When is it Best to Focus on SEO?
Have Internet users stopped looking for products online? No. Have they given up discounts and coupons? No. The conclusion is self-evident. The future holds enough cyber traffic for emerging promotion strategies, but SEO optimization cannot be undone; it is the very foundation whose well-being will enhance the success of all other types of marketing. The idea that SEO and other strategies are mutually exclusive is not quite accurate.
Let’s say you have a well-defined promotion plan. If one of your final goals is to attract relevant and sustainable traffic—not disposable traffic—SEO is your best bet. It’s been said many times how convenient the price-to-product ratios are: you invest time and/or money now, and the results keep rolling in. The effects aren't limited to the invoiced period—your work today, yesterday, or even tomorrow can yield benefits a year from now.
In a sense, SEO reminds one of passive income: from students to entrepreneurs, everyone has heard of it and dreams of generating income with minimal ongoing effort, but set up "once and for all," multiplying the initial investment through inertia. The phrase "once" shouldn't be taken too literally—the more resources you invest in creating future income, the more fruitful your efforts will likely be.
However, you should remember that the income directly depends on the attention given to its creation. Intensive, proactive work yields success in SEO, while the approach of "I moved a finger and now I’m overworked" would be doomed.
SEO thrives in the details. A thoughtful approach will turn your promotion campaign into the key to business success, while ignorance will sabotage your business.
Without SEO optimization, your site gets lost in virtual reality, showing up in irrelevant search results. This reduces your contribution to zero: your page appears before users search for something entirely different, causing them to leave disappointed. When you remember how much effort you put into creating the content, it can feel frustrating. Yet, not all is lost—just the expectation to rank in the top search results for the wrong terms.
If you’re feeling the urge to act, driven by your inner traffic hunter, let’s clarify whether there is a real threat to SEO from the growing popularity of social networks.
Can Mobile Apps Replace SEO?
Mobile traffic is increasing every month, and for Google, the mobile version of a site is now the primary focus. Does this mean mobile apps can replace SEO?
No. Here’s why: Apps don’t flood the web; they are concentrated (read: carefully curated) in Google Play (and iTunes). Google has already been indexing app content for two years and plans to make it accessible for preview along with the ability to download and install apps via a universal Google account.
Two things are clear: The installation rate for new apps is nearly zero, and space on mobile devices is limited. Consequently, the number of apps users use is also restricted. The motivation for an average user to swap one app for another isn’t high. Apps also have costs, and "app fatigue" is real—there are just too many apps. Most are only valuable for specific tasks.
Additionally, while building an app is one thing, maintaining and improving its performance takes constant resources. Creating apps for the sake of apps is no longer trendy. The truth lies in patient, targeted strategies: SEO.
The Bottom Line: SEO's Vital Role
In conclusion, the SEO industry is responsible for the vitality of consistent, relevant, and product-oriented traffic.
The landscape is indeed becoming increasingly competitive, but SEO continues to ensure stable cheap traffic strictly interested in the object of the advertisement. Does this suggest that a mix of SEO and social media could dominate the market? You don’t know until you try, but marketing experts would likely vote with a resounding YES!