Would it surprise you to learn that people have been doubting the importance of search and search engine rankings since 1997? For years, people have speculated that the era of SEO is fading away, but guess what: SEO has not disappeared and it doesn’t look like it’s going anywhere anytime soon.
Search Engine Land posted this excellent infographic that sums up this idea perfectly. Whether you realize it or not, you use (or should be using) SEO strategies to promote your brand every day.
Why SEO Is Here to Stay
The Internet depends on search. Users across the board use search engines to find what they need: from information and data to websites and product information. To be discovered online you must depend on SEO rankings in one way or another. You depend on certain keywords to bring your page to the top of search listings and you depend on your presence on social media sites to help drive customers to your website.
No matter how the search engine algorithms change or how your company changes its marketing and digital strategies, SEO will be a part of your success in one way or another.
[Tweet “If you do any of the following, you already have the beginnings of an SEO strategy in play.”]How You’re Already Using SEO
Chances are your company is already using some SEO strategies, even if it’s not intentionally. These days, many public relations and marketing strategies are closely tied to SEO strategies, and if done correctly, can have both a marketing and an SEO influence on your campaign.
If your company does any of the following, you already have the beginnings of an SEO strategy in play.
- Link between company or brand websites
- Include links in your company’s online news coverage
- Maintain and share your own blog
- Write guest blog posts for influential sites
- Tout traffic and user stats as a way to get media coverage
- Uses social media channels as a way to promote your brand
- Publish white papers online
- Buy online ads
- Maintain a company Wikipedia entry
- Include social media sharing buttons on your site or blog
- Use an RSS feed for your site or blog
- Host a giveaway on your blog or social media profile
- Sponsor another company or event
- Engage with other bloggers and commenters online
- Maintain a podcast
Do you do any of these things at your company? If you do, you have SEO resources you may not be using to their fullest potential.
Remember, these tools are all excellent ways to get started, but without the proper strategy, they will not be as beneficial as they could be.
With some strategy and a little tweaking, these marketing efforts can turn into powerful SEO tools your company needs to increase its search engine rankings.