How To Supercharge Your Brand With SEO
The ways that SEO can help your branding is a topic that is flying under the radar, in my opinion. Many businesses are sleeping on this, even though it’s one of the most cost-effective and long-lasting strategies you can implement to help increase brand awareness in the marketplace.
SEO is the process of improving your website’s visibility in a search engine like Google. Branding is creating a unique identity for your business, product or service.
Whether you’re just starting in marketing or have a wealth of experience, this will be a valuable resource for understanding how SEO can empower your brand’s expansion!
So, how can search engine optimisation help with your branding?
SEO & Branding – What are the benefits?
I’m going to take a look at the advantages of incorporating SEO into your branding strategy.
We’ll explore:
- How to enhance your brand’s prominence in search results through SEO.
- Attracting a higher number of well-qualified leads using SEO techniques.
- Establishing trust and credibility among potential customers through SEO practices.
- Boosting your sales potential with the help of SEO strategies.
If you’re ranking super high in search results when potential customers are looking online, that will help create more awareness of your business. As a result, it will improve brand credibility. If you’re showing up number one when your potential customers are looking, it will show you as an authority on your given topic because your authority is good from Google.
The Basics: Branding and SEO
Branding is about creating a name, an image, and a reputation that people recognise and remember. Now, how do SEO and branding go hand in hand? Let’s dive in and see how SEO can be your brand’s best friend.
The aim is that when people are searching for your products, services or information, your website is the one that shows up at the top. Branding is about creating a name, an image and a reputation that people will recognise and remember. So, how do SEO and branding fit together? To start with, SEO can improve your brand in several ways – beginning with increasing brand awareness.
Boosting Brand Awareness
Picture this scenario: You’re ranking at the top of search results when potential customers are scouring the internet for something related to your business. This helps them find you and elevates your brand’s visibility.
Appearing as the number one result tells people you’re an authority on the subject. Why else would Google put you there if you weren’t the best fit for their search? Just by showing up, you’re able to do two things.
- Increase awareness of your business because they’re on your website, and
- Establish yourself as the go-to expert in that field because you are the one who showed up.
When people stumble upon your website through a search and discover valuable content that addresses their needs or problems, they’re more likely to consider becoming your customers. SEO, in this sense, is a potent tool for lead generation. It’s like putting your best foot forward when potential customers come knocking.
SEO enhances brand awareness and primes the foundation for more leads and sales. It’s a powerhouse that should unquestionably be part of your marketing strategy.
Building Trust and Credibility
In the real world, word of mouth can be a game-changer for businesses, especially services. If someone recommends your business to a potential customer, that referral carries weight. However, before sealing a deal, most people like to research.
They’ll Google your business, dig for reviews, and gather intel about your reputation. This is where SEO comes into play. When they search for your business name, you should naturally appear at the top because there’s no other business with the same name as yours unless you have a super common business name or one easily confused with other brands.
This isn’t precisely SEO in the traditional sense; it’s more like claiming your digital real estate. When people find your website, they’ll also check third-party sites for reviews, which often hold more sway than your website. Google reviews, in particular, can make or break your reputation, and they’re not easy to erase once they’re out there.
Staying Competitive
What if a potential client shops around a bit after checking your business out? This is where SEO becomes a crucial player again. If they start searching for keywords related to your services, like “Plumbers Sydney,” and you’re nowhere to be found on the first page of results, it’s not a great look for your brand.
People equate being at the top of search results with authority. If your competitors show up and offer more enticing content and better reviews, they might start winning over your potential customers.
Even if someone referred them to your business, competitors can still sway them with a solid online presence. So, being on top of your SEO game ensures you stay competitive and maintain your brand’s credibility.
SEO is an exceptional tool to accelerate your brand’s awareness, credibility, lead generation, and competitive edge. So, if you haven’t already, it’s time to make SEO a cornerstone of your marketing strategy.
Staying Ahead of the Competition
Picture this. You’ve not only shown up at the top of the search but also dominated all the top spots in search results. Plus, a trusted third party has recommended you, you have heaps of glowing Google reviews, and you receive praise on other third-party platforms. In this scenario, your competitors will find competing with your brand’s online presence challenging.
From a branding perspective, appearing at the top of Google search results, whether for your business name or keywords related to your field, is a credibility booster. Moreover, if someone trusted recommended you, it’s like sealing the deal with a stamp of approval.
SEO isn’t just about increasing awareness, improving credibility, and driving more leads; it’s also remarkably cost-effective from a brand awareness standpoint.
Building a Sustainable Online Presence
Imagine your potential customer’s buying journey as a cycle. They start by Googling their problem, then search for solutions, and finally look for vendors or businesses that can provide those solutions. Your goal? Show up in every phase of that cycle.
Creating content tailored to each journey stage is cost-effective because once you’ve produced that content, it keeps working for you. You might need to put in some effort if a competitor tries to outshine you, but ideally, you’ll secure and maintain that top spot. That’s a continuous stream of leads for your business with minimal ongoing effort.
“SEO offers long-term results. It’s a strategy that can keep delivering for years to come. We’ve witnessed businesses maintaining top Google rankings for five, six, or even seven years after starting their SEO journey. It’s a perpetual source of customers because people consistently turn to Google for answers to their problems.”
SEO is a sustainable approach, unlike paid advertising, which can be expensive and fleeting. You don’t have to pay Google every time someone clicks on your search result, as you would with Google Ads.
Cost-Effective Brand Building
Furthermore, SEO is an investment in your brand’s reputation, which feeds into your credibility. When your website is optimised for keywords related to your business and consistently appears at the top of Google, it establishes you as the authority in your niche. This, in turn, makes it more likely that people will choose and click on your business.
So, here’s the bottom line: SEO isn’t just about generating leads; it’s an invaluable tool for brand awareness. Interestingly, many marketers overlook SEO’s potential in building brand awareness, focusing more on traditional brand-building methods like billboards, radio, TV, and social media, where ads are pushed in front of people’s faces.
“However, SEO is different. It targets people actively searching for what you offer. They’re more receptive to the results that pop up during their search rather than being bombarded with ads. It’s cost-effective because you’re not wasting resources on people not interested in your product or service.”
Take, for example, the iconic “Hello, I’m Frank Walker from National Tiles” ads. Frank has been doing this for years, maybe even decades. It’s undoubtedly effective but costly because it reaches people who may not be ready to buy tiles at that moment.
With SEO, you can blend it into your marketing mix. So, when I search for “National Tiles” on Google, Frank’s brand is right there at the top. However, if I broaden my search to something like “Tiles” or “Bathroom Tiles,” other businesses might show up.
If those businesses provide me with the information I need and offer a seamless experience, they might sway me, even if I’m familiar with Frank’s brand. The radio advertising created awareness, but SEO is helping another business secure my business.
Beyond Lead Generation
SEO isn’t just a lead generator; it’s a powerful tool for brand awareness and credibility. It’s time to recognise its potential in shaping your brand’s success in the digital age. With SEO, you’re not just reaching your audience; you’re engaging them when they’re most receptive, building trust, and establishing your brand as the authority they turn to.
Whether you’re a highly experienced marketer or just getting started, ensure SEO is part of your brand’s growth strategy.
In the grand scheme of brand building, it’s essential to remember that if you’re investing in traditional offline brand awareness activities like billboards, radio, and TV, you need to complement these efforts with a strong online presence through SEO.
Why? Because eventually, potential customers will turn to search engines to explore what you’re offering. If you’re not there when they search, you’re essentially handing over potential business to your competitors – a situation you definitely want to avoid.
Let’s reiterate the importance of SEO as a pivotal component of brand awareness. The benefits are manifold, and it’s not just about reaching your audience but engaging with them when they’re actively searching for what you provide. It’s about building trust and credibility, and establishing your brand as the go-to authority in your industry.
Keeping Track of Your Results
What’s more, tracking the results of your SEO campaign is a breeze. You can easily measure the number of leads generated and phone calls received, and even gain insights into your website visitors’ behaviour. Advanced tracking software can even tell you which search engine brought them in, what keywords they used, and what actions they took on your site.
At Yo Media, we take it a step further by employing tracking numbers, which enable us to gather data associated with each caller. We know which search engine they came from, what device they used, which pages they visited, and whether the lead was genuine or not. This means we can precisely gauge the ROI of your SEO campaign and how it contributes to your brand’s success.
For those who use a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system like HubSpot, we can track and measure every interaction with your website, creating a comprehensive picture of how your customers search, explore, and engage with your site.
In conclusion, SEO isn’t just a marketing tool; it’s a brand-building powerhouse. It can significantly enhance brand awareness, credibility, and lead generation. So, whether you’re a seasoned marketer or just stepping into the world of digital branding, make SEO an integral part of your strategy. It’s more than just climbing search ranks; it’s about solidifying your brand’s position at the top of your industry.
Thanks for taking the time to read. Reach out if you have any questions.
