Why SEO Matters More Than Ever for Driving Traffic & Boosting Sales: Stats & Insights

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is optimizing a website to rank higher in search engine results pages, such as Google.

In today's digital age, where consumers have access to vast amounts of information, SEO has become a critical factor for businesses looking to drive more website traffic and increase sales.

In 2023, SEO is not about only keywords and content.

So stay tuned, and we will find out why.

1. Organic search drove over 50% of website traffic

Studies have shown that organic search drives the most website traffic compared to other marketing channels.

For example, HubSpot survey of 400 individual website traffic analysts, the majority reported that organic search was the top source of website visits to their sites.

In another study of 3.25 billion website visits, GrowthBadger found that organic search drove over 50% of website traffic for most industries.

2. The Power of Organic Search: Higher CTR Than Paid Search Ads

Organic search results have higher click-through rates (CTR) than paid search ads.

According to Backlinko data, the top result in Google's organic search results has an average CTR of 27.6%, while paid search ads have an average CTR of 3.17%, according to WordStream.

*Image source: Backlinko

3. Ranking Matters: Pages in Position 1 Get 81.5% More Clicks Than Pages in Position 2

• Position 1 CTR: 27.6%
• Position 2 CTR: 15.8%

Ranking well in search engine results can significantly impact the website's traffic.

Pages in the first position in Google's organic search results have an average CTR of 27.6%, while pages in position 2 have a CTR of 15.8%.

*Image source: Backlinko

In addition, pages ranking 1-7 in Google's organic search results outperform the average CTR on paid search ads.

Backlinko research found that the number 1 organic result is x10 times more likely to receive a click than a page in the 10th spot.

*Image source: Backlinko

4. Organic Search & the Buyer's Journey: 51% of Shoppers Use Google to Research Purchases.

According to the Google/Ipsos Global Retail Study, more than half of consumers research their purchases using a search engine before making a purchase.

Therefore, high-ranking website content that helps guide potential customers through their buyer's journey can be a powerful strategy to reach consumers.

For example, in a Think With Google survey, 65% of consumers said they use their phone in "I Want to Buy" moments, and 64% said they were influenced to purchase by a relevant search.

*Image source: How People Meet Their Needs in I-Want-to-Buy Moments, Think With Google

5. Site speed is essential for SEO and sales: Technical SEO

In a Vodafone case study published on Google's web.dev, a 31% improvement in load time (measured by Largest Contentful Paint) was tied to an 8% increase in sales.

So, what does improving load time have to do with SEO? But first, let's dive deeper into the less-known part of SEO.

What is Technical SEO?

Technical SEO refers to optimizing the technical aspects of a website to improve its visibility, usability, and ranking on search engines.

What are a few key areas where technical SEO can help?

• Website Architecture: Technical SEO ensures the website's structure is well-organized and easy for search engines to crawl and understand. This includes having a clear hierarchy of pages, using proper heading tags, and ensuring the website is easy to navigate.
• Site Speed and Performance: A slow-loading website can negatively impact user experience, causing visitors to leave before they even have a chance to see the content. Technical SEO includes optimizing the website's code, images, and other elements to ensure the website loads quickly.
• Mobile Optimization: With the increasing number of people using mobile devices to access the web, websites must be optimized for mobile devices. Technical SEO includes ensuring the website is responsive, meaning it adjusts its layout to fit the screen size of the device used.
• URL Structure and Redirects: How URLs are structured and managed can significantly impact a website's ability to rank well in search results. Technical SEO involves ensuring URLs are correctly formatted, using redirects when necessary, and avoiding broken links.

So, 2023 is the year to focus on improving your website's SEO. SEO is more than just keywords and content. In the coming articles, we'll share tips and tricks to help you enhance your technical SEO and drive even more traffic to your site. Stay tuned!

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