The Internet has all but dominated our lives for the last 20 years.  It has totally changed the way we communicate with one another in the last 10 years.  It has changed the way we share information, news, and events with family and friends.

 

Despite this a lot of businesses are still standing on the sidelines.  So…if you’ve already got your business online and started the game with customers, congratulations.

 

But chances are you’re one of the many that have been slow to react, don’t worry.  This isn’t a bad time to get started.  In fact, there are a lot of advantages in starting now.  Think about all that has been learned over the past decade.  You get to learn from others people’s mistakes.

 

New companies have risen like Facebook, twitter, and Google plus.  While other companies that once dominated the internet, now look like a billboard in the middle of a deserted desert.

 

The Internet is starting to mature.  The rules are getting a little clearer.  And an industry of professionals in search engine optimization and social media marketing have also matured and stand ready to help.

 

Google is a technology that looks for and finds conversation between people who are looking for products, services, entertainment and information and connects them with companies who are able to provide what they are looking for.

 

These are the vast majority of your customers, partners, and colleagues, no matter what industry you are in.  The technology Google uses to find these conversations is called search.

 

And like most things in life learning to leverage search takes practice. In fact, let’s say it like this. Learning to leverage search is an ongoing practice. Learning to leverage search is a never ending practice. Learning to leverage search is an ever changing practice.

 

Here’s the situation.

 

Your customers are asking Google questions that you know the answer to.  But your x-employee is talking to your clients.  He’s showing up in Google where you should be showing up.  He’s answering questions with the information you taught him.  And it’s just a matter of time before you start feeling the sting from those conversation.  It’s just a matter of time before your clients decide to give him a try.

 

By all rights they should be at your digital doorstep.

 

The days of putting an ad in the Yellow Pages and waiting for the phone to ring are over.  With search everyone’s playing.  If you’ve got customers chances are someone is already talking about you.  If you are selling a product or service and have got customers chances are someone is already talking about you.  If you have competition and have got customers chances are someone is already talking about you.

 

Just because you are not participating doesn’t mean that people somewhere are not talking about you.  Not participating does exclude you from the game.

 

If your phone isn’t ringing off the hook it’s because you don’t understand the game.  Not everyone can show up to answer a customer’s question.   You’ve got to learn and understand the art of making your business show up in front of your competition.  You’ve been forced to play the game so why not play to win?

 

Now if you don’t want to go it alone no one is going to blame you.  So if you plan to hire an SEO expert you might be wondering why you should waste your on my website?

 

Understanding the art of SEO will make you a better client. I am sure everyone loves working with someone who understands the business they are in.

 

SEO’s are informed by science, experience and trial and error. The sooner you get started the quicker you can reap the benefits.

 

Think of search as another way to have a conversation with a good customer or prospect. The skills you already have that you use daily when describing your business and its products and services is all you need.

 

Your business skills and information need to be translated into the practice of SEO.  It is a daunting and frustrating business.  But then again so is starting and running a business.  Those of us who are willing to do the extra work will prosper. Those who stay on the sidelines risk failure.