Small Business SEO Report 2022

As the digital age evolves, SEO is now a top priority for small businesses.

Since its inception over 20 years ago, search engine optimization (SEO) has been a popular buzzword in online marketing.

SEO and search engines are changing the way that consumers find information online. This is not surprising to established businesses. SEO strategies are starting to be recognized by small businesses.

If done correctly, SEO for small businesses can result in increased revenue, greater prominence in search engines, and new leads and customers.

Our data showed that 47 percent of small businesses don't invest in SEO.

Hence, why don't smaller businesses invest in SEO?

Visual Objects surveyed 1,003 small-business owners and managers about their plans for 2022 SEO. While many small businesses feel confident with SEO strategies and know what tactics to use, some are skeptical about the effectiveness of SEO.

Our findings

• Although nearly half of small businesses (47%) do not invest in SEO, the tide is turning for newbies. Over 25% of small businesses invested in SEO in 2021. This is a sign that more companies are starting to recognize the long-term advantages. Twenty-five percent (25%) intend to do so in 2022.
• Keyword research is a key SEO strategy for small businesses.
• 21% of small businesses (21%) believe that website engagement is the best metric to track company success. This highlights the importance of a well-optimized site.
• Small businesses employ more than 40% of their own SEO software and tools, which suggests that SEO strategies can be improved by utilizing internal knowledge.
• Small businesses make up 79 percent of the market.

Many Small Businesses Just Added SEO Programs to their Websites in 2021

Search engine optimization (SEO) is a process that improves the visibility of your website when potential customers search for you, your service, or your product via search engines.

Potential customers want to find companies. In 2021, small businesses started to make strides in SEO.

In 2021, SEO was an investment that 27 percent of small businesses made.

25% of small businesses (25%) intend to do this in 2022.

Why is it that small businesses are now entering the SEO market?

Teresha A. Aird is co-founder and CMO of Offices.net. She believes that the pandemic has led to businesses learning more about SEO.

Aird stated that the pandemic gave many small businesses the opportunity to invest in their internet presence while they tried to capitalize on an increase in online buying activity.

"The pandemic gave many small businesses the opportunity to invest in their online presence while they tried to capitalize on an increase in online buying activity."

Aird believes that small businesses will benefit from investing in SEO.

• The top rankings
• Encourage more web traffic.
• Boosting sales

The lack of immediate results can lead to delays in investing in SEO. It often takes up to 3 months for changes to Performance after implementing SEO strategies.

Businesses must also be prepared for frequent algorithm updates, which can have an unpredictable impact on traffic if they want to succeed in SEO.

Aird stated that many businesses don't understand SEO and instead view it as a silver bullet to instantly improve organic search results and increase sales.

Aird suggests that businesses set realistic expectations when starting their SEO journey.

It is crucial that small businesses think about their long-term goals when preparing their SEO strategies for 2022.

Three key tactics are used by small businesses to optimize SEO strategies.

Small businesses that use SEO are focusing on three strategies.

In 2022, the most used SEO strategy for small businesses is:

1. Keyword research (43%)

2. Technical Optimization (40%)

3. Local search optimization (37%).

As part of their SEO strategies, small businesses can also use UX optimization (30%) and video content creation (36%), respectively.

These SEO services can be performed by an SEO agency for small businesses.

Keyword Research requires proactive targeting.

Nearly half (43%) of small businesses use keyword research as part of their current SEO strategy.

Keyword research is a very popular strategy. It involves analyzing and finding search terms people type into search engines in order to find information.

You might search Google for "dog food brands" if you're looking for food for your dog.

You will be able to find a wide range of dog food brands and ads by using this search. Chewy is the number one search result for this keyword, as it is also listed under paid Google ads.

This report is for small businesses only. It contains more information about the state of advertising.

Start by creating a list of topics that are relevant to your business. Next, brainstorm buzz words that will fit into those topic categories. These keywords can be analyzed using an explorer tool.

SEO teams can complete keyword research using tools such as Ahrefs and Moz. These tools allow you to find keywords that are difficult, high search volumes, and the relevant questions associated with each option. Companies can also view the locations of their competitors.

Keyword research can be a great way to make your company stand out in SERPs (search engine result pages). However, it is important that small businesses avoid keyword stuffing.

Keyword stuffing refers to when keyword research and implementation go wrong - it is the loading or "stuffing" of keywords to manipulate a web page's ranking on search engines.

Your chances of ranking will be affected if your page contains too many keywords.

Ensure you are proactive, intelligent, and up-to-date when performing keyword research.

Technical Optimization focuses on Performance.

Technical Optimization is used by 40% of small businesses.

Technical Optimization is the process of improving technical aspects of a website in order to increase its rank or Performance on search engines.

Optimizing a website improves page experience and speed.

Other strategies for technical Optimization include:

• Fixing duplicate content
• Mobile optimization is a must for your website
• Any broken links should be fixed
• Your website can be enhanced with metatags and structured data.

To assist with technical Optimization, companies can use tools such as DeepCrawl and Screaming Frog.

Local Search Optimization is a great way to dominate.

Local search optimization is used by more than 35% of small businesses as part of their overall SEO strategy.

Local search optimization is a strategy to make your business more visible in local searches.

If you search for "app developers DC," you will find a list of top-rated service providers in Washington DC.

You will also find several app development companies located in your search results. Their position on the first page allows them to connect with potential buyers more quickly.

Local SEO is used for the following:

• Optimizing your Google My Business profile
• Local keywords
• Online reviews
• Social media shares

Google uses its index to scan the web for the most relevant results based on the location of the query.

Aaron Gray, the cofounder of NO-BS Marketplace (an SEO platform), encourages small businesses to focus on prioritizing SEO.

Gray stated that SEO has enormous potential. He suggested making small improvements to each pillar. Focusing your efforts on one aspect of SEO, such as technical development, can result in a faster site, easier to index and more mobile-friendly. You could also improve your SEO by incrementally improving your keyword usage and meta-tagging.

These SEO strategies can all be done by an in-house team. This should encourage small businesses and entrepreneurs to invest in SEO.

SEO generates website engagement for small businesses

Small business success is dependent on a well-optimized site.

Website engagement is cited by more than 20% of small businesses (21%) as the most important indicator to validate an SEO strategy.

Website engagement can be described as the quality of your website users' interaction with it.

Aird believes engagement is more important for small businesses as it shows that your advertising and marketing strategies are connecting with customers.

Aird stated that low engagement could indicate that users don't believe your product or service is relevant to their search terms. This could mean that they are either not targeting the right keywords or communicating what your website has to offer.

These are the factors that influence website engagement:

"Low engagement could indicate that users don't believe your product or service is relevant to their search terms. This could mean that you're targeting the wrong keywords or failing to communicate effectively what your website has to offer.

Optimized websites increase engagement and convert visitors to customers.

Small Businesses Can Benefit from SEO Software & Tools

SEO services are available from any location.

42 percent of small businesses that use SEO software and tools for their business (42%) are using SEO services.

Small businesses employ in-house staff that handles SEO and other responsibilities, not software or tools.

Because of the way their employees are involved in their web strategy, small businesses will likely spend more on tools and software than they can use in-house.

Lark Allen, content market specialist at Drive Research, believes accessibility is the answer.

Allen stated that small businesses might prefer SEO software to consult because of its accessibility. These platforms allow individuals to instantly access the information they need, whenever and wherever they are.

Allen's company employs a marketing team to post content every day and also invests in Ahrefs.

Allen stated that Ahrefs provides very precise insight into brand aspects, such as domain rating, backlinks, and referring domains. This allows us to see where we stand with regard to site visitors.

Small businesses, in particular, are increasingly focusing on in-house support due to the high cost of their services.

Aird stated that small businesses prefer to keep SEO tracking in-house due to the high cost of hiring professionals and the added control that having them in-house gives.

Aird says that many small businesses don't want to implement an innovative SEO strategy. Instead, they are focusing on the basics to ensure their business ranks high.

These tools will help you nail your small business SEO strategy.

SEO Software Tools for Small Businesses

Small businesses can use their employees' internal knowledge to make the best decisions about their websites by investing in SEO software.

Many small businesses are confident in their SEO understanding.

SEO strategies work regardless of how long it takes. Small businesses may feel more secure using SEO strategies.

79 percent of small businesses are confident in their SEO knowledge.

Allen has gained confidence in her job, and her knowledge about SEO has increased.

Allen stated that his confidence in the implementation of SEO initiatives has increased.

Small businesses will feel more confident if they invest in SEO strategies. This will result in better results.

Allen stated that businesses might not realize how important SEO can be in driving business opportunities. This is a big mistake. SEO may seem small, but it's what actually brings people to your site.

SEO is essential for businesses of any size to grow and succeed.