Ask yourself, when you're looking for a product, service, event or place, how do you find it? I'll tell you — You pull out your futuristic smartphone and search Google for it.
As statistics show, more than 80% of consumers will do online research before making a purchase or taking action. Additionally, 75% of search users find what they're looking for on the first page. Needless to say, if you're a small business trying to get found, being on page one of Google is imperative.
Get Found on Google With Search Engine Marketing
In an eggshell, search engine marketing is about having your website show up on the first page of search results when your expertise is called upon. While there are other ways for potential customers to find your website, search engine visitors are far more likely to convert into dollars.
Sponsored Listings - Pay Per Click Advertising
You can pay for a first-page position using pay per click (PPC) advertising programs provided by Google Adwords, Yahoo Search Marketing, and others. If you're looking to generate leads immediately, this is a great option.
Google Maps - Google My Business (GMB) Optimization
Google My Business helps business owners share information about their business, services, and geographic locations on various Google properties. For most businesses, occupying one of these first page positions leads to a tremendous amount of leads and consequently more sales. Generally, Google My Business optimization is a part of the local SEO process.
Organic Listings - Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
Lastly, and surely the most cost-effective, you can achieve first page rankings by acquiring one of the top 10 organic search results listings. This is done via a process called search engine optimization. While it takes time to reach the top of the organic results, SEO generally proves to be well worth the investment.
If you're interested in making it possible for potential customers to find your business on search engines or have questions about SEM, feel free to give us a shout.