Search engine optimization is all the rage these days. But at the end of the day, you might still be wondering: why is SEO such a big deal?

Businesses use SEO to increase visibility through search results. In other words, you optimize your website using precise keywords, social media marketing, and search-friendly formatting. For total optimization, create remarkable content as the cherry on top of your SEO sundae.

With a persistent long-term strategy in place, pages optimized for search engines are granted steady website traffic and the elusive first-page ranking.

Bottom line, SEO is incredibly fundamental to any company’s web presence. Without it, page ranking and the resulting organic traffic are nearly impossible to achieve.

Getting to Google’s first page is not a cake walk. A strategic approach to search optimization is required to obtain your front-page goals.

3 Ways to Utilize SEO for Your Business

1. Key(word)s to Success

To kickstart your search optimization, use keyword research to determine what your ideal customers (buyer personas) are searching for and what search terms distinguish from your competitors.

After determining your keywords, use the words throughout your blog content (including titles!), website copy, and in social media posting. Targeting the right keywords is essential to a successful SEO campaign.

2. Get Social

Think of social media as a free tool to implement your SEO strategy. Without social media, buyer engagement and brand awareness are very limited. In a way, social media helps to simplify SEO.

Use sites like Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ to connect with your consumer base and encourage further engagement with clicks to your website.

3. Speaking the Search Engine Language

Search-friendly website copy isn’t just good SEO practice; having an easily accessible website is one of Google’s recommendations for creating a Google-friendly site. While your content should very much be user-oriented, the actual format of the site should also contain logical link structure and uncomplicated plugins.

Ensure your site utilizes responsive web design to optimize for desktop, tablet, and mobile users.

You have to be willing to invest not only effort but time into SEO. Just as Google’s algorithm is always changing, so should your approach to SEO.

To have a successful online presence, you need to create content. You need to distribute that content to activate its engagement. But you also need to think about the search process and pay attention to SEO.

Short answer? Yes. Search optimization really is important for your business.