08 Jan Spring Into Action
Competition is at the heart of all of our businesses. There are others out there trying to prevent you from getting that new client, sell your next product or closing that deal. They are your competitors. Us and them. You or me.
Search is an endeavor that requires a high level of commitment, the drive to be on top of the pile when the results are in.
“Nearly seven out of 10 respondents said they clicked a search result within the first page of results, and 92% clicked a result within the first three pages of search results.” Blended Search Results StudyJupiter Research & the NPD Group
Our behaviors have changed over time. According to the same study, in 2002, 19% of searchers were willing to check past the third page compared to only 8% in 2008.
What does that say? Two things: the engines are getting better at search and so are we. If we don’t find what we’re looking for on the first page, we revise and refine our search terms.
What it also tells us is: for our efforts to be worthwhile, for us to not only be in the game but to win it, we must commit resources, experienced and interested resources, to the collection of customers of every ilk.
“The fact remains that people are using the Internet now to make locally focused decisions more than anything other than email,” said Mark Peterson, VP of Marchex (a vertical online traffic firm).
Businesses are being judged and picked more and more by not only their personal and business reputations but by their online reputation. This is evidenced by both organic search and paid search marketing activities. (See Google Stock Price: $539.41, at this writing)
Spending for high rankings in both arenas will translate into more leads generated. That will give you the chance to steal second while your competition isn’t looking.