# Is SEO Worth It? - Link: https://www.boostability.com/digital-marketing/is-seo-worth-it/ - Published: 2023-05-25T00:00:18-07:00 - Author: Kristine Pratt ## Understanding Where SEO Stands in 2024 and Whether to Add it to Your Product Offerings _This article was last updated on 12/19/23._ Businesses have so many digital marketing channels to advertise their business on, so is SEO worth it still? Should your agency even start selling SEO with all the changes from algorithm updates and AI (Artificial Intelligence)? Within this article, we’ll review a series of questions to help showcase whether SEO services are worthwhile for your business and how you can make money becoming an [SEO reseller](https://www.boostability.com/content/seo-reseller). **Table of Contents** * [Is SEO Worth It?](https://www.boostability.com/digital-marketing/is-seo-worth-it/#worth-it) * [Is SEO Worth It? 3 Questions](https://www.boostability.com/digital-marketing/is-seo-worth-it/#3) * [Why is SEO Worth It? 11 Benefits](https://www.boostability.com/digital-marketing/is-seo-worth-it/#benefits) * [Is it Worthwhile to Work with an SEO Agency?](https://www.boostability.com/digital-marketing/is-seo-worth-it/#agency) * [Why Does White Label SEO Work?](https://www.boostability.com/digital-marketing/is-seo-worth-it/#white-label) * [FAQ](https://www.boostability.com/digital-marketing/is-seo-worth-it/#faq) ## Is SEO Worth It? **SEO (search engine optimization) is absolutely necessary and worth the investment.** The demand is still there. [Nearly 70% of consumers](https://videos.brightedge.com/research-report/BrightEdge_ChannelReport2019_FINAL.pdf) start their research on search engines. Not convinced? The numbers don’t lie: * Over 50% of website traffic comes from organic search [^(1)](https://videos.brightedge.com/research-report/BrightEdge_ChannelReport2019_FINAL.pdf). * SEO generates 1000%+ more traffic compared to organic social media [^(2)](https://videos.brightedge.com/research-report/BrightEdge_ChannelReport2019_FINAL.pdf). * The average close rate for SEO leads is 14.6% [^(3)](https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/1428728/inbound-marketing-infographic-1-1-1.pdf?t=1531345584338#:~:text=Identifying%20and%20using%20targeted%20keywords,have%20a%201.7%25%20close%20rate.). * Nearly 55% of all clicks go to the top three Google search results [^(4)](https://backlinko.com/google-ctr-stats). ## Is SEO Worth It? Ask Yourself These 3 Questions As a business, there is much to consider when evaluating the best strategies. The decision of whether to pursue SEO is simple. Ask yourself these questions when deciding if SEO is worth it for your business: ![is seo worth it diagram](https://www.boostability.com/content/wp-content/uploads/ sites/2/2023/05/is-seo-worth-it.png) ### 1. Can You Find Your Website in an Online Search? First, can you even find your website in an online search? If you can’t, then potential customers certainly won’t. Give this a shot: * Think of the relevant products or services your company offers. Type those into a Google search (add a location if you operate at a [local SEO level](https://www.boostability.com/white-label-seo-partner/white-label-local-seo-services/)) and search for your website. **If your website doesn’t appear for relevant keywords, then it’s worth it to invest in SEO.** ### 2. Are Potential Customers Searching Online for Your Products or Services? Think about the last time you purchased a product or service. Did you perform a quick Google search to learn more about what you were looking for? You’re not alone. As mentioned earlier, **nearly 70% of people start their product or service search online. Google holds the market share, with over 91% of searches 5 conducted on its search engine.** For example, let’s say you sell pet toys online or manage a landscaping business. A potential customer would search keywords like “pet toys for border collies” or“ landscaping services near me.” Regardless of your business, it’s likely there are keywords associated with your offering that consumers search regularly. ### 3. Are Potential Customers Searching for Answers to Questions Your Business Can Help Answer? **Remember, your potential customers aren’t always ready to buy.** They’re on a journey, asking questions and researching solutions. SEO helps you meet them right there, at every stage. Whether they’re just starting to explore a problem, comparing options, or ready to convert, strong SEO puts your expertise in front of their eyes. That’s not just brand awareness — it’s building trust and priming them for a smooth path to becoming loyal customers. ## Why is SEO Worth It? 11 Benefits At this point, we hope you understand why SEO is crucial for businesses and how it’s a worthwhile business venture for your company if you partner with a [white label SEO agency](https://www.boostability.com/). If not, we’ll cover 11 of the top benefits below. ### 1. Increased Qualified Website Traffic SEO is about targeting keywords with high search intent, meaning the types of searches that best align with your products, services, and content. High search intent keywords capture qualified traffic from people most likely to purchase on your website. As a result, SEO improves a website’s search engine rankings. Naturally, better rankings lead to higher visibility and increased qualified website traffic. The more people viewing your website, the greater the chances are that those visitors will become customers or clients. Often, more revenue and sales directly correlate to increased website traffic. ### 2. Better Customer Targeting SEO allows businesses to target specific audiences based on demographics, interests, needs, and behavior. This laser-like approach ensures the right message reaches the right people at the right time. Optimizing a website for relevant, high-intent keywords increases the chances of converting traffic into customers. SEO also allows websites to attract their target customers from all stages of the buyer’s journey. While some people may not be ready to purchase or submit a lead form, their traffic to your website is not invaluable. **A quality SEO campaign will target keywords within all the buyer’s funnel stages— awareness, interest, desire, and action.** For example, consider a local dental practice looking to expand its clientele. Instead of placing print advertisements on random cars in a parking lot, SEO focuses on customers seeking the product. When searching for a local clinic, customers will likely search for terms such as “dentist” or “dental office near me.” SEO positions your business website at the top of a search results page so customers seeking your services can find you. ### 3. Improved Brand Awareness Through higher rankings on search engines, businesses can increase brand visibility and reach a wider audience. Consistent brand exposure with the target market helps build brand awareness and recognition. In simpler terms, the more often users see your business brand on search engine results pages, the more familiar and trusted it becomes over time. ### 4. Cost-Effective Marketing Compared to other digital and traditional marketing efforts, SEO allows your business to reach the target audience at a lower cost. Instead of spending your marketing budget on expensive billboards or ad CPC (cost-per-click), you can reach your ideal customer through their search queries. **The best part – it’s completely organic and free!** _Although PPC (Google Ads) offers a short-term solution, SEO will help your website appear in the organic search results._ Yes, it takes some time and SEO assistance to help rank at the top, but it’s worth the investment. Once you rank at the top, it’s easier for your business website to stay there (with low-cost maintenance). With an effective SEO strategy, you may not need to pay for leads or ads again. SEO helps your website gain long-lasting success and results. ### 5. Ongoing Growth and Value Properly executed SEO campaigns will generate high keyword rankings, traffic, and website leads as time continues. It has a compounding effect where initial optimizations, like keyword implementation and technical SEO improvements, create a strong foundation. Afterward, the website’s authority strengthens over time through high-quality content, earning quality backlinks, enhancing the user experience, and building a strong brand reputation online. A website with a strong foundation, solid SEO optimizations and [ongoing SEO maintenance](https://www.boostability.com/content/ongoing-seo-maintenance-need-to-succeed) will remain relevant and rank in the top positions in search results. As a result, more people will see your brand and visit your website. ### 6. Higher Conversions and ROI Effective SEO strategies and optimized website user experiences can lead to higher conversion rates. Unlike advertising, where you have to pay for every ad clicked( CPC – cost-per-click), **the return on investment (ROI) with SEO can be much higher.** Whether adding information to a form or requesting a free quote, user interaction is necessary. By guiding visitors through [full funnel marketing](https://www.boostability.com/content/utilizing-full-funnel-marketing), businesses can convert leads into customers and increase sales. ### 7. Local Reach SEO is an excellent tool for companies looking to expand their local business reach. Consumers rely on services like construction, healthcare, food, and more for some of their basic, everyday needs. SEO will give you the local visibility you need to succeed if your company offers local services. For “near me” or proximity-driven keywords, local SEO will help businesses reach the top of search results. ### 8. Measurable Results and Analytics An SEO company can set you up with robust analytics tools that enable businesses to track and measure the effectiveness of their marketing campaigns. They can gather data on website traffic, conversions, engagement, and other vital metrics. Analytics allows for data-driven decision-making and continuous optimization. ### 9. Enhanced Customer Interaction SEO provides opportunities for businesses to engage and interact with their customers in real-time. Companies can quickly respond to potential customer questions and requests by [managing Google My Business](https://www.boostability.com/content/everything-you-need-to-know-about-google-my-business) and interactive website chat features. Real-time communication helps to foster meaningful relationships while providing a more personalized experience. Over time, people remember how companies make them feel rather than what they tell them. If you can provide a better experience, it leads to improved customer satisfaction and more word-of-mouth referrals. ### 10. National and Global Reach SEO enables businesses to expand their reach beyond geographical boundaries. With the internet’s global nature, companies can target national and international audiences. Because of how SEO works, websites tend to rank for high-volume, national keywords. This will help to establish a presence in new markets, opening growth opportunities. ### 11. Flexibility and Adaptability SEO (and digital marketing) allows for quick adjustments and adaptations to marketing campaigns based on real-time data and feedback. You can shift the target keywords on various pages with the proper tools. You can also change your business information on directories and Google Business Profile. This flexibility enables businesses to respond promptly to market changes, trends, and customer preferences. During an economic downturn, flexibility is highly critical for businesses to thrive. Whether changing your messaging or shifting to recession-based keywords, SEO is compatible with these changes. The economy is constantly evolving – it’s essential your SEO and marketing strategy can quickly adapt to shifts and trends. Overall, SEO offers numerous benefits to businesses. Utilize these benefits for better brand building and long-term success in the digital landscape. ## Is it Worthwhile to Work with an SEO Agency? Businesses have several options to choose from when improving their SEO: 1. Work with an SEO Agency 2. Hire an In-House Team 3. Do it yourself (DIY) 4. Hire a Freelancer **This question has no wrong answer because it’s possible to achieve success in SEO with each option.** The difficulty lies in finding an actual SEO expert if you hire someone or learn SEO strategies, best practices, and algorithm updates yourself. ## Why Does White Label SEO Work? **[White label SEO](https://www.boostability.com/white-label-seo-partner/white-label-seo-guide/) works because it’s a model that allows business owners to scale their business growth while delivering proven results to their clients.** An agency seeks a white label partner when they need to increase their clientele without accruing high overhead costs or when they want to sell a new service. ### How Does it Work? Boostability is the leading provider of [white label SEO services](https://www.boostability.com/white-label-seo-partner/white-label-seo-services/) with agency partners worldwide. Our team of SEO professionals acts as an extension of your agency’s team and delivers exceptional, results-driven SEO campaigns to your clients under your branding. Boostability remains behind the scenes while we provide campaign deliverables, all the while educating you on [how to sell SEO more effectively](https://www.boostability.com/content/the-best-way-to-pitch-and-sell-seo-to-your-customers) to increase your ROI. Contact us for more details about our process, what you can expect, and more! ## Frequently Asked Questions ### 1. How Much Does SEO Cost? **The average monthly [cost of SEO for a small business](https://www.boostability.com/content/how-much-does-seo-cost-for-a-small-business) and medium-sized business ranges from $500 to $2000.** The specific amount depends on various factors, including location, industry, goals, and company size. For example, a small business in a rural area offering local services can expect to pay around $500 per month. A more significant company in a metropolitan area should expect to pay $2000 per month for the best ROI. ### 2. How Long Does SEO Take to See Results? **It typically takes [6 months to 1+ year to see SEO results](https://www.boostability.com/content/how-long-does-seo-take-to-work) from when the campaign begins.** The timeline highly depends on your business needs, the competition level within your industry, how competitive keywords are, and much more. As mentioned above, SEO is a long-term game that generates ongoing traffic and revenue. While it takes longer than paid search ads to secure a lead, it will continue doing so without the need for constant monitoring and optimizations. ### 3. Is AI Making SEO a Thing of the Past? **SEO will remain relevant despite advancements in AI. I**nstead of viewing the two as siloed entities, you’ll be better off using both to benefit the other. AI has made specific tasks more efficient. However, there is a significant need for the manual optimizations and reviews an SEO professional delivers that AI cannot. Use SEO and AI together to make an even more significant impact on results and save valuable time. ### 4. What’s the Difference Between SEO vs. Traditional Marketing? Traditional advertising consists of: * TV advertising * Billboards * Direct mail * Print advertising * Broadcasting * Cold Calling * Event Advertising Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is the process of improving a website’s online visibility through content creation, website optimizations, and enhancing the user experience. Traditional advertising was the most effective way to promote a business for years. Whether it was billboards or direct mail advertising, companies relied on these expensive forms of marketing to grow. The hope is that potential customers will see the advertisement and buy the product or service. In today’s digital era, online marketing through search engine optimization (SEO) creates a more effective advertising method. Instead of putting out materials hoping your potential audience would reach out, SEO provides a way for a more precise, targeted approach. Search engine marketing allows businesses to market to their target audience based on what a consumer searches. #### Sources * [BrightEdge](https://videos.brightedge.com/research-report/BrightEdge_ChannelReport2019_FINAL.pdf) * [HubSpot](https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/1428728/inbound-marketing-infographic-1-1-1.pdf?t=1531345584338#:~:text=Identifying%20and%20using%20targeted%20keywords,have%20a%201.7%25%20close%20rate) * [Backlinko](https://backlinko.com/google-ctr-stats) * [Oberlo](https://www.oberlo.com/statistics/search-engine-market-share)