Over 600,000 new businesses started up in 2016, an increase of 4.6% from 2015. Since the rise of the internet, companies pop up out of nowhere on a regular basis. For customers, this is great news as it provides more choice and lowers prices. For you, it’s bad news. More competition means more work because you have to stand out from the crowd. If you don’t, you’ll end up like the other 80% of firms that go out of business in the first year.

Navigating your way through the maze is essential for survival. The good news is that you don’t have to be Bear Grylls to get the job done.

Specify Search Terms

Okay, so you know what SEO stands for, right? Good because you won’t get very far if you don’t. The problem with search engine optimization is the variety of techniques. There is so many to choose from that it can seem impossible to pick the right ones.

What a business like yours needs to realize is that it’s a lot simpler than it sounds. The secret is to think like a customer. Once you get into the client’s head, it isn’t hard to predict how they will act. Then, all that’s left is to use the specific terms throughout your SEO plan. Specificity breeds uniqueness and originality, both of which are vital to creating a buzz.

Make Everything Shareable

Search engine optimization is an excellent way to stay one step ahead of the competition. It isn’t the only way, though. One method that will always stand the test of time is shareable content. With your digital presence being so important, it’s impossible to forget the impact of social media.

Every platform you can think of is beneficial, too. Why? It’s because Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, etc. all let the user share what they please. A simple click of a button is often enough for a business to go viral. You know, as long as you have something different and worth sharing. People don’t have conversations any longer – they tag and tweet.

Don’t Forget Offline

Sure, most of the searching happens online in 2017. Still, some people search offline, and they are worth considering. In fact, millions of people use offline searches on a daily basis. Think about Silicon Valley or any major CBD. These areas are full of physical offices which promote the brand.

If there is wayfinding signage to point them in the right direction, they might even drop by for a visit. The location makes a difference as the right one carries a positive stigma.

Promote Contact Details

Almost every business on the planet has a website. You might have the greatest site possible, and it still might not make a difference. There are plenty of reasons why, but there is one simple one. Companies put so much emphasis on neat

Companies put so much emphasis on neat parlor tricks that they forget the basics. For example, the site might have lots of video content and great navigation tools. However, it’s all arbitrary if there aren’t any contact details so that they can get in touch. A tip: make the contact page easy to find.