How Search Engine Marketing Can Boost Your Website Traffic
Search engine marketing (SEM) can sometimes be a difficult concept to grasp because everyone seems to have their own definition and expectations. However no matter how you define your online goals, a local search engine marketing firm can help your local business gain visibility online in search engines like Google, Yahoo and Bing.
Why is search engine marketing important? The answer is simple – because for most consumers their search for a business starts online. Most industry reports estimated that between 60 – 75% of consumers are using some sort of local or geo-targeted search phrase such as “New Orleans” when looking for a business.3
This is good news for local businesses – especially in you are in a less competitive area such as southern cities like New Orleans. Generally speaking, online competition for “New Orleans” related local search phrases is relatively low compared to other major metropolitan areas such as Los Angeles. For instance, a search for phrases such as “painting contractor in New Orleans” produces around 66,000 organic results geared largely around directories. The same search with “Los Angeles” shows a different story – over 644,000 organic results with a first page full of local businesses that have optimized for local search (including the #1 organic spot).3
Improve Your Online Visibility, Be Found Locally
Focusing on local search can be a great way to improve your online visibility where it counts – in front of your potential clients. And depending on the competition level in your particular industry this may be a strategy that produces tangible results in a relatively short time frame. Generally speaking search engine marketing firms will work with your business in one of 3 ways to help you improve your local online visibility:
1. Paid search – Pay per click (PPC) offers the most immediate impact as they can be setup and activated relatively quickly. Most online advertising programs allow you to determine the geographic areas that your ad will display, referred to as geo-targeting. For example, if you paint homes only in the New Orleans area your SEM firm can set the campaign to only display your ads in front of internet users who appear to be searching for something in and around metro New Orleans.
2. Search engine optimization – SEO work generally takes more time to show results. However with lower competition levels for localized phrases in your market you should start to see search engine optimization results in much less time than say a national campaign. Following our painter example – if you paint homes in New Orleans you want your site optimized to show up for local, New Orleans related painting search phrases.
3. Social media exposure – Social media sites like Twitter, Facebook and LInkedIn are great ways to gain exposure for a local business. Ask your customers to post reviews and network with others to gain exposure for local search traffic. To learn more about internet marketing via social media please visit our website.
Search Engine Marketing Expertise Benefits All Types of Businesses
This trend of embracing search engines is making it’s way to small and medium sized businesses, and hiring a local digital marketing consultant for your local business is not just for big companies anymore. As more and more businesses realize that the search process is starting online they are diverting more of their marketing budget to online activities and away from traditional marketing. This includes nonprofit organizations as well who rely on their branded image and fundraising to survive. In fact many nonprofit organizations and churches have turned to website design and online advertising services in an effort to better meet the needs of their clients.
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