first step is to have your Google Search Console set up with a sitemap from your website. This lets Google know you’re ready to be shown by searchers.

Google’s ranking algorithm is 90% keywords and backlinks, so ensure this is in your strategy going forward.

2. Trust and Credibility

The primary goal of SEO optimisation is to increase trust and credibility, leading to more leads on your website.

A well-optimised website not only ranks higher but also exudes authority amongst Google algorithms. Building this authority takes time, and that is why hiring SEO experts can increase business leads dramatically.

Most contracts require a minimum period of 6 months, as results can take months to show.

Throughout this, you can expect to pay anywhere from $1,000-$20,000/Month. This may seem a bit $$$, but we’ll go into more details later of a breakdown of this figure and why it’s not a waste of time or money!

3. Understanding User Intent

People search on Google for 1 of 2 things;

To learn something
To buy something

Understanding this and optimising your website accordingly can seem like a superpower when you get it right.

Most businesses try to attract users through both methods, through their product offerings, and their blog. The former is the easy part, the latter is where an SEO specialist will come in. The real secret to attracting organic search to your website will be through your blog (also named articles etc.).

In your blog, you’ll write about a variation of products and services related to your business, targeting specific keywords to rank well on Google.

Once these articles start ranking well on Google, you’re off to the races – people start stumbling upon your website because of the information you provide, leading to increased sales of your products as you build customer morale.

Essentially, it’s far easier to rank well for a blog post that will link to your products, than it is for the products to rank well themselves. It’s also no easy process, articles need to be meticulously written with keywords in the correct spots with the right structure and SEO optimisation. Once user intent is understood, this process can commence.

4. User Experience

A website with its pages optimised with SEO correctly will provide a seamless user experience.

This is extremely important for customer retention and will greatly affect conversions. Factors affecting this include website performance, loading speed, accessibility and information relevance.

5. Keywords, Backlinks and structure

A blog/article with incorrect keyword placement, little backlinks, zero structure, and too few words will be a flop on Google.

Many businesses approach SEO with a “Do it yourself” mentality, but soon realise they’ve bitten off more than they can chew.

A specialist will have the tools required to complete posts and an efficient rate with the correct strategy attached. With tools like Ahrefs and SurferSEO, specialists can Identify keywords that are not over-competitive that you will be able to rank for, this is knowledge that can’t go unnoticed.

Most specialists will also have a list of websites for backlinking, which will increase your domain rating and assert your authority on Google. All these factors are readily accessible through an SEO expert.

So how much does it actually cost?

Okay, so now you’ve got a few reasons why your business needs SEO optimisation. Now let’s get down to the business end of things.

How much does SEO cost?

We’ve curated a list below of the steps for an effective SEO campaign, estimating the associated costs.

We need to preface by saying all businesses are different. What works for one, will not work for another. As a result, prices may vary depending on your goals, the current state of your website and competition in your industry.

Website Audit and Analysis - $500 - $5,000/month

The very first step of your SEO strategy will be website audits and analysis.

This involves analysing your current rankings, backlinks, and competitors to formulate an SEO strategy going forward.

This step also identifies any technical issues, on-page SEO, or content gaps we need to fix.

Upon an initial review, these audits will take place monthly to ensure expectations are being met.

Keyword Research and Strategy – $300 - $1,500/month

Google rankings are 90% keyword, placement, structure and backlinks.

This stage consists of research to identify potential keywords, which rank on a scale of 1-99 (1 being little to no competition, 99 being highly competitive).

It’s pointless for a small business website to write a blog article tailored to a 99 keyword, they simply won’t gain the traction of exposure to compete with larger companies. Tweak that keyword with only a few minor words, however, and suddenly the keyword competitiveness is only 25, a rating worthy of a small business.

This research will help the specialist develop a keyword strategy for your articles, to ensure you have maximum success rates.

On-Page SEO Optimisation - $100 - $2,500/upfront (per page)

This upfront cost is to ensure all pages are optimised with meta titles, meta descriptions, headers and content on each page.

It’s also crucial that keyword placement and density are optimised while maintaining quality content.

Despite being an upfront cost, ongoing tweaks can ensure these pages are kept up to date with the latest trends and algorithm regulations.

Technical SEO - $1,000 - $5,000/upfront

Another upfront cost, this process involves fixing issues like broken links, duplicate content, and website speed optimisation.

Of course, if your website has been kept well, this, along with the previous costs will not be included.

Content Creation – Costs will vary depending on volume and quality. Expect $1,000-$10,000/month

This is where the expert will spend the most amount of time and is the largest factor for benefiting your search rankings.

It includes developing high-quality, keyword-focused content for your website. Once these posts are created, they are monitored regularly updated and optimised to increase relevance and freshness.

Off-Page SEO and Link Building - $1,000 - $5,000/month

Another crucial aspect of ranking well on Google, this process involves the expert building high-quality backlinks (linking your website to other websites with high domain ratings and vice versa) through guest posting, outreach and content promotion.

Not all backlinks are good though, so they’ll monitor harmful backlinks and remove them to maintain a clean link profile

Local SEO (for local businesses) - $300 - $1,500/month

Most local businesses will have a storefront and a Google My Business listing for their customers.

This listing also requires management to keep up to date with any information. Again, this is another optional cost that most businesses can do themselves!

SEO Monitoring and Reporting - $300 - $1,500/month

Through SEO tools, keywords, organic traffic and website performance are all monitored to ensure metrics are being met.

Monthly reports are then generated to track progress and make data-driven decisions.

Social Media and Content Marketing – Cost will vary depending on strategy. Expect $200 - $5,000/month

Social media is not only important for your business presence but also for SEO.

By sharing valuable content on all platforms and engaging with your audience, you can direct customers to your website for further information. With today’s reach capabilities, these social platforms are crucial for SEO when done correctly.

Additional Costs

– Paid SEO tools and software subscriptions: $50 – $1,000/month

– Advertising budget

– Web design and development (If website/significant changes are needed)

Total Cost of SEO optimisation for your Business Website (Per Month)

$2,500 – $40,000

The Conclusion

I know that’s a very wide range. But most businesses will fall on the very small side of that. For a small business (up to 100 employees) a budget of $2,500 to $5,000 per month is more than enough to get started and rank well on Google. This would generally include 8-12 blog posts/month which are all optimised correctly. It would also include support fees and maintenance fees.

With a 6-month minimum contract, $15,000 can seem like a lot to spend on something that “may not work”. However, by ranking well on Google you can increase traffic to your site dramatically, leading to more sales and the ability to monetise your articles/blog to become self-sustaining. Without an upfront sacrifice of time and capital, you won’t rank well and will see poor results.

SEO certainly isn’t for the faint-hearted, who will struggle to see the value it provides them or their business. However, looking beyond that at a macro scale, SEO will pay for itself tenfold in the future, if done correctly.

Still not convinced on why your business should be SEO optimised? Contact our team here and we can schedule a meeting to go more in-depth.

FAQs

Q1. Why should we invest in SEO for our website or business?

SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is essential because it helps your website rank higher in search engine results, making it more visible to potential customers. When you invest in SEO, you increase your chances of attracting organic, high-quality traffic to your website, which can lead to more leads, sales, and brand exposure.

Q2. How long does it take to see results from SEO efforts?

SEO is a long-term strategy, and the timeline for seeing results can vary depending on several factors, including your industry, competition, and the state of your website. Generally, it can take several months to a year to see significant improvements in rankings and organic traffic. However, the long-term benefits are well worth the investment, as they can lead to sustained growth and a strong online presence.

Q3. Can't we just rely on paid advertising instead of SEO?

Paid advertising can be effective for driving immediate traffic, but it can be costly, and the results are temporary. SEO, on the other hand, provides a sustainable and cost-effective way to attract organic traffic over time. It also helps improve your website’s overall quality and user experience, which benefits both organic and paid traffic efforts. The growth potential is exponential with SEO.

Q4. Is SEO only for large businesses, or can small businesses benefit from it as well?

SEO is beneficial for businesses of all sizes. In fact, it can be especially valuable for small businesses looking to compete with larger competitors. Local SEO strategies, in particular, can help small businesses improve their visibility in local search results, attracting nearby customers who are actively searching for their products or services.

Q5. What are the risks of not investing in SEO?

Not investing in SEO can result in several risks, including:

- Decreased Visibility: Your website may not appear in search results, causing potential customers to overlook your business.
- Loss of Market Share: Competitors who invest in SEO may capture a larger share of the online market.
- Reduced Credibility: High-ranking websites are often seen as more trustworthy, so a lack of SEO can harm your brand’s credibility.
- Missed Opportunities: You may miss out on valuable leads and sales generated through organic search.