Search engine optimization, or SEO, is the single most powerful marketing medium that every small business owner should focus on. Although there are countless reasons as to why SEO is more important now than ever, we will discuss a few of the more obvious reasons.

SEO, when compared to paid advertising, is essentially risk-free. There’s no daily click fees to pay, and it only grows larger and more powerful over time. As long as published content is not spam, SEO cannot damage your business in any way.

SEO is reliable. Paid advertisements, or PPC, work to drive traffic only with the marketing budget turned on. The moment you turn that budget off, the traffic stops. Your site is no longer visible to prospects. Keep in mind the fact that over 95% of all clicks come through natural or organic listings. This means your paid advertisements are reaching merely 5% of your targeted audience.

SEO creates brand awareness. A business with high rankings ensures that you’re in the face of the highest amount of prospects. Even if many browsers do not purchase or visit, they see your company name and recognize it throughout their searches.

SEO drives targeted traffic, otherwise known as, your prospects! Proper search engine optimization drives interested prospects right to your business, at the exact moment they’re seeking your products or services. Paid advertisements typically reach a broader range of browsers, less targeted, which equates to lower conversions of leads or sales.

SEO is affordable. When compared to paid advertising or banner ads, which can run upwards of $25,000 a month, a proper SEO plan can cost as little as $1,000 a month.

Joshua provides professional SEO Service for SkyMax, a Massachusetts based SEO Company specializing in professional search engine optimization and web design.