How and Why Is SEO the Key to a Successful Export Business?  

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why seo is import for export business

As the world is going through the post-pandemic stage, the economy is slowly recovering and businesses are adjusting their business direction.

Despite having tried multiple digital marketing channels, especially paid ads, some businesses are still unsure of the real power of search engine optimization (SEO).

SEO might sound unfamiliar to you but once you understand the hidden power of SEO, you will realize how important it is to initiate this optimization for your export business.  

In short, search engine optimization (SEO) is the science of improving a website to increase its online visibility.

For example, when a user searches for “domain name” on Google, he will see Exabytes. Next, he will click on the search result (Exabytes), enter Exabytes website, and sign up for the services he needs.

Exabytes Domain Name Google Search Result
Using Google Search Engine: Type “domain name”

So how and why does an effective SEO strategy help boost your export business? Read on to learn more.  

1. Reaffirmation

Everything starts with a search. Whether consumers are making a purchase or researching a product, search is the connective tissue between the moment of inspiration and taking action.

What I want to emphasize is that in any buyer’s journey, buyers would definitely use ‘search’ more than you can imagine.

In this regard, if your products are listed on Google and Alibaba.com, many international potential buyers will be able to reach your company by just searching.  

Alibaba Official Homepage

What happens if your company or products do not appear on Google search results? Do you think your potential customers will consider your company as their first choice? 

If your website can be found on Google, congrats! But what about the homepage, about us page, contact page, and the product and service page on your website?

The fact is, once customers reach your website via Google search, your website plays an important whether the prospects will buy from you or not.

In short, in today’s digital world, it is a must for businesses to have an SEO friendly website and a strong online presence and visibility on Google search.  

2. Local SEO

Do you use Google or Google Maps to check the physical address of a restaurant before patronising it? I’m sure most of us do.  

This also applies to business-to-business (B2B) activities. Potential customers are also checking the location of your factory and office and Google reviews to judge the rating of your company.

On a side note, are you aware that many international buyers prefer to buy Malaysian products?

As a matter of fact, if your ‘meta title’ or website content contains geographical keywords like “Malaysia”, your website will have a higher chance to appear on Google results from a location search query.

SEO Malaysia Exabytes
Example of Google Result with {keyword} + ‘Malaysia’

Furthermore, Google My Business is one of the free Google tools to help you rank better, especially for local SEO. 

Moreover, it is important for your company to show reviews when users search for your brand keywords. If you are yet to verify your listing, please do so now to start optimizing for your local SEO presence

3. B2B Keywords 

Generally, the keywords difficulty of business-to-consumer (B2C) are higher than business-to-business (B2B). What does it mean?  

If you put an equal amount of keyword effort to target B2B and B2C respectively, most likely you will see more results for B2B.

While it does not apply to all types or categories of keywords, if you are able to rank various untapped keywords for your industry on Google, you can gain new organic traffic to your website.

What can we learn from analyzing the average search number of keywords on Google?

All you need to do is install the Google Chrome extension, Keyword Surfer, and pick the country. Next, it will show the search volume on Google directly.  

Keyword Surfer Google Chrome Extension
Screenshot of Google Result with Keyword Surfer

Most of the time, by doing keyword research, you will discover new and popular keywords you should mention on your website, products and marketing materials.

Yes, I know some niche businesses might say, “My products are too niche and nobody will search for them.” The truth is regardless of the volume of search, the goal is to ensure your website appears for all relevant keywords.   

Related: Recommended Surefire Keyword Research Tools for SEO

4. Lead Generation Machine

Instead of spending a big budget on marketing to drive new leads, do you know you can turn your website into a lead generation machine? 

Lead generation is the process of attracting prospects to your business and increasing their interest through nurturing, all with the end goal of converting them into a customer. 

HubSpot: Inbound Sales Methodology

For example, you can create an irresistible giveaway or free reading such free templates, white papers or industrial reports that interest your target audiences.

To get the giveaways, your website visitors will have to fill out a form.  

Once they begin the customer journey above, you can combine more channels like email marketing, social media marketing and automation and turn them into customers. 

See how everything fits together?

5. Content Marketing 

The four major keyword intent are informational, commercial, transactional and navigational.

Some queries might have a mixture of keyword intent but generally they are classified into these four types.

keywords search intent
4 Types of Keyword Intent

Out of the four, “informational” takes up the largest portion as countless users keep looking, learning and researching their keywords. 

Simply put, users are looking for an answer or general information about a product or service most of the time.

Does your website provide the answer or content to fulfil the users’ searches? 

For example, you can create the 1H 4W (how, what, why, where, who) content related to your products and services. 

On a side note, do you realize all the online enquires you receive via Alibaba.com, websites, WhatsApp or social media can be good content?  

Bonus tip: You can modify the “People also ask” questions to become part of your content marketing strategy. It’s totally free.

Final Takeaways 

SEO optimization has a huge potential. Once you are able to grab organic traffic steadily, the growth rate might increase exponentially in the future.   

Lastly, when it comes to digital marketing for export business, don’t put all your eggs in one basket.

Many business owners ignore Search Engine Optimization because they need ‘fast sales’. Others do not do SEO strategy due to a lack of patience or a misconception about SEO. 

Once you understand the power of SEO, it can become a key channel to drive leads and sales for your business.  

Ready to act now? Let us help you grow your SEO: www.exabytes.my/seo

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