You’ve heard about SEO more times now than you can count.
Your business colleagues swear by it, saying it:
- Sends them warm leads on a consistent basis
- Generates buzz for their business
- And has become one of their top marketing strategies
If you had a dime for every time someone said you should invest in SEO, well, you’d have quite a few dimes…
It’s great that it’s working out well for them, but that’s not what really matters.
You want to know how it can impact your business.
I chat weekly with business owners in the same boat.
They’re interested in SEO, but want to make sure they’ll see a return on their investment before the dive in—just like any good business owner would do.
They all ask the same question:
“Hunter, is SEO really worth the investment? Will it result in more money in my bank account?”
The short answer: Yes!
When done right, it can completely transform your business—regardless of your industry.
Here’s how…
Getting Started: What Is SEO?
Before we dive in, let’s spend a minute reviewing what SEO actually is.
SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is the process of helping your website show up in Google whenever someone searches for products or services you provide.
Examples
- Let’s say you own a coffee shop in Nashville, TN…
You’d invest in SEO to show up within the first few results in Google whenever someone searches for “coffee shops in Nashville, TN” or “best coffee shops in Nashville, TN”.
Here’s another:
- Let’s say you own an ecommerce business selling tactical knives…
You’d invest in SEO to show up within the first few results for non-location based searches like “tactical knife” and “best tactical knives”.
Resources:
- See this resource for definitions and explanations of SEO terms
- Here’s a great interview with Tim Soulo from Ahrefs
The 3 Incredible Benefits of SEO That ANY Business Can Profit From
1. Consistent, Targeted Website Traffic
It’s the most obvious appeal of SEO…
Your website gets more traffic.
But it’s not just any traffic—it’s highly qualified traffic.
People who come to your site from Google have already proven their interest in your products or services by the search they performed.
So, since they searched “best dog collars” and landed on your website, they’re much more likely to buy one of your dog collars than someone who notices your billboard on the highway.
But that’s not even the best part. 🙂
As you build your SEO foundation, you can get more and more traffic. And if you’re doing it the right way, that traffic will stay long-term.
That means free, qualified traffic each and every month.
2. Passive Income and Lead Generation
If you liked the last part, you’ll love this…
SEO also provides you with an incredible business opportunity to generate both income and leads while you sleep.
I know I sound like a sleazy car salesman, but it’s the truth.
Google doesn’t sleep.
If you’re the top result when someone searches for your product or service, people will funnel into your website 24/7.
If your website has exceptional sales copy and methods of capturing leads (like an email list or contact form) then you’ll get sales and leads without having to do anything.
It can really be that easy.
3. Increased Brand Awareness
It’s the type of marketing every business dreams about…
Word of mouth.
Showing up in the top 3 for your industry’s best keywords is like having your face plastered on billboards all across the country.
It’s free publicity.
When people see your site time and time again in Google search results, they perceive you as an industry leader.
You’ll be top-of-mind whenever your potential customers think or talk about your industry.
Pretty cool, right?
Frequently Asked Questions About SEO
“Are results with SEO guaranteed?”
Unfortunately, it’s impossible to 100% guarantee results with SEO.
A knowledgeable SEO professional can give you a solid prediction of the results you’ll see based on data, but no one can guarantee a certain result since no one understands 100% of Google’s algorithm.
I always say starting with SEO is like going on a safari…
The guide (SEO expert) knows what animals live in that environment, where they normally congregate, and how they normally behave, but they can’t guarantee you’ll see a certain animal every time you go out.
So, stay far away from anyone who guarantees you’ll get a #1 position.
“How long does it take to see results with SEO?”
When following Google’s guidelines, I’ve seen it take anywhere from 3-12 months to see significant results.
This time frame varies depending on your:
- Budget
- Industry
- Connections/relationships
- Website’s health
“How much does SEO cost?”
You can expect to pay anywhere from $500 – $5,000 per month for someone to build and maintain your SEO (depending on your needs and the level of competition in your industry).
Generally, local businesses are on the lower end ($500 – $2,000 per month) and web-based businesses are on the higher end ($2,000 – $5,000 per month).
“Is there a right and wrong way to do SEO?”
YES!!!
There are two kinds of SEO: White Hat and Black Hat.
White Hat follows Google’s guidelines and focuses on long-term growth.
Black Hat manipulates Google’s algorithm—often giving you quick results but putting your site at risk of being deindexed (meaning Google takes it out of all search results).
I recommend staying far away from any Black Hat tactics or agencies when trying to improve your rankings in Google.
SEO Resources
Can You Afford Not to Invest in SEO?
SEO has the power to transform your life.
Seriously.
(It has transformed mine.)
As a business owner, it allows you to generate leads, sell your products, and become a household name in your industry without any active effort once it’s set up.
It turns your website into a 24/7 salesperson—giving you the freedom to focus on the areas of your business that need you most.
And who wouldn’t want that? 🙂
Hunter Branch
Hunter Branch is the founder of Rank Tree, an SEO agency that works with New York Times best sellers, brands, and small businesses to generate traffic and leads from Google.