What is SEO? It is short for, “Search Engine Optimization.” But in the online world it is so much more! It is the driving force that gives your brand, your organization, your name, your business its online presence.
The more SEO fuel you add to the engine-the bigger the audience, the bigger the online presence, the bigger the conversion rate. It takes time, it takes effort, it takes consistency. It is a daily, weekly, monthly, yearly grind. The online world of marketing is changing daily. What worked 1 year ago may be irrelevant.
Of course, the big question you're now asking yourself is-how do I get it? Good question! It's not easy! If it was, everybody would be killing it on the internet. It takes time and knowledge, and most of all it takes an expert to help you promote your brand.
There are many great companies and individuals who can build a website, and link all your social media, so that your online presence is viable. But to start the conversation-well that is up to you!
You must provide the content to your website, to your blogs, to your Facebook pages, to your Twitter pages and all your social media. No one can convey your passion. No one can convey your story. You cannot hire someone to provide the content giving your audience insight into your mind. That's up to you.
I have read and heard, that it takes 10,000 hours of studying, learning and doing, to become an expert in any given field. This journey will be not unlike that. I started four years ago and I'm not even close to where I want to be. But I'm much closer now than when I started. Here are some helpful hints to get you started.
- Research the internet. Check out your competitor’s websites. Talk to associates, read reviews to find a good web designer. Hopefully your web designer has some SEO expertise. If not, find someone who does. There are plenty of companies out there that do this, and many individuals across the country who do it for a living. (By the way, if you want to do this cheaply, forget it. It does come at a price.)
- You must test, test, test. No one likes change. However, in the internet world change is constant and never-ending. To date I have changed my website six times in the last 3 years. You always must try to stay on the cutting edge.
- You also must constantly tell your story to give better content. You will be constantly writing blogs, posts, and pithy statements that gain attention, and resonate with your audience. This is a never-ending learning process, and you must constantly be in the classroom of change and learning. Will it be easy? No! Will it be hard? Yes! Will you question yourself and wonder am I ever going to get there? Yes. I don't know if you will, it's up to you. Like the old saying goes, “if it was easy everybody would do it.”
Lastly, can I tell you what to do? No. Only you can start the process. I recommend that you start today. As of the date of this writing, my business has almost doubled due to my SEO presence. It has cost me time, money, sleepless nights, and stress. But it has been worth the effort. I'm not where I want to be yet, but I am going in the right direction.
How about you? Do you have direction? Add some SEO fuel to your engine and get started!
