SEO is a short form of Search Engine Optimization. It is the process aimed at getting traffic from the free, organic, editorial or natural search results on search engines like Google, Bing, and Yahoo. All these major search engines have primary search results, where web pages and other content such as videos or local listings are shown and ranked based on what the search engine considers most relevant to users.

About Startups: These days, startups are very common and many businesses graduate dream of owning a startup and making it big. This is largely due to the rapid growth of technology and the internet which has made it possible for the exchange and development of new and exciting ideas into business opportunities. This has resulted in the mushrooming of startups almost every single day.

But, some startups remain simply brilliant ideas and perish even before they can enter the market. One of the major reasons for this failure is not lacking funding as most would think but it is the lack of visibility. Again, it is ignorance about cost-effective yet extremely effective marketing strategies that prevent these startups from flourishing. One of the most effective marketing strategies of all is internet marketing strategies. The internet has played a big role in enabling startups to compete with businesses that are beyond their league. One of the most effective of these strategies is Search Engine Optimization or SEO

SEO and startups: A study has revealed that a staggering 92% of internet users turn to various search engines for products or services or information. This is where SEO steps in. It helps startups to market themselves by helping establish strong visibility in search results. SEO is a marketing strategy that has made it possible for small and new businesses to compete with the big and well-established players.

Why is SEO indispensable for startups?

• Helps establish an image: It is very important for a startup to show proof of sustainability and revenue potential if they want to fund. This is where SEO steps in. It can help in gaining excellent visibility and helps in establishing a startup’s image of being promising.
• Makes the startup visible: Your product can be the best thing to happen in a long time, but if your customers cannot find you on the first page in Google or any other search engine, they will instead find your competitors. Proper SEO helps in being at the top of the search results.
• Link building: Link building, one of the most important aspects of an SEO, offers many advantages to startups. Link build up is one of the most powerful ways of reaching out to potential customers. If the links are effective and high quality, they help in creating awareness about what the startup has to offer.

Some common SEO tactics that startups should use to create a presence on the web:

• Press release: Press release and news sites like PRWeb.com bring the much-needed exposure and links.
• Content marketing: It is very important that the content developed for the website is very good. When content is being created, make sure that you mention HOW and WHY the startup can be of help to the target audience.
•  Guest blog: See if it possible to write a guest post in the top blogs visited by your target audience. Point a link back to your startup website.

Some disadvantages of SEO for startups:  For most startups, the biggest challenges are lack of time and money. As money and resources are limited, they need to produce good results at top speed! This is exactly the opposite of what SEO is. It needs time and money and a clear sense of business direction to deliver results.

But, despite the disadvantages, the benefits of SEO are way too many for a startup to ignore.

Conclusion: SEO can make or break a startup so it is a must if your business has to thrive. SEO helps a startup establish a strong presence with high online traffic which will eventually lead to more consumers. That is exactly what every business wants!