If your customers can’t find you on the web, you’re losing business. It’s that simple. SEO is strategy-driven, and if leveraged the proper way, it’s a method that can propel your organization upward in online search engines and rankings. However, some companies find SEO to be unsuccessful despite the fact they are spending resources to increase their standings. If SEO is not working for you, here are six reasons why this may be the case.
1. Outdated Strategies
As with anything related to technology and business strategy, SEO is constantly evolving and developing. If you or your SEO analyst are using outdated tactics like keyword stuffing or frequent guest posts, you could actually be devaluing your efforts. If you have hired an SEO firm to rank your online platform, it is critical to do your research and ensure their practices are updated and aligned with current strategies. Look for a partner who understands SEO, how to leverage it the right way, and can confidently explain their methods and share their references with you. If you are managing your own SEO efforts, take the time to regularly research industry best practices and learn new processes.
2. Too Frugal of Attempts
The money you spend on high-quality SEO strategies will pale in comparison to the success you see in the growth of your website. By expanding resources upfront, you are able to climb the search engine ladder to the top where your organization will be noticed and accessible. From here, you can continually strengthen your brand and content to attract new subscribers and loyal customers. Doing everything yourself, especially if you don’t understand SEO, could potentially remove any chance of succeeding at SEO. This is also true for entrusting your efforts to a non-established SEO firm – they may actually do more harm than good.
3. Irrelevant Website Content
Keeping your website current and optimized for SEO can make the world of difference in your digital marketing success. More important than the aesthetics of your site is the content and the work being done behind the scenes in both on-page and off-page work. Your website should always clearly highlight your brand and the characteristics that make your organization unique. In addition, consider these tips:
- Explore competitors or other websites in your industry to determine your overall SEO strategy.
- Ensure your content is informative, relevant, and optimized with targeted keywords.
- Regularly modify and update your site to ensure you are implementing the best practices in SEO.
- Add a blog and consistently post content that is informative and authentic, and stay clear from ‘fluff’ content.
Maintaining a website that is updated and user-friendly will encourage recurring visits, which can strengthen your position in search engine rankings.
4. Lackluster Social Media Involvement
What many business owners don’t realize is that social media actually plays a valuable role in your SEO success. With a strong social platform, your website will be shared and discussed by people and social influencers. If you’ve noticed that your SEO efforts could use some bolstering, consider spending more time working on your social media presence. Be involved, converse with your ideal customers, and also give your honest input on other platforms within your industry. If people comment on your posts, engage with them and keep the conversation going. This kind of initiative can help you gain visibility. As your posts are shared, your website will see more visits and you have the potential to increase your overall organic rankings. Be careful not to be disingenuous. Authentic, relevant, helpful discussion and sharing of ideas is what your target audience is looking for.
5. Impatience
Don’t be discouraged if you don’t see immediate results in your SEO success. No matter what types of goals or KPI’s (Key Performance Indicators) you have set for your organization, improvement of any kind takes time and effort. By working consistently and dedicating enough time to the process of building your rankings, you will begin to see your efforts pay off. With SEO, you get out of it what you put into it. Greatness takes time.
6. Unrealistic Expectations
Setting goals is an integral component in your SEO efforts. Your ambitions can be used as motivation to work harder and dedicate more effort into your processes. However, setting your expectations too high can be a cause for disappointment if you don’t see progress right away. When creating new goals for your SEO experience, make sure to keep them realistic, attainable, and measurable. This way, you can monitor progress and use small achievements to fuel your drive to achieve optimal success.
When leveraged the right way, SEO is the vehicle that will transport your website to popularity in search engine rankings and ultimately drive conversions for you. However, it is important to remember that the time and effort you put into your website, social media platforms, and SEO strategies are integral in making your campaigns a success. Have additional questions about SEO? You can reach us at [email protected]. We’re happy to help you with your strategy.