8 Ways Small Business SEO Trumps Big Firms’

For small businesses, it can be intimidating to even consider competing against those big-budgeted brands, especially when you’re trying to keep a hold of the purse strings.

However, you shouldn’t let major firms come between your business and its success, and in the age of technology that success comes hand in hand with a good digital marketing strategy.

While you’ll do well to keep an eye on your social media and content marketing, the most important aspect of your digital marketing is the SEO.

Lucky for you, there are a few areas of SEO that work more in favour for the small business than for big brands. To help you make a start of your SEO strategy, here are some of the areas that small businesses can boss.

1. Niche

Small businesses are more likely to be targeting a specific need of their customers, compared to larger businesses who are able to cater for a variety of needs.

While this may sound like a negative, it’s actually helpful in terms of SEO. Because of their niche market, small businesses are able to tailor their SEO strategy at long-tail keyword optimisation.

These longer terms are more specific to a certain need and because of this, it’s more likely that smaller businesses will rank well for them.

2. Room for manoeuvre

As a small business, you’re able to easily chop and change and have a quick turnaround. While this may seem like a by-product of inexperience, it’s actually a good thing when it comes to managing your SEO strategy.

This flexibility means easy management, compared to large businesses who require lots of notice and many hands on deck to make a change in proceedings run smoothly.

This agility means you have more potential for growth, perfect for a business finding their feet in the world of SEO.

3. Local SEO

Small businesses often have the advantage of operating locally. This can seem like a restriction at first, but in terms of SEO it’s a blessing.

Where large businesses battle for the simple keywords that cover a variety of locations, small businesses are able to nip into the search on their area thanks to it being a less competitive space.

Even if you operate online, as a small business you can benefit from local SEO, simply because you will be based within a certain area and as a result can appeal to those people first and foremost.

4. Personal brand

Large firms might have a big marketing team on board, but here’s the hitch; their customers know that.

Their big budget means customers won’t identify with them as well as they will with the small business who’s able to build their own personal brand.

Your personal interaction with customers and personality can be conveyed on social media and through your content, which in turn will mean active social media channels and a well-respected blog, both of which are vital when it comes to managing your SEO rankings.

5. Creativity

Letting your imagination run wild is one of the most exciting parts of owning your own business and thanks to your independence, you don’t have anything to stop you getting as creative as you want.

Whereas a big company will manage their social media with a keen eye to ensure they align with their brand tone and the level of professionalism that’s expected of a business of their size, small businesses have a freedom to try out something new on whim.

This carefree attitude means you’re more likely to resonate with individuals, particularly if focus your efforts an emotion that will drive your followers and readers. Often the more original the idea, the further it will go and the more attention it will garner, so don’t be afraid to step outside that box.

6. Focus

One of the downsides of operating as a small business is usually the budget. It’s often a case of ‘If I could buy this software’ or ‘When I can pay for that equipment’ that rules your SEO strategy.

However, there is an upside to having a keen eye on your finances – that you know where it’s best spent.

Because you’re working on a tight budget you know not to squander your spends on something that doesn’t have a high chance of helping your website get in search, which is why you’re more likely to do your research than say yes to anything. As a result, you know just where to focus your efforts, which means you have a tight handle on where your site is and what needs to happen next.

7. Authentic underdog

Being a small business you’re much more authentic than the big name brands. This works in your favour. Guaranteed, it’s with a smaller audience, but that’s all you need for now.

You can use your personal brand (see above) to help you get your audience on side by connecting with them in a genuine way. This might include by sharing your own story on your website, or by updating your social media with snippets from your everyday routine.

8. Authority

Bigger brands might have the advantage of money and a team, but as you’re working in a much more niche area you’re able to focus on becoming an authority in a very specific way that will benefit your customers.

There may be more trust in small businesses with good reviews compared to brands with good reviews – while reviews are good signs it’s clear that there’s a big team behind managing their online presence. For you if you have multiple good reviews it’s clearly because you’re doing what you do best, well.

Are you making the most of your SEO strategy? Leave your thoughts in the comment section below!