They are, and you can tell simply by doing searches on popular business or consumer related keywords. The sites that are appearing on the first few pages of results are fiercely competitive in that they not only utilize search engine optimization, but they also obviously take ideas from each other and repackage them. If one site has a poll, the other will follow suit, etc. I have seen this across dozens of industries, including wedding favors, prom dresses, breaking news, military loans, market research, institutional investing, and hydroponics, to name a few.
Not all of these small companies are paying search engine marketing firms to start their optimization, either. Some of my clients came to me only after they either tried to do the SEO work themselves or else hired a one-person team to do it. But what they are finding is that it is simply better to go with a firm whose team-oriented approach helps them build traffic, rank better and ultimately increase conversion and ROI. Additionally, the ability to "get smarter" by utilizing web analytics software is just too valuable a tool not to have available, and, thus, these companies know how it can help to level the playing field.
For those small businesses who are not waking up to search engine optimization, well, they're going to find it hard to get their fair share of the pie.
—Greg DiFalco, Search Engine Strategist,
Prime Visibility.
In one simple word, NO. Small business seem to still be on the same old day to day struggle. Wondering if they should be placing more advertising dollars in the soon to be extinct yellow pages. It's unfortunate that small business does not see the amazing benefits of Search Engine Optimization (SEO). Those that do are cornering the search market for their geographic location.
Very few small companies have invested the proper time or effort into being effectively positioned in the major search engines. Once built, most people assume that the Search Engines are all rushing towards their website, blinded by an overwhelming lust to spider the new site. To their shock, they eventually find that while they want to be in the Search Engines, getting there is not an automatic process. Although Forrester Research tells us that 80% of all Internet users visit the search engines, our own research shows that fewer than 10% of companies have done anything to ensure good search engine visibility.
Usually, there are excuses for lack of search engine marketing. Most commonly, they say things such as "we don't really feel that our particular audience would be looking for a solution in the search engines".
Small businesses that optimize their web site are in a unique position to dominate their geographic locations. Imagine owning the number one spot in Google for Accounting Firm Easton Ma. The amount of business generated from that targeted key phrase would generate enough business to pay for optimization three times over. Yet small business won't spend the money or make the leap because of the fear of the unknown. Eventually SEO will become the norm just like the good old yellow pages but for now it's only the smart small business owner that will excel.
—Scott White, President,
Brand Identity Guru.
