10 ways SEO Will Assist Businesses in a Covid-19 Pandemic Recovery
SEO is the most important tool for any business that wants to protect themselves from potential losses and pivot in order to stay afloat with new restrictions or preferences. Consumers want up to date information about companies handling the virus and they prepare for post-pandemic success through researching what customers will need during these difficult times.
These are just 10 ways that various industries could use SEO (search engine optimization) as their secret weapon against this epidemic!
It only takes 66 days to form a habit and continue doing it when not coerced, according to consumer psychologist Paul Marsden.
The longer shelter-in-place recommendations persist, the more likely it is that the changes we’re seeing in consumer behaviour will stick.
Consumers who may have been leery about ecommerce, online payments or cryptocurrency previously now find themselves with no choice but to adapt as wide swathes of industries are transformed due Covid-19’s threat on these areas such as ecommerce and curb-side delivery/pickup options becoming common place.
Online shoppers can either shop from their home computers, which many people already do anyways, sometimes even while they’re at work!
The latest statistics show that more and more people are avoiding public spaces and spending time in their homes with video content streaming.
Nielsen reports 60% of adults will be watching videos this year on TV screens or computers at home during the traditional daytime hours as well.
75% of consumers have started using social media daily for life balances while only 4% want brands to stop advertising right now because they’re looking out for a little help from them too!
The Covid-19 pandemic is not only causing an international health crisis, but it’s also impacting the way that people interact with companies and how they find information.
As a result of this change in behaviour, search has become more important than ever before; now as never before are businesses being called on to do more with less. Consumers need accurate information about what these restrictions mean for their day-to-day lives – whether or not you can purchase necessities like food and water over the counter (most likely) and if there will be shortages at your local store (highly likely – have you noticed inflation and shrinkflation?).
The heart of all successful online ventures nowadays revolves around optimizing web content so that websites rank higher among searches conducted by consumers who are looking for answers.
The insights that SEO provides with regard to consumer behaviour is essential in times of volatility and demand fluctuation. This can be especially important during economic storms, where companies need quick responses when faced by new market challenges such as the government’s response to the coronavirus pandemic currently wreaking havoc across the world.
In this case, it’s crucial for businesses to use a search engine optimization (SEO) strategy at all stages of their operations – from pivoting on company strategies following an outbreak or sudden drop-off in demand; through to protecting your brand against online threats like negative reviews about your products/services; right up until you are ready for success post recovery.
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The Search Engine – King of Traffic
Search is the kingpin when it comes to website traffic. In BrightEdge’s recent Channel Share Survey, 53% of all web site visitors came from organic search and only 17% were from paid keywords searches.
As we know, many companies have halted their paid keyword advertising due to coronavirus/government-related business interruptions; this has made now a time for them re-evaluate how they can drive more people in with an organic strategy that will support their overall goals better than previous strategies did.
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SEO is a Long-Term Investment
While SEO does require an upfront investment of resources, the content you create and publish today will serve your brand in the future. The benefits are ongoing as they can be updated to reflect evolving business goals throughout this economic recovery and beyond.
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SEO Enhances User Experience
Search optimization naturally enhances user experience (UX) because it makes your site easier to navigate and organize. For example, missing alt text for images or having unclear calls-to-action can cause a frustrating UX. However, when you apply SEO best practices there are no such problems!
Evaluate your website from the perspective of a potential customer today.
Where might they be frustrated by an inadequate design? Now is the time to take corrective action so make sure all content has been properly marked up with tags like <h1>, that every image includes proper alt text, etc.
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SEO provides Conversion Rate Optimization Benefits
Throughout the processes of planning and creating content, we’re constantly thinking about how it will help a prospect take the next step in their path to conversion.
With consumers’ media needs so high due to Covid-19, now is a great time for companies with quality products or services that fill gaps in customers journeys (but not necessarily those where sales are taking place) to optimize their marketing efforts by adding more captivating copy and visuals on top of any existing campaign.
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A Fresh Edge
Recency matters. Google wants to see EAT content — Expertise, Authority, and Trustworthiness.
We also know the search giant wants to show searchers the most up-to-date information, as well continuingly publishing quality content – well researched, properly cited, optimized and original helps too for those motivated by more recent material in “noisy” results
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Consumers are Searching for Guidance
It is important to stay up to date with the newest trends and information in your industry, as it can make or break a company.
When people are searching for help, you have an opportunity to stand out by providing timely, expert advice on how best they should proceed based off of their needs.
With all this confusion about what’s true versus false when it comes down too many search queries, staying informed will be key!
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SEO – Local to Global Reach
SEO can provide a tangible return on investment.
Search engines have been around for decades, but it is still the primary tool people use to find what they need.
If you want your company’s products and services found in response to relevant queries, then SEO provides an opportunity with local or global reach that could be worth investing time into.
Depending on how much resources are available at either level of decision-making power within the organization will determine whether getting involved locally through optimizing existing content would make sense or if corporate needs should take charge by providing thought leadership content distributed globally across all channels
The global recession is impacting all businesses. Here are some tips to make sure you’re keeping your workforce employed and productive during the slowdown:
If you never had time or resources for translation before, it could be a good time now! Optimize content for Spanish, French or German customers with SEO guidance from marketing professionals who can hyper localize any department’s work based on local customer needs.
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SEO is a Key Part of Your Overall Digital Marketing Strategy
Your website and online presence should be the focal point of your overall marketing strategy. If you’re not investing in other channels that generate demand, then it’s time to rethink what you’ve been doing.
Those channels inspire people to search for products like yours or services similar to those offered by your business, which can help drive traffic back into a company’s site from high-traffic sites such as Google.
Channel synergy is an important balance – so if SEO happens just once every few months because of budget constraints (or during periods where traditional advertising spending may decrease), don’t worry! Just make sure this digital element does not go ignored when times are uncertain, especially now with more consumers relying on their mobile devices than ever before.
It is particularly important right now that your content delivers consumers to the answer or information they expected to see when they clicked on your ad or listing.
Make sure outdated landing pages are updated, redirected, and reviewed for accuracy in light of Covid-related operational changes.
Ensure social media accounts with business descriptions have been checked for any inaccuracies due to recent updates by Google’s new algorithm update or Core Web Vitals.
It will also be necessary to make sure hours and methods of contact listed throughout website listings match up correctly so customers can always reach you reliably at their convenience, no matter where searchers find you from!
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You’re Being Considered, even if Consumers Aren’t Currently Purchasing
As Covid-19 disrupts your customers’ lives, organic search will be increasingly vital to their research process. It might seem early in the consideration phase for consumers who are already buying—but remember that many people have a long sales cycle and may not buy until months down the line.
Organic search is crucial during this time when stock runs low or companies go out of business entirely!
It’s never too early to start building a captive audience for tomorrow. One of the best ways is through legitimate link-building, content creation and PR opportunities today, which will get people consuming your content now so they can continue to share it later when you need them most!
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Search is Your Best Representation of Voice of Customer
Searching for new and different information is how consumers have adapted to Covid-19.
With the need of constant distraction, customers are now turning more towards video conferencing tips, grocery delivery options, activities at home they can do while finding a balance between their personal and professional life now that work isn’t as demanding as it once was when people were constantly in an office environment.
Hotels or long-haul flights may be too much like going back to the way things used to be which many travellers want nothing to do with anymore due to all of the restrictions since Covid-19 hit!
Data informs all aspects of our lives – from healthcare decisions made at home to business strategy implementation down the line; it’s essential we make use of this resource so we can continue coming up with the most effective plans possible without wasting time and resources getting there.
Data can come in various forms: consumer search queries might reveal their intent while social media posts could offer insight.
In Conclusion
Use SEO to protect, pivot, and prepare for post-pandemic success.
In a post-pandemic world, all eyes are on SEO. Search is critical not only for discovery but as the channel that provides the greatest insight into consumer behaviour in real time.
As Covid-19 continues to evolve and disrupt business operations from every corner of society, search insights will be important during each stage of brand response. Use data analytics tools like SEMrush Rank Tracker or Google AdWords Keyword Toolkit and prepare for success after you survive this deadly outbreak!
This summer, the world will see what it’s like to live in a society where we are all barely permitted from leaving our homes – a hallmark of coronavirus. The situation is changing by the day and if you want your business to be successful this year then SEO has never been more important than it is today.
We hope this blog post has answered any questions you may have about how SEO will assist your business in the Covid-19 pandemic recovery. If not, please contact us and we would be happy to provide additional information.
In the meantime, don’t forget that there are other parts of an overall digital marketing strategy such as social media management or email marketing which can also help with lead generation and conversion rates.
And it is never too late for businesses to start using SEO techniques like EAT content creation to build Expertise, Authority, and Trustworthiness.
SEO is a long-term investment that can help your business thrive in any economy. To learn more about how to leverage the power of search engine optimization and conversion rate optimization, contact Blend Local Search Marketing today.
10 Ways SEO Will Assist Businesses in a Covid-19 Pandemic Recovery
Perry Stevens is the founder and CEO of Blend Local Search Marketing Ltd. He’s a tea drinker, cocoa grower and a frequent traveller.
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