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Search Engine Optimisation... Why is it so important?

posted by: Heather  /  13 July 2009

Our extensive experience as web developers, has taught us that having a dynamic and professional website design is only the first step toward an effective online presence. This is because the Internet is a vast and highly competitive medium and no matter how good your website is, if potential customers are unable to find you then it is completely useless.

How do I get potential customers to find my website?

If I told you that 91% of web users use search engines to navigate their way through the web wouldn't you agree that this would be an essential area to dominate?

More specifically, if I said that 8 out of 10 searches are done through Google, Yahoo and MSN can you imagine how beneficial it could be if you were among the top 10 results for searches in your field?

That is where Search Engine Optimisation (or SEO) comes in. Here at Fivesite we are experts in implementing outstanding SEO programs that aim to get you to the top of all the major search engines with keywords and phrases that are relevant to your service. We don't want to move you from page 40 to the first 5 results pages on Google; we want you on the first page. Furthermore we want you at No.1 because we know how beneficial the No.1 slot is for generating new business and boosting sales.

The importance of being on Page 1

A recent survey by Jupiter Research (2008) cites that 68% of web searchers don't look beyond the first page of results when using online search engines. This is an increase of 42% since 2002. These stats not only show the importance of being on the first page of results (thus gaining maximum exposure to potential clients), but it also shows us the increasing importance search engine placement bears on the searcher.

This is because today's internet users are savvy and experienced, therefore they know that the companies at the top of the search results page are going to be the most relevant and the most trustworthy. They think:

High Search Rankings = Leader within their Field

Therefore they are more likely to click through to your website and read more about you, hopefully provoking them to make an enquiry or even buy something directly.

In the report below you can see where web searchers focus their attention when analysing search results. As you can see Google users barely even reach the bottom of the page when viewing results, nor do they pay much attention to the right hand side of the page where PPC adverts are placed. Although Yahoo and MSN users are a bit more sporadic in their viewing, it is still clear that the main focus of attention is the top left hand side of the page... this is where your organisation needs to be.

Beneficial whether you're big or small

The wonderful thing about SEO is that it allows even the smallest company to compete against large organisations. This is because achieving the top slot on Google, for example, costs nothing – search engines offer a free online service which aims to connect searchers with the most relevant websites possible. It's all down to hard work and skill rather than budget that will get you to the top.

Call us on FREEPHONE 0800 292 2014 for more information on how our superb SEO programs can improve your online presence.