Why businesses don't do SEO, and perhaps why they should

Although SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) is an established global phenomenon in marketing that continues to change the landscape of today’s online world, there are many businesses that still choose not to do it.

Why, you ask? From not having the budget, to not seeing results, every1 explain the key reasons why some businesses don’t do SEO – and point out some things that are worth knowing along the way.

I don’t have the budget

Many marketing decisions come down to one crucial factor: budget. The same can be said of SEO. If a company doesn’t have the money they think they need to accommodate SEO, they’ll probably choose not to invest in it. They might feel their marketing budget won’t stretch to cover it and, instead, invest in alternative areas of marketing, like print advertising.

But it’s worth knowing that: SEO isn’t as expensive as some companies might think. This is especially the case when considering that return on investment can go a long way, especially as a website’s audience grows over time – with the potential for service and product revenue to significantly increase too.

I don’t have the knowledge

Another reason why a business can choose not to use SEO is their knowledge (or lack thereof) of it. SEO is a big beast and there’s a lot to take in. It’s not surprising some people don’t really understand it, or can find it a bit intimidating and a tad overwhelming. It also doesn’t help that there are many fears and misconceptions about SEO – worries about being penalised by Google and a company’s reputation being harmed, for instance.

But it’s worth knowing that: not understanding (or taking the time to understand) SEO can mean that some businesses don’t fully know the benefits of what it can do for them. This can simply breakdown to: increasing and maintaining your web traffic, your rankings, your enquires, your sales, and your ROI. When done well, it can also improve a company’s online reputation by improving a website’s domain authority – how Google scores a website.

I don’t have the time

Timing can be a factor for some businesses. A busy company might feel it doesn’t have the time to put into SEO. Not only to set it up but also to maintain it, as well as keep up with changes, like Google algorithm updates. They might not also know where to start with SEO and when.

But it’s worth knowing that: While a lot of time should be put into SEO to get it off the ground at the start, time can be well managed and evened out to maintain it thereafter. An SEO team could also check results and provide reports to make sure it’s working effectively, while seeing where it can be improved to boost rankings even further.

I don’t think it works – from experience

Finally, a business might have had experience of using SEO where it didn’t work. They might have put a lot of money into SEO and not seen any results right away. As a result, they feel it’s not worth investing in again.

It’s worth knowing that: Success with SEO doesn’t happen overnight. It can take time for you to reap the results and some companies give up before they see them. It’s important to be patient. Doing so can give your business higher rankings and a higher number of customers – customers who choose to keep coming to you for what they need. As a famous beverage once said: good things come to those who wait.

Ok, now I know we should be considering SEO … where do I start?

There’s a lot to think about when it comes to SEO, but it doesn’t mean it’s an area of marketing that a business should ignore. It’s wise to have the budget, time and knowledge to make SEO work. But it’s also a good idea to get help from experienced people who have the know-how to bring you the results you want. Our SEO team at every1 would love to explore how we can deliver results for your business. To arrange a brief telephone conversation with one of our team, call 0845 485 3707 or get in touch to find out more.