WHY YOU NEED SEO ESPECIALLY IN 2021
2020 brought a whirlwind of change for every individual around the world due to COVID-19. While most individuals feel alone or distant from others, technology has given individuals the outlet to grow closer to resources near or available to them. With search engines providing individuals with more updated search results, SEO has become more important for businesses to have in 2021 more than ever. SEO has no longer become a nice addition to add to your business’s marketing strategy. It has become more of a way for consumers to gather information, research, and shop in 2020. In 2021, there are more valuable reasons as to why your business needs SEO now more than ever.
While no one knows what 2021 will bring to SEO, there are ways to help prepare for what’s to come. Here a list of things that are important to prepare for your business’ SEO strategy in 2021:
Get Into Local SEO
If you want your users to know your business exists, it’s important for your business to adapt to an individual’s ongoing needs. Especially to local community members within your business area. 46% of all Google searches feature a local intent. Let your customers know where they can find your business and the variety of options available to them.
Voice Search
When we’re on the go, not able to use our hands, or just lazy, voice commands help give ease of accessibility. 27% of the global online population is using voice search on mobile. In fact, it’s projected that the percentage of households predicted to own a smart speaker by 2022 is 55%. For SEO, it’s important to consider the keywords people may use through voice commands rather than typing out their search results.
Video Marketing
Now that more individuals spend more time on their phones, certain ways of viewing content have become more popular than others. Videos capture people’s attention and can be one of the easiest ways of explaining a topic faster and easier than an image. 54% of consumers want to see more video content from a brand or business they support. Adding a social media strategy to your SEO plan may be something to look out for in 2021.
High-Quality Content
For SEO quality tends to matter more than quantity in content writing. The better content you create the more people will keep coming back to read what you have to say. For your articles to be of higher quality in content, don’t focus on short content with lots of keywords. Having a natural way of writing with the right amount of keywords brings your content the most success. When you have higher quality content, more individuals and influencers are likely to share and promote your brand.
WHY SEO MATTERS
COVID-19 has carried on longer than anyone had originally expected or hoped. While there may be declines in search traffic, due to events such as COVID-19, there are many reasons why your business should still be interested in using SEO in your marketing strategy.
Importance of SEO Strategies
When it comes to SEO, it’s important to remember that COVID will not always be the topic of search discussion. While it is still a major topic, and an alarming concern, in the future it will not be the focus of search results. The customers you currently attract through organic traffic can be your greatest tool in learning more about your SEO audience. The visitors your business currently receives are likely to be highly qualified and seeking your products and services directly. Learning more about the viewer’s search patterns and interests can help improve the direction of your business goals and strategies.
In a track meet, while most people would prefer SEO to participate in the sprint relay, SEO is more likely to succeed in the long relay such as a marathon. SEO takes time and improves more when you put in the input, effort, and work. COVID gives individuals the time and opportunity to focus on what needs to be done to improve their SEO strategy over time. It may be hard to know when the right time is to start implementing an SEO strategy for your business. With search engines becoming more common in today’s age with COVID, it will only become more normal and useful to individuals as time goes on. Having an SEO strategy or plan is more important than ever to get started.
Importance of Content Within SEO
Having up to date content keeps your readers interested and intrigued by the trends and topics currently popular. Especially with COVID, your customers will want up to date information. While it’s important to stay current, also seek evergreen posting topics that bring relatability and insight within your industry and stay relevant for longer periods of time. Having timeless and easily relevant content within your niche helps to improve your SEO strategy and rankings over time. Especially through unexpected times such as COVID-19. By implementing this strategy, your content will never feel out of place or irrelevant to your consumers.
Small Business SEO
COVID-19 has closed and limited individuals to choose where they can and would like to go. From travel restrictions, forced lockdowns, to staying 6-feet apart from one another, COVID has been an adjustment for everyone. When COVID-19 forced businesses to close or shut down for some time, it made individuals grow to support smaller businesses. Consumers are more likely to search for smaller businesses over bigger brands to help support small business owners. When a small business doesn’t have an online presence, there’s no outlet for a consumer to find or interact with the small business.
Local SEO gives businesses the opportunity to showcase their available services in times where frequent choices to common resources are limited to individuals. Local SEO tactics such as using “near me” or “open now” give individuals the advantage of using your services and products. When a small business doesn’t give access to their products or services, they’re more likely to miss out on potential customers. Local search is a very important factor for your business to have during COVID.
SEO is important for small businesses to use to help stand out amongst its competitors. Without reviews, content, or updated information for your SEO to improve, you’re just another website in your industry’s list. Building trust and reliability through SEO give consumers a valuable reason to keep coming back to your website. As a bonus, SEO is the most cost-effective option your business could choose from.
There are countless SEO strategies that will always continue to change over time. Some will continue to hold significance, while others will fade over time. With the slower pacing of COVID-19 and the financial burdens, 2020 has brought, SEO can prove to help your business become more visible and credible to those who need and search for your business the most.
Going into the new year, make SEO a marketing priority in your business strategy. If you think your business needs help with its SEO strategy, visit Green Stick’s SEO Services to see how we can help your business grow in 2021.