SEO is a powerful process that has the potential to make the difference between success and failure for your business.
This may sound dramatic. However, 50% of people who conduct a local search on their smartphone end up visiting a store that same day. So, being at the fingertips of these customers is now one of the biggest competitive advantages your local business can have.
This isn’t the only benefit of SEO, though, as there are multiple advantages to small businesses in Auckland.
SEO Delivers Return on Investment Over the Long-Term
When the time is right, paid campaigns should have a place in your short-term marketing strategy. After all, paid advertising generates clicks and potential customers almost immediately.
Organic SEO, on the other hand, should always be a part of your long-term marketing strategy.
This is because organic search brings you engaged visitors over the long term. If you can provide useful content that answers queries, informs, or entertains, you will find that users interact naturally with your website.
As a result, your return on investment from SEO improves over time.
Users are Making More Local Searches
New Zealanders (like citizens in every other country in the world) now clearly demonstrate a preference for mobile devices over desktop devices. As these devices grow in number, so do the number of hours we spend on them per day.
Just look at ownership numbers: there were 3.8 million mobile phones with active internet connections in New Zealand in June 2017, up 11 percent from the same time in 2016.
Where does this fit into SEO? Well, according to Google, one-third of all mobile searches made each day are related to location. As more and more users turn to their smartphones to find out about the world around them with local searches, you need to be there. The best way to get in front of those searchers is through local SEO.
A Solid Local SEO Strategy is Key to Success
Check out this statistic:
- 76% of local searches result in a phone call
Every local business wants customers and potential customers to get in contact with them. This lets you start building a relationship as early as possible. As 76% of local searches result in a phone call, SEO is an important part of that relationship-building process.
A solid, well-structured SEO strategy can put you in front of the Auckland customers that have an immediate need to get in touch with your business.
Remember, Your Competitors Probably Have an SEO Strategy Too
Whichever industry your small business operates in, your competitors are almost certainly involved in Search Engine Optimisation too. This means you need to do the same or you risk losing customers to them.
Plus, you should start as early as possible to give yourself the biggest advantage. This is because building authority and ranking can take time, and you never know when your competitors are going to come into the picture.
If you remember one thing from this post, it should be this: SEO is not just reserved for large businesses. Small business owners like you absolutely can benefit, so you need to get in on the action.
