SEO for Small Businesses: How to Compete with Big Brands Online

Let's talk all things SEO!

What is Search Engine Optimisation (SEO)?

Search engine optimisation refers to measures that aim to improve a website’s position in a search engine’s natural search results. Link for all SEO definitions

SEO can level the playing field against big brands, but small businesses need to create strategies so that they can use their powerful online presences so even the smallest business can come out on top.

There are so many ways businesses can use SEO so that the right clientele can find your products or services.

1. Keywords are key:

Keywords are one crucial way to optimise a high-ranking SEO. This is in your headings, subtitles, and bios. Using longer titles for businesses so there is more chance for your business to appear, be careful not to go too far fetch with words as Google can get confused as to what your product or service may be.

2. Optimise your Google Business Profile (GBP):

Filing out your GBP can really optimise local searches with up-to-date accurate information and adding primary and secondary categories to push your business out more.

3. Prioritise customer reviews:

Having your wellsite mobile PC and tablet friendly so that work seamlessly on all devices.

4. Work alongside AI; don’t lose the human touch

With the launch of open AI, this can allow smaller businesses to optimise their SEO with up-to-date content, but remember to work with AI content and not just use what is generated, as people still seek out the human element of information and content.

With small businesses implementing a strategic SEO plan, small businesses can complete with big brands and target the correct clientele. Remember that you are a small business and use that to your advantage to connect with your customers on a more personal level!

One company that uses SEO to understand their customers better by gathering information from their web activity. This data can allow Netflix to show users what they are interested in, and this data can drive traffic organically to improve SEO strategies and engagement.

For videos for more info to stay on top:

How to outrank 99% of local businesses on Google 

The new way to do SEO in 2024 

Small Businesses are under attack by Hackers!

In today’s world how many businesses are online? If businesses are not online well thats a different issue, they are missing out on potential customers, markets, exposure and so much more. With this growth of businesses that have websites or stores the question around cybersecurity is increasing. Look at our university last week got attacked by a cyber-attack and the knock-on effects I would not want anyone to go through. The added stress, fear of unknown, potential data breach, loss of business current or potential. Moral of this is to invest in cybersecurity especially if your small business. Don't think your being overprotective or untouchable, there is people out there who get a rush off gaining accesses into data they have no reason being in. 

I read in an article that also 50% of traffic a business receives can be bots, scammers or hackers. That figure is too high not to invest in cybersecurity. Link 

What is it? Cybersecurity is software that protects data, and network from attackers or anyone with bad intentions. It can act like a fort around your business. 

5 Cybersecurity tips

1. Use strong unique passwords, and don’t store them online, seems small but could be the difference of hacker getting access or not. Do not reuse passwords as if a hacker gets your password they can get access into multiple apps. 
2. Perform routine security checks- Links below to cybersecurity businesses. 
3. Keep your eye out for cyber tips due to constant changes and treats. 
4. Tools to safeguard website eg. Antivirus, Firewalls, encryption softwares. 
5. Install and validate website with SSL (secure sockets layer) Cert
6. Train staff as many security breaches are caused by human error.

Irelands leading cybersecurity firms check out what they do:

Intregrity360

Smarttech24/7

Ekco

BH Consulting 

Evervault

Why are small business are easily targeted?

 

Evolution of Internet Technologies: From Web 1.0 to Web 3.0

Did you know the World Wide Web (WWW) and the Internet were not the same thing? Me, neither I only recently learnt this so lets learn together! We don’t use www really anymore and we call everything the internet, but the web and internet are two separate things but also work hand in hand together under the same roof.  

If you image the internet is the whole system and the software that connects computers and all the invisible wire connecting everything, but the web is all the pages and links and websites, apps that are use internet to function but ideally different elements. Or how I figured it out, the internet is a shopping centre, and the web is the stores within the building. 

Like everything in this world, the Web evolved as time went on and software developed. It has transitioned through three phases: Web 1.0, Web 2.0, Web 3.0. Let’s break them down: 

Web 1.0 was the primary version and "read only" style. It was a static and text-based form of the web that we see today which is mainly only information focused. When it was first established advertisement was not permitted, and images could not be linked. This Web 1.0 was built with CGI and was developer generated.

Web 2.0 this is where we currently reside for the main part as it is more interactive that Web 1.0. This would be social media like Facebook and YouTube for example as people can comments and interact with each other. This benefits site owners as people can leave reviews and communicate with them rather that the “read only” format of Web 1.0.

Web 3.0 is where we are going with a lot more focus taken away from big companies like Apple or Google with our data and more and interconnection between sites and apps to give the user the best experience possible. Four key areas of Web 3.0 is the decentralisation of data, trustful and permissionless, AI and machine learning and connectivity and Ubiquity. This has also been seen with Siri on Apple products being able to understand and communicate like humans.

Learn more with links below:
Explained in Detail Web 3.0
Web 3.0 5 minute explaination
WEB 1.0,2.0,3.0 Explained: Past, present, future