Posts in category: General Marketing

SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) is the process of improving a website’s visibility on search engines like Google. It involves optimising content, technical performance, and backlinks so that a site ranks higher in search results for relevant keywords.

For companies, understanding SEO is essential because it directly impacts how easily potential customers can find them online. A strong SEO strategy can drive consistent, high-quality traffic to a website, increase brand visibility, build credibility, and ultimately lead to more conversions and revenue, without relying solely on paid advertising. In a competitive digital landscape, SEO is a long-term investment that helps businesses stay discoverable and relevant.

1. Google searches for ‘ChatGPT’ are increasing (Statista).

Data from Statista reveals that search interest in the term ‘ChatGPT’ surged throughout last year, reaching its peak in June 2024 with a maximum score of 100 on Google’s search index.

Although there was a slight dip in interest towards the end of the year, search volumes for ‘ChatGPT’ have remained strong and stable. This sustained interest highlights a broader movement toward conversational AI tools, with users increasingly turning to platforms like ChatGPT for information in a more natural, dialogue-based format, reshaping how people approach search and SEO.

2. Most Effective Channels for B2B Buyers to Find Products (BackLinko)

3. Google remains the dominant search engine by a significant margin (Statista).

Despite the growing impact of AI-driven search tools, Google remains the dominant force in the search engine landscape. According to Statista, Google currently holds an impressive 89.74% share of the global search market, with Bing trailing far behind at just 4.04%.

Other players like Yahoo, China’s Baidu, Russia’s Yandex, and DuckDuckGo, a privacy-focused engine that aggregates results from various sources, also maintain a presence, though their user bases are significantly smaller by comparison.

4. Almost 50% of Google searches are for local products/ services (Embryo Marekting).

According to research by Embryo Marketing, nearly half of all Google searches, around 46%, are driven by local intent. This indicates a clear shift in consumer behaviour, with more users seeking location-specific content, deals, and recommendations. 

To tap into this trend, businesses can strategically target region-specific keywords and develop localised, SEO-friendly content tailored to their audience’s geographic interests. Doing so not only boosts your visibility in relevant markets but also attracts high-quality, conversion-ready traffic.

5. Approximately 20% of global users engage with voice search (Google).

With voice search now used by around 20% of people globally—according to Google—it’s becoming an increasingly important consideration for digital strategy. As smart speakers and voice-enabled assistants continue to gain traction, voice-driven search is set to play a more influential role in how users discover content.

To stay ahead of the curve, consider integrating these voice search optimisation tactics into your SEO approach:

• Identify the most frequently asked voice queries within your industry to understand user intent.
  
• Craft your content using natural, conversational language that mirrors how people actually speak.
  
• Leverage natural language processing (NLP) techniques to better align your content with how voice assistants interpret and deliver answers.

6. SEO demand is forecast to increase by 22% between 2022 and 2030 (CheckaSalary).

When integrated within a comprehensive strategy, SEO and marketing complement each other exceptionally well. SEO experts often collaborate with both digital marketing agencies and internal marketing teams to maximise impact. Industry projections indicate that the demand for professionals in these roles is expected to grow by approximately 22% between 2022 and 2030.

7. Video SEO provides significant value in enhancing brand visibility.

Incorporating video content into your website has proven to be a powerful lead generation tool, with 88% of marketers reporting success, according to Wyzowl. High-quality videos not only capture attention but also encourage users to stay on your site longer, reducing bounce rates and boosting SEO performance in the process.

Meanwhile, Finances Online reports that video is poised to become the fastest-growing segment in digital advertising, thanks to its dynamic and engaging nature.

Video allows brands to convey personality, value, and information in a compact, visually rich format. Search engines increasingly prioritise content that is relevant, engaging, and useful to users, and video checks all those boxes. When you also consider that YouTube remains the world’s leading video search platform, it’s clear that developing a well-rounded video marketing strategy is essential for maximising your search visibility and long-term digital growth.

8. Survey Revealing the Most ROI-Effective Digital Marketing Strategies (Website Builder Expert).

9. Data from SEO.AI reveals that 78% of mobile users conducting local searches ultimately make a purchase offline (SEO.AI).

When people use their mobile phones to search for something nearby, like a restaurant, store, or service, 78% of the time, those searches lead to a real-world purchase. In other words, most people who look for local businesses on their phones don’t just browse online; they actually go to the physical location and buy something.

This highlights how powerful local mobile searches are for driving foot traffic and in-person sales. If your business is optimised for local search, you’re much more likely to attract customers who are ready to make a purchase right then and there.

10. Typical Monthly SEO Expenses in the UK by Business Type (Add People).

11. Nearly three-quarters of business owners consider an SEO firm’s reputation as a crucial factor before deciding to work with them (Backlinko).

Before hiring an SEO company, almost 75% of business owners look closely at the company’s reputation. This means they want to know if the SEO firm is trustworthy, reliable, and has a proven track record of delivering good results.

In other words, a strong reputation is one of the most important things businesses check to feel confident that the SEO company can help improve their online presence effectively. It shows that trust and past performance matter a lot when choosing who to work with for SEO services.

12. Nearly half (49%) of business owners believe SEO delivers the highest return on investment compared to other marketing channels (Reboot).

Almost half of business owners, 49%, think that SEO (search engine optimisation) gives them the best bang for their buck compared to other ways of marketing. In other words, when they invest money and effort into SEO, they see better financial returns than from other marketing strategies like social media, email marketing, or paid ads.

This shows that many business owners trust SEO as an effective method to attract customers and grow their business profitably.

13. Distribution of Search Volumes Across 4 Billion Keywords (Ahrefs).

Research conducted by Ahrefs reveals that nearly 95% of Google searches involve keywords with very low search volumes, specifically between 0 and 10 monthly searches. This highlights the extraordinary uniqueness of most search queries. Within this low-volume segment, there were approximately 3.8 billion searches, over 18 times more than searches with volumes ranging from 11 to 1,000, and nearly 1,000 times more than those with volumes between 1,001 and 100,000.

Overall, just over 5% of searches fall within the 11 to 1,000 volume range, while only about 0.1% of searches reach volumes between 1,001 and 100,000.

14. Top 10 searches globally (Reboot).

According to Google keyword data from October 2024, YouTube dominated as the most searched website, with an impressive 580 million searches. This figure surpasses WhatsApp, the second most searched site, by 14%. Additionally, YouTube’s search volume exceeded that of Facebook by more than 60%, underscoring its leading position in user interest.

15. Google’s Revenue in Billions from 2021 to 2024

Between 2021 and 2024, Google’s revenue climbed steadily, reflecting its dominance in digital advertising, cloud computing, and online services. Each year, the tech giant brought in hundreds of billions of dollars, with the majority of income generated through its advertising platforms, Google Search, YouTube, and the Google Display Network.

This period highlights not only Google’s ability to adapt in a competitive digital landscape but also the growing demand for online advertising, cloud solutions, and digital products. As consumer behaviour continues to shift online, Google’s consistent year-over-year growth is a strong indicator of how central the company remains to the global digital economy.