You can't ignore the importance of Search Engine Optimization (SEO) in today's business world.

SEO is critical to reaching your audience and converting potential customers into buyers. If you are not generating the revenue that your competitors are, you need to consider investing in expert SEO services. 

There are a million excuses for not focusing on this critical marketing component.

I'm too busy! I need to save money! I'm streamlining my processes!

However, these excuses are actually the very reasons why you need to engage expert SEO services. Deciding to scrimp in this area will cost you in the long run.

Here are ten signs that your business would benefit from including expert SEO services in its marketing plan and budget. 

1.) You Don't Know Why SEO Is Important

It's OK not to understand how crucial SEO is for the success of a company, product or service so long as you hire someone who does. 

The reality of today's marketplace is that if your brand is not appearing prominently in internet searches, you are losing customers. This is true no matter what it is you are selling.

It's imperative to know your SEO score, then find someone who can show you how to improve upon it. If you don't have someone on staff who understands this stuff, you should engage a company for expert SEO services. 

2.) Your Product is Not on the First Page of a Google Search

If you can't find yourself on Google, how on earth will anyone else find what you are trying to sell? 

If you are selling socks for kittens, for example, put that term right into your Google search bar.

If all of your competitors who sell socks for kittens come up before you, you need to get some expert SEO services STAT! 

Research shows that 91% of searchers do not look beyond page one of their Google search. You need to be on page one. Effective SEO can get you there. 

3.) You Are Choosing the Wrong Keywords

You may know a little about SEO. You may know how important it is to put keywords into your online content so that customers looking for what you have to offer will find you.

Simple, right?

Wrong. Depending upon what your company is selling, selecting the right keyword can make all the difference in the world.

For example, say you are marketing a new fantasy sports game. You create a whole website that talks about your great new product, and you make sure you use the keywords "electronic games" at least five times every few hundred words.

However, what if your target demographic uses the word "iGaming" instead of "electronic games?" You will lose everyone looking for games with that term instead of the one you chose at random.

Expert SEO services can help identify the best keywords to capture the exact audience and customers you are targeting. 

4.) You Get an SEO Penalty

Yes, you can get in trouble for misusing SEO.

Google has rules regarding what they call manual actions such as creating unnatural or deceptive links on your site. You can be penalized for failing to comply with Google's Quality Guidelines.

You need to monitor your site for hacking and remove hacked content and spam immediately. If you fail to follow the rules, this can hurt your rankings. Expert SEO services can help ameliorate the damage done by these penalties.

5.) You Fail to Turn Visitors Into Customers

Maybe your website is getting traffic, but your sales are on a plateau or, worse, they are declining. That means your website is failing at its basic mission of generating sales.

You may have entertaining content which gets lots of eyeballs, but what good is that if the people looking at your site are not clicking through and purchasing what you offer?

Your online content marketing strategy needs to include an analysis of your conversion rate. You need to see what people are looking at and whether they are listening to your calls for action. 

You also need a competitive analysis. Where are they buying this product if not from you?

6.) Your Social Media Isn't Driving Sales

Your social media strategy needs to correlate with the rest of your marketing strategy, with consistent messaging and keywords.

It's easy enough to get lots of "likes" on social media, but you need experts to guide you on how to integrate those positive feelings into action.

Social media can raise your profile and reaffirm your brand. It can also if used properly, drive traffic to your website and spur sales.

In addition to links, social media mentions, especially endorsements on such platforms as Twitter, can play a critical role in helping you achieve your business objectives. But it has to be done correctly. 

7.) You Are Not Keeping Up

Google changes its algorithms between five and six hundred times per year. These changes can dramatically impact your site's rankings. 

If you are running manufacturing, operations, finance or even marketing for your company, you may not necessarily have the time and skills necessary to monitor these changes and make the necessary changes to adapt to them.

Hiring a company that will provide expert SEO services will enable you to focus on what you are good at, and leave the SEO strategy and tactics to the experts.

8.) You Are Not Building Effective Links 

Links are integral to an effective SEO strategy. You need to link your site to relevant sources. How popular a site is usually is heavily influenced by the number of inbound links it has.

Quantity does not equal quality in this area. The number of links is not as important as what they are linking too.

The links need to be reliable authorities. 

Failing to link to appropriate sources can hurt your SEO performance. "Clickbait," or links created to manipulate visitors into clicking through deceptive or misleading teasers, are especially frowned upon by search engines.

Expert SEO services can include effective link building which will drive traffic and also avoid penalties. 

9.) Your Website Uses Flash

Out-of-date websites use Flash by Adobe. Developers used to use this platform for videos and animation. 

These websites take a long time to load. They also cannot be effectively read by search engines.

If your website uses this outmoded technology, you are not doing yourself any favors. Invest in an upgrade to technology that will make your site more easily found by search engines. 

10.) You Want Your Business to Excel

If you are really committed to your vision of what you are selling, a smart and savvy SEO strategy is what you need to support that vision. You do not need to know anything more about SEO than what you need it.

No matter what you are offering, your audience now expects a robust online presence. Ignoring the realities of the marketplace does your company a disservice.

If you want the best for your company, your products, and your customers, you need a website that delivers smartly and effectively.

Invest in Expert SEO Services Now

If you want to get your product or services in front of your desired audience, contact us.

We can help develop effective SEO strategies and show you how to implement them in ways that improve your bottom line.