Can SEO Really Work for My Small Business?

SEO (search engine optimization – the art of getting found by the likes of Google) can seem like a LOT of work, can’t it?

I mean – it sometimes seriously feels like a whole other language you have to learn for your business.

Who has the time for that? To learn all those tips and tricks for SEO?

And doesn’t it cost a lot of money?

Don’t you have to have someone full time?

Doesn’t it only work for BIGGER businesses? Like Target? or Whole Foods?

Can it REALLY do anything for me and my small business?

I mean seriously – I don’t have a lot of time. Do I have to hire an agency?

↑ I hear this all the time when talking to prospects and customers. And let me tell you – I hear you!

It can seem daaaunting when you hear about “SEO” and then you learn that it’s something that seems to be changing a lot so it can seem hard to “keep up” with. And it seems like everyone who’s really ranking #1 is some big company who has big budgets to hire big agencies to create big SEO campaigns.

Can it really work for you?

YES.

YES.

YES.

A thousand times, yes.

How do I know?

Because I’ve seen it happen.

With very small businesses.

I’m talking like, the one-person kind of small businesses.

Not only do I know that it’s worked for small business owner Heather Allard and countless others, but it’s worked for my clients.

Take a look at this update I recently got from Jennifer Bernstein – a college admissions consultant who worked with me last year on her SEO strategy:

I just want to give a shout out to Liz Lockard. I hired her to do an SEO report for me and have implemented some of her suggestions. I know I need to do more and work with her more intensively, but I’m already reaping the benefits. People have started calling me about my college program and they’re finding me thanks to her SEO tips!

And she hasn’t even touched the tip of the iceberg.

But do you want real numbers?

Want some real “proof” that this whole SEO thing can work for your business?

Here it is.

Screenshot by screenshot.

For MY business.

And let me tell you, I’m in a pretty competitive arena – online marketing.

The only more competitive industry than online marketing when it comes to search might be that of the X-rated variety. Or the diet pill variety. Either way, still PRETTY competitive.

But, let me tell you – no matter what industry you’re in – there is ROOM for you in the search engines and you CAN have success.

Ready?

-In the past 8 months, my organic traffic alone has seen an increase of over 746%! (from the same timeframe last year) From 2,000 visits to over 17,000 – just from organic search.

-Oh, and it’s a pretty quality increase. The organic traffic conversion rate for August 2013 was an increase of almost 300% what the conversion rate for August 2012 was.

 

Do I spend a lot of time on SEO for my site? Surprisingly, not really. Maybe an hour a week, tops. And no, I don’t have any outside help.

SEO can work for small business – even really small business – when you stop chasing trends, focus on what matters, and take baby steps to incorporate sound SEO principles into your existing approach to marketing your business.

Click to tweet: It’s not about the first page for keywords, it’s about the first page for your client’s questions. http://bit.ly/canseowork via @lizlockard

But you tell me…

Do you think SEO can work for you?

Did you like this post? This is the first in a series on SEO for small business. Look out for next week’s post to continue the conversation.

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