02 Jul Why Can’t Clients Find You Online?
In today’s digital age, the importance of a strong online presence cannot be overstated.
For most businesses, the first point of contact with potential clients is through search engines, and more often than not, that means Google. Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is the key to ensuring that your brand stands out when people search for services or products that you offer.
Let’s explore the fundamentals of SEO, the importance of Google as a first point of contact, and the role of video content and social media in your overall strategy.
Table of Contents
- Understanding SEO
- Google: The First Point of Contact
- The Role of YouTube in SEO
- Video Content and Social Media
- Why SEO Should Be Your Priority
- Conclusion
Understanding SEO
SEO, or Search Engine Optimization, is the practice of enhancing your website’s visibility on search engine results pages (SERPs). The higher your site ranks for relevant queries, the more likely you are to attract organic (non-paid) traffic to your website and/or social profiles.
This involves a range of strategies, including keyword optimization, high-quality content creation, backlink building, and technical improvements to your website.
- Keyword Optimization
Identifying and using the right keywords that potential clients are searching for. Use these keywords strategically when writing your website page copy as well as your social profile bio. - Content Creation
Producing valuable, relevant content that answers the questions your audience is asking. Keywords can be utilized in the title, caption and thumbnail of your posted content. - Backlink Building
Gaining links from other reputable websites to increase your site’s authority. Conversely, you can utilize links to other informative, industry relevant and/or authoritative websites in the copy of your own website content as references and citations. - Technical SEO
Ensuring your website is fast, secure, and easy to navigate so that search engines can access and index your content. Designing a well-organized site structure with a clean, descriptive URL, implementing schema markup for better understanding of content, optimizing page load times, and ensuring your site works well on mobile devices are all ways to make your website more compatible with search engines.
Google: The First Point of Contact
When potential clients are looking for a service provider or a product, their first instinct is to “Google it.” Google dominates the search engine market, making it the primary touchpoint for first-time interactions with your brand.
- Statistics
Google processes over 3.5 billion searches per day. For most businesses, Google is the first place new clients encounter their brand. - Trust and Credibility
Ranking highly on Google can significantly boost your brand’s credibility. Users tend to trust the top results, associating high ranking with industry authority.
The Role of YouTube in SEO
While YouTube is primarily known as a video platform, it also functions as a powerful search engine—the second largest after Google. Optimizing your video content for search is crucial for leveraging this platform effectively.
Another social platform focused on video content is Tik Tok, however controversial the topic of banning Tik Tok in regions like India may be, the lesson in video search among youth-audiences remains, and Research has shown Gen-Z are using this social media app as a search engine, too.
- Video Titles and Descriptions
Just like web pages, video titles and descriptions should be optimized with relevant keywords. This helps your videos rank higher in both YouTube and Google searches. - Engagement Metrics
YouTube’s algorithm considers engagement metrics such as watch time, likes, and comments, which can be influenced by how well your videos are optimized.
Once your videos are optimized for search, ensure your social profiles are optimized to redirect online traffic from your video content to your website or prefered point-of-contact.
Video Content & Social Media
Creating engaging video content and maintaining an active social media presence are essential for brand engagement. However, they serve a different purpose compared to SEO.
- Engagement
Social media platforms and video content help build and maintain a connection with your target audience. They are ideal for showcasing your brand’s personality, values, and updates. - SEO Support
While social media and video content are great for engagement, they also support your SEO efforts indirectly. High-quality content can attract backlinks and drive traffic to your website, improving your overall SEO performance.
Why SEO Should Be Your Priority
Despite the importance of video content and social media, your primary focus should be on optimizing for Google. When a potential client seeks out a service provider or an online point of sale, they are statistically more likely to start their search on Google. Ensuring your website is easily discoverable on this platform should be your top priority.
- First Impressions
Your ranking on Google often determines the first impression potential clients have of your brand. High visibility on search results pages conveys authority and trustworthiness. - Long-Term Return On Investment (ROI)
Investing in SEO provides long-term benefits.Unlike paid advertising, a viral digital marketing campaign or boosted social media posts which stop generating traffic once you stop paying, or have a cold-lapse between digital marketing campaigns, a well-optimized site can continue attracting organic traffic over time.
Conclusion
SEO is a critical investment for any brand looking to establish a strong online presence.
By optimizing your website and video content for search, you ensure that your brand is visible and attractive to potential clients from their very first search query. While video content and social media are valuable for engagement, remember that Google remains the first point of contact for most users.
Prioritizing your SEO efforts will help you capture and convert that initial interest into loyal customers.