Author: Ilona Milostnaja
Publication date: 23.08.2023
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The growth of e-commerce and the need for online interaction have increased dramatically in recent years and will continue to grow in the future. What’s more, research shows that online retail sales will reach $6.50 trillion in 2023. What you are seeing is just the beginning of the evolution of e-commerce and online shopping.
This is not so surprising considering the number of online users is growing every year. Internet users skyrocketed from 1.97 billion in 2010 to 5.07 billion in 2022. Only Google Users 4.3 billion, that's 58% of the world's population.
Since the pandemic, people have gradually become accustomed to doing everything online. For example, communicating with peers or loved ones and searching for information to shop for essentials. These online habits are established and it's time for companies to understand and work with them.
For businesses to thrive in the online marketplace, you must prioritize both online visibility and positive interactions to stay competitive. And a big part of that change is the need for SEO.
The importance of investing in SEO
Search engine optimization (SEO) is the process of improving your website to increase organic visibility on search engine result pages (SERPS). The goal is to improve the quality and quantity of traffic by improving the performance of your site. This includes improving web design, site speed, mobile-friendliness, interactivity, backlinks, and the quality of content on the site.
Without SEO, your website will not appear on the search engine results page when a consumer searches for a term related to your business. If your website doesn't show up in the SERPs, it's not only losing profitable opportunities. It also may not exist in the minds of potential customers.
Reasons why investing in SEO
1. Organic search is still one of the top sources of web traffic
Google, the largest search engine in the world, has a 90% market share. Given that there are more than 4.3 billion users on the Internet, the number of Google users will be almost 4 billion. This means that organic search is a key part of the buyer's journey. So, getting users to your site with the help of Google will most likely result in an engagement or conversion.
Search engines other than Google are also important and contribute to brand awareness. However, since Google leads the search engine market, it is vital to implement SEO practices that adhere to its guidelines.
If your web page manages to rank #1 in the SERPs, it will be considered a trusted resource approved by Google. Therefore, good SEO techniques will help you get your website to the top of the search results and get more users through organic search.
2. Online shopping
Both older and younger generations have now adapted to the use of technology in the wake of the pandemic. With schools moving their classes online and brands making their products and services available online, it's easier for people to do everything online.
The pandemic has only intensified online shopping. Quarantine enabled older families to bond with the younger generation and learn how to make online purchases.
The most digitally savvy generation will be your future customer. This means that more people will be using the Internet to get what they need, and you need to prepare your business for these changes.
3. Google keeps updating its algorithm
As more companies realize the importance of dominating search engine rankings, many of them are also optimizing their sites for search. This means that there are many different SEO techniques emerging day by day.
Google will always strive to provide its users with quality and legitimate information, which is why it is constantly updating its algorithm.
For example, in 2020, Google enabled mobile indexing for all websites. This means that the mobile version of the site will have priority for indexing and ranking. Due to a rise in mobile search engine use, Google urged webmasters to optimize sites for mobile speed and usability.
4. Voice search will get bigger in 2023
More people are using voice search and it is predicted to become even more in 2023. Optimizing your site for voice search will help ensure that the content you create includes the right natural language and long-tail keywords. So, if you want voice search engines to find your pages quickly, SEO can help you achieve that goal.
5. Local search will continue to grow
Local search is an important part of business success. No matter where in the world you are or what size business you have, you will be targeting people in a particular location.
Local SEO caters to local search and aims to optimize content for a specific area. That way people can easily find your business, which then brings them closer to closing the deal.
To optimize a site for local search, professionals work on the site and its content, focusing on local backlinks, quotes, and listings.
Invest in your online presence
By investing in SEO, you are betting on a strategy that will keep you in the spotlight of consumers. Also, the right optimization tactics will increase your brand credibility, expand your reach and audience, and increase your revenue. What’s more, SEO appears in the fourth place, in terms of return on investment.
Yet SEO is a digital marketing strategy that takes time to see great results. But it's worth the investment. You must commit for the long term, as this maintains your business's online visibility alongside evolving search engine algorithms.
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