When you run an SMB, business terms and acronyms can be everywhere. However, to converse with other business owners and essentially grow your own, you need to understand each one and how it impacts your business genre. Among these ongoing business-related terms is SERPs. SERPs is an acronym for Search Engine Result Pages. Why is that important? We will delve into the world of SERPs and determine how important they are to your type of business.
What Exactly Are SERPs?
Generally, SERPs are links produced by a search engine when you search for anything. Search engines such as Google work to produce organic results for all searches. Organic searches are those that relate directly to the subject you seek, but there are also paid ads noted at the top of each search as well. These may or may not exactly reference what you are looking for but are paid for by businesses to appear at the top of each relatively related search.
Why Do SERPs Matter?
Take a moment and type a subject into any search. The first results are always paid ads followed by larger companies related to that particular subject. It can feel inconsequential to invest in SERPs for an SMB as larger business entities dominate the searches. However, SERPs are for every business owner no matter the size of their business and anything that can potentially land you on the first 3 pages of any search is worth investing in. People rarely venture beyond the first 3 pages, and investing in SERPs for your SMB is a way you can rise above larger companies and make a name for yourself on those coveted first 3 pages.
Ways to Increase Your SERPs
Please crack the Google and other search engine algorithm and write your business to the first page, but that is just not an option. Larger businesses have an increased budget where they can afford to put out paid ads continually, and in the world of Google, those who pay for ads will always rank first. However, with a few specialized tactics, you can help boost your SERPs and begin to show up on the first few pages of a related search. Here are just a few ways you can help your SMB with SERPs.
Utilize Links
When producing content for your SMB, work to include quality links to help boost your SERPs. Hyperlinks in blogs and articles show up more effectively in search engine algorithms. You can add links to various parts of your website that are directly linked to the piece's subject, or you can link to authoritative websites.
Include Credible Keywords
When designing your web content, videos, descriptions, blogs, and every other piece of marketing material, never neglect the need for credible keywords. Keywords are how you get found in the sea of endless options on the internet. Think carefully and even research the necessary keywords for the subject matter. Words and phrases matter to Google, so they should matter to your SMB when increasing your SERPs.
Authoritative Content
Often, regarding SERPs, it is not all about generating actual views to the site but how long a visitor stays on your site. Websites with a high bounce rating and a high rate of visitors that click away from the site quickly tend to rank lower in SERPs. The key to defeating the bounce rate demon is in how interesting your content is. If your site or content is boring and unrelatable, your bounce rate will be high, but if you offer authoritative content on a subject that adds value to the reader, your SERPs will begin to increase. Google and similar search engines want authoritative sites in their searches, so investing in high-quality content can pay off in more ways than just providing more visits to your site.
Generate Excitement and Engagement for Your Brand
Work to create content that engages the user. People love to answer questions, take short quizzes, or even voice their opinion within a pole. The more excitement you generate for your brand, the more visitors will hang out on your site producing organic SERPs for your SMB.
You run an SMB, and even if it is a highly successful business entity, you likely do not have the capital to invest in running endless ads to increase brand awareness and SERP ratings. Use what you have. You know what people are searching for when they search for your brand, so ensure quality keywords are used in every piece of content and generate engagement and excitement for your quality content. You can do more for your SMB than produce a blog or two, and the more time and effort you invest in SEO for your content and your website, the higher your business will range in SERPs.
