After South African president, Cyril Ramaphosa’s announcement of a lockdown extension until the end of the month, hard-hit industries absorbed another ‘punch to the gut’. A lot of business owners may feel disheartened; however, this is the time when the strength your business’s character and proactivity is vital. As you ride out the storm, you can still use SEO to build and sustain brand resiliency.

Expand your brand through doubling down on SEO

Google has 200 ranking factors that determine whether or not you make, retain or lose the coveted page-one placing. Significant factors include but are not limited to

  1. Website architecture
  2. Inbound links
  3. Meta tags
  4. Page speed
  5. Content structure
  6. Keyword intent

The frequency of continued implementation of these factors on your website is crucial. Therefore, Google’s algorithms will pick up businesses that cut SEO budget as the search engine will recognise stagnation in website activity.

Give businesses a much-needed lifeline

Digital marketers have the unique ability to provide for their clients during the most restrictive times. The reality is that the number of people online is increasing exponentially; they are consuming and looking for new content. So, this is the perfect time to grab their attention by increasing your online visibility. Technically sound, bespoke SEO strategies which include targeted optimisations are the answer. Businesses who metaphorically shut down their online presence will be in a reactive position once restrictions are lifted.

Boost awareness

Remember the saying, ‘out of sight, out of mind’. If people don’t see you on SERP, you are likely to be forgotten. The power of expertly developed and executed SEO strategies will ensure you remain visible, sustaining your spot in search results. Top-of-the-mind awareness by customers will become an advantage once the storm calms down and businesses can resume trading.

Distance yourself from your competition

As mentioned earlier, many businesses are assessing their budget, and because they are cooped up in their homes, many may feel that putting money into SEO is a waste of time, but that can’t be further from the truth. A pandemic won’t stop Google from working. As you read this, people are searching, and Google is ranking; ironically, now can be seen as the best time to grasp the opportunity to oust your competitors. The length of the pandemic is indefinite, therefore, use the time for continual optimisation, and you’ll be in a strong position when competitors begin spending money on SEO again.

Long-term marketing: Life after the pandemic

No one knows when it will happen, but the pandemic will eventually pass. SEO is not a quick fix, but rather a long-term strategy. There is no timeframe, but it’s logical to put more effort into expanding your marketing tactics now so that when the time comes, you’ll be in a position to optimally serve your customers. The bottom line: Stay safe, stay well but don’t underestimate the value of SEO during lockdown.

At fio.agency, we take a holistic approach and through contrarian thinking our SEO strategies will help you capitalise on attaining a page-one spot. In so doing, potential as well as existing customers will see the value of your brand and increased visibility during volatile times solidifies authority and consumers’ trust.

Not sure where to start? Contact us today for a free SEO audit.