The Organic Movement of SEO

When Web-savvy individuals say organic, they’re not talking about hazelnut-fed, free range chicken. Organic SEO means creating quality, shareable content that will rise to the top of search engine result pages without any spam, trickery, or overspending. 

This type of optimization provides a clear advantage for marketing companies in Utah and across the nation, yet some websites still feel that the only way to boost their search rankings is to shell out big bucks or fake it. As Nance from Portlandia would say, “It tears at the core of my being, the idea of someone just cashing in on a trend like organic.”

Controversial tactics such as link buying might improve search results temporarily, but Google changes its algorithms daily, and cutting corners will ultimately earn you a slap on the wrist or even a ban. 

On the flip side of the coin, pay-per-click advertising is definitely kosher, but won’t get your company the same results as SEO. PPC can be valuable for commercial sites and niche brands. WordStream reported that paid ads received 64 percent of clicks when users were looking to buy a specific product in searches.

This makes sense because someone searching “David’s Bridal Utah” will most likely click on a paid link by the same company as opposed to some other dress shop in Utah listed in the number one spot organically. Consumers trust the brands they’re familiar with, and paid ads won’t detract clicks in that sense.

But when it comes to most other searches, SEO is still the way to go. Of course, there’s more to organic SEO than just having a great website. Jupiter Research reported that “81 percent of users find their destination through a search engine” today rather than typing in the website manually. 

With this intense focus on search results, even small companies in Utah need to step up to the plate when it comes to smart SEO practices. One of the most important tools in organic SEO is using the right number of appropriate keywords and meta-tags. This can easily be done without sounding spammy. 

Another way to create organic SEO is to get involved with social media optimization. As stated on HubSpot, “marketing is all about communication now.” Consumers want to communicate with the brands they’re involved with, and providing helpful feedback on social media will generate buzz. 

So, whether you’re a small start-up in Utah or a household name, everyone can benefit from being a little trendy. Go ahead, go organic. 

Emily Culp writes for Fusion 360, an SEO and content marketing agency. She writes for many other clients as well. Follow on Twitter