It’s no secret that SEO is not easy (and it’s not cheap). It takes a ton of effort to earn that top spot on a great majority of SERPs because there are so many others who also want that top spot. Google wants the most relevant entries first, and in many cases there are several entries that would all qualify. It’s SEO that sets you apart and lets you show search engines bots, “hey, I belong here” by revising your site to show them exactly what they need to see.
For some companies, however, it’s not a mad dash to improve SEO for that first spot because that first spot isn’t hard to grasp. Government agencies, certain non-profit organizations, and those who have created a one-of-a-kind product or service don’t have much competition. It’s easy to think: Who needs SEO when you have no competition?
Why SEO Isn’t Always about Beating the Competition
I’ll admit that this was a question that I had to really ponder. There might be some reasons it’s a good thing, but is spending all of that money on SEO and making it a part of your business really a necessity when you’ve already got that top spot locked down? I just wrote an article on the Higher Visibility blog about this topic and felt it deserved extra attention. Below are a few reasons that SEO should still be a part of every website despite having no competition:
- Optimizing your site for search engine’s also means improving usability for your readers.
In many cases, what you need to do to optimize your website actually helps readers navigate and understand your website. After all, the whole reason Google wants you to optimize your site in the first place is for readers. You have to make sure that you don’t look at SEO as simply a marketing tactic, but rather a usability one. Your site needs to be a place readers come for quality content, easy navigation through internal linking, breadcrumbs, etc., and a place to really engage with others in the community, and all of this falls under the SEO umbrella.
- You need to be prepared for future competition.
The vast majority of companies will see competition eventually, even those that think there is absolutely no way. Just in case, you want to be prepared with a solid SEO plan so that when the competition does arrive, you already have your SEO in place. After all, SEO takes a long time to see results. This will give you the edge as opposed to having to start from scratch and battle it out with the new company.
- You want to be able to communicate with search engines to reach a good status.
SEO is about communicating with search engines as well as with readers. The benefits that search engine bots can offer you is not only that number one spot. The PR of your website is given to you by search engine bots based upon your SEO. This is one indication that readers may use to determine the quality of your site. As I stated in my previous article, you want to “show customers that you really are the best no matter what—you’re not just the only thing available.”
The one good thing about having no competition is that there is no pressure and there is no rush. You still want to put time and thought into SEO, but you have the luxury of putting other aspects of your company ahead of it. You likely won’t need to hire a big SEO agency to help you, so try it on your own first or seek the help of just one expert.
Do you think that people need SEO if there is no competition? Do you have experience with this issue? Let us know your story and tell us your thoughts in the comments below.
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