When it comes to ranking on the search engine giant Google, position on the search engine results page (or SERP) is everything. People use Google for fast results– they want an answer to their question or a business result within seconds and typically will only click on one of the top three links at the top of the SERP. If your business is not ranked highly on the first page, you are missing a lot of traffic to your site. In fact, over 90% of Google users don’t move past the first SERP. Read on to learn more about how to get your business ranking higher in a google search without spending more money!

What is SEO, And How Does It Improve Google Ranking?

Sure, you could pay to advertise your online business at the top of the Google results page. But these advertising channels are very expensive to use, and most people do not click on them anyway. In fact, studies show that users are 94% more likely to click on a “naturally ranked” result as opposed to paid advertising.

So, how do you improve your Google ranking online business? To improve your Google ranking, you need to improve your business marketing strategy by learning how online search engines work and what role SEO plays.

SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization. This describes the process of using keywords and phrases that are frequently searched in relation to your business and making sure those words and phrases appear on your business website. Search engines will pick up on the frequency of these searched phrases on your website. This means higher rankings in searches relating to your business and more traffic to your business.

However, SEO is not an overnight fix. First, you have to do keyword and phrase research for your business to find the right keywords to be using. But if you do your research and are sure to update your website accordingly, SEO can be a great way to improve your Google ranking at low to no cost. In addition, SEO can create a higher click-through rate and improve your business’s brand.

Brand Development

Brand Development is another important aspect of improving your rank on Google. Brand development includes things like content creation, such as blog posts, listicles, and articles. It is especially helpful to create educational content for your business– such as how-to videos and instructional guides on using your product or service. This builds trust in your brand, as well as recognition and engagement. While creating content, be sure to use the keywords and phrases from your SEO marketing research so your content gets adequately picked up by Search Engines such as Google. You improve your relationship with your customer base by showing expertise and engagement through your content.

Another important aspect of Brand Development is a healthy Social Media Presence for your business. Social media is ubiquitous for modern consumers, and by engaging with consumers on social media, you raise name-brand awareness, as well as create traffic to your website. Social media is a great way to gain word-of-mouth traffic by offering specials or sales on your business’ Social Media page. In addition, Social Media is free to use and operate, making it a great tool for small businesses looking for inexpensive ways to improve their ranking on google.

Outbound Vs. Inbound Marketing and your Google Ranking

There are two different branches of marketing– Outbound marketing and Inbound Marketing. Inbound marketing is designed to pull in customers through “organic” channels such as Social Media, How-To content, and other channels that would draw traffic to your business. If you are looking for a low-cost way to improve your Google ranking, inbound marketing is especially useful for businesses with a limited marketing budget. Examples include SEO, blogs, podcasts, social media, and engaging content such as how-to videos.

This is different from outbound marketing, which is what we tend to think of when we think of marketing. This involves paid advertising, email lists, pay-per-click advertisements, and cold calls. While these can improve your Google ranking, they are often expensive, and results are not guaranteed.

Feeling Overwhelmed? Reach out to Steven Lloyd Consulting

The world of digital marketing can be intimidating, especially to a small or medium business owner. If you are not tech-savvy but still want to improve your Google ranking to benefit from digital marketing, you are in luck! Steven Lloyd Consulting specializes in working with small businesses and can create a marketing plan at a price range that works for you. Give us a call or check out our website for a free consultation!