Did you know that the first ten links listed on the first page of a search engine’s results receive just over 89% of all traffic! Of that traffic, the first ranking position in the search results receives 42.25% of all click-through traffic, the second position receives 11.94%, the third 8.47%, the fourth 6.05%. So where do you want to be? Page 1, position 1? Try typing various different keywords into Google, Yahoo and Bing and seeing where you currently appear in the results. If its not somewhere in the top 3 then straight away you’re losing 60% of your potential customer base. If you’re not on the first page, then there goes another 30%!
PPC vs SEO: Many of you will have heard of organic search (SEO) as opposed to paid search (Pay-per-Click). Well did you also know that although 90% of Search Engine marketing budgets go on Pay-per-Click adverts only 10% of web traffic actually comes from clicks on the paid for results. Conversely, with only 10% of budgets spent on search engine optimisation techniques (organic search), in reality 90% of traffic comes from the organic search listings. That’s why it’s important to budget for ongoing SEO to maintain good organic placement.
Why is search important as a channel? To start with, the numbers: over 50% of Internet users use search on a daily basis. Add to that the general decline in acceptance by web users of display advertising – banners, buttons, pop-ups etc – and search becomes a major way to find and advertise goods and services to new potential customers. Not only that but search is unique in that it gives brands the power to be in front of the consumer at the very time of consumption. Search is an intent driven activity. We don’t search casually, we search to find answers, information, and goods and services to consume. What does that mean for you as a marketer? It means truly qualified leads and it means greater return on your marketing investment as a result.