With billions of businesses around the world competing with each other online, it can feel impossible for new businesses to stand out and reach clients.

Lucky for them, growing a web presence is an attainable goal.

They could choose to buy advertisements in order to grow their traffic.

But these are expensive, and often ineffective. In fact, statistics show that 70 to 80 percent of web surfers ignore paid ads.

By building an SEO strategy and implementing it throughout the process of building a business site, businesses can create a web presence that allows them to target clients interested in their niche.

If you’re a business owner looking to create a successful website, check out these ten need to know SEO tips.

1. Pick your keywords before you start building content

Before a business can start utilizing SEO to spread the word about their new business site, they need to decide which market or markets they’re targeting.

The goal is to narrow the competition field, that way they’re competing with a smaller crowd. If keywords are too broad, the site will get lost in the expanse of the web.

For instance, a law office would need to choose keywords that are more narrow than simply “lawyer” or “law.” Unless an office practices all types of law and serves clients worldwide, there’s no need to target keywords that broad.

Instead, it’s better to think local.

Businesses should add a city or region name to a keyword. Then, take it one step further and add any specialties that business has.

A better choice of keywords for a law office would be “Houston lawyers” and “divorce lawyer Houston.” Two or three focused keywords are essential for any successful SEO strategy.

2. Add a blog

Sprinkling keywords throughout a website will help with SEO. But unless a site has hundreds of pages of information, that won’t be enough.

Businesses need to continuously post keywords on their sites. But piling them up on a page will not only make content sound unprofessional, it can also get a site flagged by Google for spam.

Instead, it’s better to create a space that allows for posting content on a regular basis. This increases the number of times keywords are used in a natural way.

A blog is a great way to do this.

The blog should include content that is relevant and helpful to clients. One that offers tips and tricks, advice, or news updates related to the field of business is the best choice.

By adding new blog posts, with keywords included, several times a week, businesses will see a boost in their search engine ranking in no time.

3. Quality over quantity

Just as overloading a landing or informational page on a website with keywords will make a page look unprofessional, so will poorly written content.

It can be tempting to post tons of content, especially when a site is brand new and not ranked high on Google.

But sacrificing quality for quantity is never a good idea. Clients won’t want to read poorly researched posts or ones that are riddled with grammar and spelling mistakes.

If clients think that a site is unprofessional, they’ll be likely to take their business elsewhere.

4. Outsource

If a business owner lacks the time or skills to produce content for a website, they may want to consider outsourcing.

By hiring writers to produce content for a site, businesses can save time that can then be used to build or strengthen other parts of the business.

Web design, including the initial setup of a website and any future updates, is also best left to the professionals to ensure quality.

5. Update your site

A whopping 55 percent of web surfers are only going to stay on a website for an average of 15 seconds before they go elsewhere.

If a page takes too long to load, or if links leading away from the landing page are slow to respond, visitors are unlikely to stick around.

It’s essential that both a regular site and mobile website are running fast and smooth to avoid losing clients before they even learn about the business.

6. Invest in real links

Getting links to a website posted on other sites is a great SEO boost. But only if those links are natural.

Posting a link randomly, such as in comments on other sites or on sites unrelated to the field of business, will get the site flagged by Google.

Instead, business owners can offer to write Guest posts for other websites and include the site’s link. This is also a great way to spread awareness of a business and website.

7. Get yourself on the map

Once a business site is up and running, it’s important to make sure that clients can find the site.

Google Local is a good place to start. It functions as an online phone book, where web surfers can easily find a URL, as well as a phone number and address if the business has one.

8. Add photo descriptions

Whenever a photo is uploaded to a site, it’s important to add a description

This won’t be visible to all visitors to a site, but it can be accessed by anyone with visual disabilities. Search engines also read these descriptions. Anytime a keyword can be included in the description is an added bonus.

9. Utilize social media

Businesses can help drive visitors to a website by sharing any new content on any social media platforms that they have a presence on.

It’s often easier to attract clients through social media. But getting them to do more than simply like a post or page can be tough.

Linking new blog articles, and giving them catchy, relevant titles is a great way to convert social media followers into paying clients.

10. Get help

Philip Williams said that “Sometimes owning and leading a business can feel like being an island castaway.”

For new small businesses, tackling the challenge of building a website and then reaching clients with it can feel impossible.

But it doesn’t have to be this way.

If a business owner feels that they lack the skills or ability to build and grow a website, reach clients, land deals, or any other aspect of starting a business, it’s a good idea to seek help from the start. That way the business ends up with a solid foundation on which to grow.