The Truth about SEO

For many businesses, SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is the most important marketing component of them all. This practice is so effective that it is widely viewed as a marketing strategy no online business can do without. SEO is a proven method that enables content owners to capitalize on the legions of internet users who rely on search engines like Google, Yahoo!, and Bing to find what they want online. When done correctly, it can improve your rankings in the search engines, which means the potential for more traffic, conversions, and sales is considerably higher.

The effectiveness of SEO cannot be denied, but even this globally adopted practice isn't always what it's cracked up to be. Too little or too much optimization could leave you with the same poor results. If you do not implement the right keywords into your content, your chances of receiving a decent ranking are slim to none. Insert too many keywords, and you run the risk of being penalized for intentionally spamming your page regardless of how genuine your intentions. To add to the complexity, you have Google's algorithm, which seems to change the rules of what is and what is not acceptable every few years. All these variables can make staying on top of SEO a full time gig.

According to the old saying, putting all your eggs in one basket is never a good idea. While SEO is a highly recommended practice that definitely works, it is not the end-all solution to online marketing. As content publishers, we can invest so much effort into appeasing the search engine algorithm that we tend to forget all about the human visitors who play the bigger role in our success. SEO is a powerful weapon, but a well rounded marketing strategy is one that enables a brand to flourish beyond search engine traffic. While Google can give you visitors, it is those visitors who will ultimately decide to give you business.