should-you-invest-in-seo-servicesAnyone who says SEO is dead has probably been living under a rock the past few years.  Today, Google processes an average of 40,000 queries every second, which translates to 1.2 trillion searches in a year. The answer to whether or not you should invest in SEO services, is really a no-brainer. By not investing in SEO, you’ve essentially wasted a lot of opportunities to gain new customers.

But let’s just assume you’re still not fully convinced of the importance of SEO. Here are reasons that may change your mind:

1. It STILL Works

Many techniques that worked in the past may no longer work today but the fundamental SEO methods still work. As long as your focus is on optimal user experience then your website will be rewarded with increased organic traffic and better ranking.

2. It’s cost-effective

How much does a 30 second TV ad cost these days? How about a few minutes of airtime? Even a newspaper ad can cost hundreds or thousands of dollars. Other online marketing options like PPC advertising and social media marketing are more expensive than SEO. And while these marketing alternatives only provide short-term results (ie the ads stop once you stop paying for them), with SEO you will continue to reap the benefits for a long time.

3. There’s a rise in local search optimization and mobile browsing

These days, more and more people use their phones and tablets to find the best restaurants and shops. People who are looking for a hotel in a particular area or city use Google to read reviews, check local listings etc. The dramatic explosion of mobile usage brings significant opportunities for any local businesses that have a strong online presence.

4. Not having an online presence is bad for business

It’s not just about missing out on potential customers who use the internet as their main source of information. If you don’t have a website, or if your website does not have a strong web presence, people would not think highly of your brand/company. For many people nowadays, having a professional website means that a company is reputable. They also consider websites who appear on the first page of the searches as trustworthy.

5. Your competitors are doing it

If you’re not investing in SEO, then you’re likely to fall behind your competitors who understand just what a high ranking in the SERPs can do for their bottom line. A lot of businesses these days spend a lot of money to boost their ranking in the search engines and if you’re not doing it, then there’s a very good chance your competitors are getting a huge chunk of your target audience.

If you own a business, you need a website. And if you have a website, you need SEO. A solid SEO strategy can help you increase your organic traffic considerably and you’ll be able to recoup your investment in no time.