Most of my clients are non-techie business owners. So I find myself pondering over how to explain SEO to them.
I often have to use illustrations to break down complicated technical jargon like SEO in a way that they can understand.
Search Engine Optimization is one of the most challenging topics to explain to a business owner. A business owner wonders how things like keywords, meta tags, rankings, inbound links, and so on can improve his bottom line.
As the age-old saying goes, you need to understand something well yourself before you can explain it to others. Therefore, for me to know how to explain SEO to my clients, I find myself always learning SEO too.
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How to Explain SEO to Clients
For you to know how to explain SEO to clients who don’t know anything about it, you need to help them understand five critical benefits of SEO.
These are the benefits that I like to highlight to clients because they are the benefits are of interest to business owners the most.
Explain Search Engines (Google) to Clients
Since the majority of people using search engines use Google, an explanation of search engines is simply an explanation of Google, algorithms, spiders, and bots.
Does this sound complex? Don’t worry; you will soon understand it better.
Google uses complex (and jealously guarded) mathematical formulas called algorithms to determine how sites rank, which is why no legitimate SEO firm can guarantee results.
Google does not search the web. Instead, it searches its index (database) of the web. Web pages are placed in Google’s index by bots or spiders, i.e. automated computer programs that crawl and add pages to Google’s index.
When you type a search query into Google, it ranks the results according to their algorithm. For your web page to stand a chance of ranking high in Google, it needs to be optimised to satisfy Google’s algorithm.
This optimisation requires both on-page and off-page optimisation.
Good SEO is Effective
Why is it that when you search for something on Google or any search engine results from websites like Wikipedia, Reddit and Amazon usually appear first?
Results from these websites usually appear first because these websites use SEO to target customers who use particular keywords and phrases related to what you’re searching.
But more significant is that these different websites are authorities in their various industries, and they provide quality information.
So combining good SEO and high-quality content will earn you high ranks in Google. It goes to show that SEO is no fluke.
Search engine optimisation is about ensuring that Google can understand the keywords or phrases you’re targeting, the type of services and products you sell, and where you sell them.
SEO works and its results are usually long-term. So if you’ve been putting it off your to-do list for your business, then you need to have a rethink.
To explain SEO to clients who don't know anything about it, focus on these five benefits. Click To TweetGood SEO is Efficient
When you optimise your keywords, meta-tags, meta-description, headers, alt tags, inbound links, images, content, speed, mobile responsiveness, security etc. on your website, you’re in essence fine-tuning your site to generate increased leads which will improve your bottom line at the end of the day.
So your website is not a glorified online brochure but rather a vital tool that works to boost your marketing, sales and your business.
It is Influential
Whether your target audience is local, national or global, investing in SEO will help to boost your brand image and voice to your target audience.
Good SEO will help to make your brand an influential authority and thought-leader in your industry. Good SEO will help to dismiss any negative impressions about your brand that your competitors might be trying to promote.
The influence of SEO in growing your brand is necessary.
Excellent and Strategic SEO Has the Best Return on Investment (ROI)
A unique and well-implemented SEO strategy will help to improve your lead conversions, which enhances your sales and in the long run your bottom line.
As your websites start to rank higher and higher on Google, so will your ROI continue to improve? But, you must realise that a useful and well-implemented SEO strategy is not a quick fix.
It’s a long-term project that needs a long-term investment approach for best results.
It Covers All Platforms
Why is it that I focus on Google when mentioning SEO? Well, Google is the dominant search engine that controls 90% of all web search worldwide.
So even the likes of Microsoft, Facebook, Twitter, etc. all invest in SEO so that they can rank high in Google search results!
So when you invest in SEO, you’ll, in the long run, improve your performance on other platforms too. It’s a win-win situation.
You Can Succeed Online with a Good Strategy
Have you come across sensational headlines saying SEO is dead, it’s irrelevant, it’s old school, and so on? Well, the fact is that SEO is alive and well.
And as long as search engines like Google, Bing, YouTube, etc. exist, SEO will continue to live and is one of the most critical factors in growing your business online and being more successful.
Conclusion
Did you notice that I always said ‘Good SEO’?
That’s because as some good SEO practices will help grow your business online so also, some terrible practice and strategies are detrimental to your business.
Be careful who you hire to do your SEO for you. Moreover, the rules change often, according to Google’s algorithms.
So it is not a ‘set it and forget it’ kind of a thing. Stay on top of it to get good results.
There you have it! If you know nothing about SEO, I hope I’ve been able to explain it for you to understand?
Do you still have questions? Or do you want to learn how to get started with SEO? Schedule a meeting with me. I’ll be glad to help.
