Why is search engine optimization (SEO) important? Many business owners ask this question before deciding to invest in SEO services. Despite being one of the most widely used digital marketing services, some people are hesitant to use SEO for their business.
In reality, SEO is important because it benefits all businesses. Whether you are managing a small establishment or a large enterprise, you can use SEO to improve your web visibility and attract more customers. As more people visit your website, you can use this chance to earn their trust and convert them into customers.
Furthermore, research shows that approximately 93% of online experiences start with search engines like Google and Bing. Whenever someone wants to know more about a particular topic, they can use a search engine and type in a query.
If your website ranks high on SERPs, more people could discover your business, which is only possible with SEO. In that case, perhaps you should consider hiring a third-party SEO agency in Singapore to help you improve your search engine rankings and web visibility.
SEO is a long-term digital marketing strategy that requires a lot of time and commitment. It is the reason why outsourcing is a good idea for businesses. You could use extra help in managing your SEO campaign in the long run.
The Different Types of SEO
One thing you should consider is that SEO comes in many forms. To improve your site’s performance and rankings, you need to use all sorts of SEO techniques so you can gain the upper hand over your competitors.
First, you should be aware of two different kinds of SEO: white hat and black hat. The difference between white hat and black hat SEO is that the latter utilises ill-advised tactics to rank higher than your competitors.
For example, white hat SEO follows search engine guidelines. The rules are laid out in the open, and all you need to do is follow them.
On the other hand, black hat SEO is the exact opposite. You will go against search engine guidelines and use unethical strategies, such as keyword stuffing and cloaking, to boost your rankings quickly.
Avoid using black hat tactics, as it will only put your website at risk of getting a demoted ranking. Google can give you a penalty and make it harder for you to rank higher on SERPs. Instead, only follow white hat strategies. It is the correct way to succeed in improving your online presence.
Besides white hat and black hat SEO, there are many other types of SEO. Here’s a list of the different types of search engine optimisation below.
1. On-Page SEO
On-page SEO focuses on optimising individual web pages for search engines. Anything that affects your page’s rankings is a vital part of on-page optimisation. You have to make sure each element of your website is well-optimised.
Elements of on-page SEO that affect your site’s rankings include:
Web content
Title tags
Meta descriptions
Images
Keywords
Website speed
On-page optimisation is all about creating and optimising content for search engines and users. You can learn more about the importance of relevant content here in one of Google’s reports.
When crawlers find a webpage, our systems render the content of the page, just as a browser does. We take note of key signals — from keywords to website freshness — and we keep track of it all in the Search index,” Google states on their website. But what exactly does this statement mean?
Google explains how its crawlers examine each vital element of a website, including keywords and relevant data. Because of this, it is essential to optimise your website by using relevant keywords when creating web content. You have to make sure that your keywords correlate with their corresponding contents.
2. Off-Page SEO
Off-page optimisation is the opposite of on-page optimisation, in which it focuses on activities outside your website affecting your rankings. External website factors, such as social media posts and linking sites, are part of off-page SEO.
Link building is one of the most widely used off-page optimisation strategies by marketers. The objective is to acquire backlinks from other websites. This circumstance is possible if someone mentions your website in their web content, thus increasing your number of backlinks.
Other off-page SEO strategies include social sharing, which may not directly impact your rankings, but you can improve your online presence and raise brand awareness. Social sharing is also an effective way to direct organic traffic to your website.
Lastly, you have guest posting, another effective off-page SEO strategy that focuses on creating blog posts for other websites. In doing so, you can increase the number of backlinks to your website and grow an audience of readers.
3. Technical SEO
Technical SEO is a bit similar to on-page SEO. It aims to improve every technical aspect of your website, including its site structure, XML sitemap, mobile-friendliness, speed, and security. All of these play a role in your site’s rankings, which is why technical SEO is essential.
Without technical optimisation, your website would not rank higher, even if it contains high-quality content. Think of technical SEO as a way to help search engine crawlers navigate through your website with ease.
Moreover, one vital aspect of technical SEO is ensuring that your website is free from any technical issues. Malware and 404 error pages are just a few of the factors that could negatively affect your search engine rankings. Make sure your cybersecurity measures are up and running, and inspect your website for dead links. Doing both of these should benefit your site’s rankings significantly.
4. Local SEO
For small businesses, perhaps local SEO is the perfect digital marketing strategy. Local search engine optimisation is the process of improving your online presence locally.
With local search engine optimisation, your goal is to create website content to target regional audiences in many ways.
For instance, one brilliant local SEO strategy is to use Google My Business (GMB), one of the most prominent digital marketing tools available. It is free to use and can help you increase your online presence on Google Search and Google Maps. With GMB, you can display essential business information, including your address, email, contact details, and website.
Pictured above: an example of a GMB listing. Notice how it contains vital information, from location to opening and closing hours. (Source: OOm)
As you can see in the example above, you can display a ton of information about your business for anyone to see. That’s why it is a good idea to claim a GMB listing. You can provide potential customers with a brief description of your business.
Other than that, people can also communicate with you through your GMB listing. The question-and-answer option lets people submit a question to your GMB profile. Use this to your advantage and respond to prospective customers who are interacting with your GMB.
Using GMB is a must if your goal is to attract local customers. Plus, with a GMB listing, your business will look more credible and trustworthy.
Nonetheless, other local SEO strategies can help your online presence locally. One effective strategy is optimising your website for mobile devices. Most customers use mobile phones when searching for a nearby business, so your website must be mobile-friendly.
5. Organic SEO
If you want to reach both regional and international customers, organic SEO services are perfect for your business. This type of SEO aims to drive organic traffic to your website, improving your overall online presence.
Examples of organic optimisation strategies include content marketing, keyword research, and web design and development. These digital marketing strategies will help improve the quality and quantity of organic traffic to your website.
Organic SEO is ideal for gaining online exposure in the long term. It may take some time, but the results are worth the wait.
How to Hire the Right SEO Agency?
All of the mentioned SEO services can benefit your business in many ways. However, choosing the right type of SEO should depend on your goals, objectives, and direction.
For example, before choosing a type of SEO, you have to consider the size and demographics of your target audience. For local customers within proximity to your business, local search engine optimisation might be your best choice. On the other hand, if you want to maintain your website for search engines, consider choosing technical SEO.
In the end, when it comes to the right SEO service for your business, what matters the most is hiring the perfect SEO agency in Singapore. With the expertise and experience of a digital marketing agency, you can manage your SEO campaign more effectively and learn more about search engine optimization.
Which SEO agency is the perfect fit for your business, anyway? Here are some of the things you need to consider before hiring an SEO agency.
1. Find Out if the Agency Is Credible
All digital marketing have unique sets of skills depending on their respective fields. However, not all of them may be credible enough to deliver their promises. That is why whenever you plan to outsource your SEO or digital marketing services in Singapore, you must find out if your preferred agency is trustworthy.
Some of the factors that make an agency credible are its milestones or accomplishments. If the agency you wish to hire has won many awards, you could probably count on them to deliver positive results at the end of your campaign.
Also, to learn more about an agency’s credibility, you can try reading some reviews from its clients. Most agencies have a testimonials page where you can check on several statements from existing or previous clients.
2. Check the Range of Services
Outsourcing your SEO services is an excellent way to expand your horizons and experiment with other digital marketing strategies. Besides search engine optimization, you can also hire an agency for its wide range of services, including content marketing, social media marketing, search engine marketing, and many more.
The good news is that most digital agencies specialize in digital marketing in general, not just SEO. Consider hiring an agency with a wide range of digital marketing services to invest in long-term marketing strategies. That way, you have better chances of succeeding in boosting your online presence.
3. Be Mindful Of Guarantees
The main challenge of SEO services is to meet your expectations and goals. While you can expect most agencies to say that they can provide you with positive results, you should also be mindful of those that give a 100% guarantee.
In the digital marketing industry, there is no such thing as a 100% guaranteed outcome. Search engine algorithms are constantly changing (for the better), and it can be extremely challenging to adapt to these changes. Because of this, it is almost impossible to predict a 100% outcome.
4. Create a Budget Plan
Search engine optimisation is a long-term investment. You need to know how much money you can spend on your campaign. It could cost hundreds or thousands of dollars, and the outcome of your SEO strategy might appear months later. For that reason, try to create a budget plan early.
5. Know Your Goals
Most importantly, you have to be clear about your goals. Let the agency know what you want to achieve so they can help you succeed. The worst thing that could happen is hiring an agency that delivers the exact opposite of your goals, so communicate well and discuss your direction and objectives.