Why You Should Make Provision in Your Marketing Budget for SEO | GrowTraffic

In today’s digital-first world, the majority of buyer journeys begin with an online search. Digital marketing, specifically SEO, remains an absolutely crucial element of a business’s success and should not be overlooked. Quite often, in discussions with business owners who want to grow, a commonly said thing is, ‘We can’t afford it’. This blog aims to explore why you should make provisions in your marketing budget for SEO.

So many marketing budgets overlook or undervalue this critical component of a digital marketing strategy. If you’re a marketing professional or business owner aiming to enhance your online presence, allocating resources and budget to SEO is one of the smartest investments you can make. Here’s why…

Why Should You Invest In SEO?

There are multiple reasons why making provision in your marketing budget for SEO can be the key to success, and truly, the proof is in the pudding – but here are some key reasons why you should invest in SEO.

• SEO Drives High Quality Traffic

Unlike other marketing efforts, SEO focuses on organic web traffic, which often yields higher-quality leads. One third of all online consumers find businesses through search engines. More likely than not, these people who find your website via search engines are actively looking for the products or services you offer. By investing in SEO, you give your website the best chance to rank for relevant keywords, ensuring visibility to potential customers when they’re searching for solutions.

User experience (otherwise referred to as UX) is something that a lot of marketing professionals prioritise. Having a strong SEO strategy can in fact help UX. SEO goes beyond keywords and backlinks and encompasses all elements of a website, including how it appeals to the end user. One of Google’s key ranking factors is user experience and it is something that marketing departments simply cannot ignore if they want a website to rank well on SERPs.  Making provision in your marketing budget for SEO ultimately kills two birds with one stone, making sure your website is fast, secure and easy to navigate.

Paid ads, although massively effective, are the drug of the marketing world. While they offer a quick hit and immediate visibility, the benefits disappear the moment you stop paying. 

SEO, on the other hand, is a slow burner that delivers lasting results. A well optimised website will continually attract organic traffic over time, offering a higher return on investment (ROI) compared to more traditional marketing channels.

If you aren’t making provisions in your marketing budget for SEO, seriously, you’re living under a rock! Your competitors are likely investing in SEO. Missing out on this is handing over potential customers to key competitors. SEO focuses on making your website rank higher in SERPs, all whilst building trust and credibility in the eyes of the consumer. Without it, your competitors are likely going to get there first!

The buyer journey is something we focus on quite a lot in conversations with clients and prospects. SEO is really important in helping your business appear in multiple touchpoints across a customer’s journey. Sure, web users may not click on your website straight away, they may even shop around a bit before coming to you, however, there is something really powerful and effective about repeatedly appearing in SERPs. Being visible in SERPs reinforces brand awareness and makes users more likely to choose your business when they’re ready. Another great way to boost brand awareness is social media – you can learn about how to grow a business using social media in one of my previous articles.

Read here: How To Grow A Business Using Social Media

• Integrates with Other Marketing Channels

SEO isn’t a stand alone effort. It complements other marketing efforts, such as content marketing, social media, and PPC. This is why you should make provision in your marketing budget for SEO. For example, blog posts optimised for SEO can drive organic traffic while being shared across social media to extend their reach.

The beauty of SEO is that there are so many tools and analytics platforms out there to provide valuable insights into your audience’s behaviour, preferences, and needs, thus informing the direction of your SEO strategy. At GrowTraffic, we pride ourselves on being a data driven agency, offering SEO support based on figures. This data can inform not just SEO efforts but your entire marketing strategy, helping you create campaigns that resonate with your audience and generate better results.

• Adapts to Changing Behaviours and Trends

We understand that as the digital landscape continues to evolve, so do consumer behaviour and the demands of businesses. SEO is a dynamic field that evolves alongside this, unlike more traditional marketing trends. A comprehensive SEO strategy makes sure that your business stays ahead of the curve.

How to Make Provision in Your Marketing Budget for SEO

If SEO isn’t yet part of your marketing strategy, now is the time to start. 

I understand, however, that making provisions in your marketing budget may not be as simple. There are a few ways to make sure that a good SEO strategy fits into your budget.

– Auditing Your Current Online Presence: Before making provisions in your budget, I advise you to have a look at your current online presence. Auditing your website (or working with an SEO agency that can help) can help you understand your strengths and areas for improvement.

– Setting Clear Goals: Be clear on what success looks like for your business, whether it’s increased traffic, better rankings, or higher conversions.

– Work With An Agency: An agency specialising in SEO and digital marketing can be the perfect solution. Outsourcing SEO can host so many benefits.

Making room for SEO in your marketing budget isn’t just an expense—it’s an investment in the growth and sustainability of your business. 

Improving your online visibility, driving quality traffic, and building long-term brand credibility, SEO ensures your business stays competitive in a quickly evolving digital landscape.

Ready to make provisions in your marketing budget for SEO?

Get in touch with us today.