SEO stands for search engine optimization – and it’s a term used by both marketers and website designers. However, since a search engine is how most consumers will find your business online, it’s something every small business owner should know as well.
The Internet is a Network
First, let’s define the internet. The internet is an enormous network of over a billion websites that provide a variety of content. It has changed how people access information for their personal, professional and educational needs.
While that content has become more plentiful, locating the exact website you are looking for has become more of a challenge. By the year 2000, people were actively using search engines to help them navigate through it.
Deciding Who Shows Up in Search
Building a constantly updated search engine for the entire internet is no small task – especially when websites die and appear daily. Search engines use a technology called web crawlers to search the Internet for new information. After a website is discovered, the search engine lists that site under relevant keywords and ranks it on a variety of factors.
These factors may include:
- Relevance to the keyword
- Popularity
- When the site was last refreshed
- Responsiveness
- Connection
The top ranked results for each keyword are then displayed on the first page.
How Search Hurt Small Businesses
Over time, the internet has evolved to support many types of users. There are some who rely on it for digital entertainment, some that use it to communicate (in the form of email, social networks and chat) and some who use it as an information database in the form of Wikipedia, online education, and other forms of research.
There are also the businesses attempting to sell products and services.
Search engines are responsible for sorting and ranking all of them, leaving many small business websites left to compete against larger sites with dedicated teams focused on search engine optimization. As a result, many small businesses do not show up on search, even when they search their name.
A Solution for the Everyday Business
When people cannot type your company’s name into a search engine and find information about it, they are less likely to become customers. Recommended addresses this problem by providing free business profiles for freelancers, individual contractors, and small businesses. The platform not only has a team dedicated to search engine optimization, but it also links your social networks with your business so that your friends can help your business grow as well.
A team working for your business
In addition to a business presence on Google, a Recommended profile offers plenty of perks including:
- Mobile-friendly profiles that look great on all smartphones and tablets
- Verified reviews from your friends and customers
- A robust search option for finding other small businesses in your social network
Plus, every review your business receives is optimized for search engines, keeping your profile fresh, popular and more likely to show up on the front page. It’s the best SEO solution for small businesses i.e… the free and effective kind.
