online marketers have largely embraced PPC (pay-per-click) as a part of their demand generation arsenal. But according to recent research ,organic search results in a 5.66 times higher conversion opportunity than that of paid search. The ultimate driver of organic search is unique, accessible, and high-quality content. And the easiest, most cost-effective way to create that content is through corporate blogging. Sound complex? It’s not. Think of it this way – budgeting belts may be tightening, marketing dollars might be stretched, but everyone is still using the internet to search. From finding the best deals on the latest technological gadgets to locating the closest restaurant, online search is approximately 80% of all web activity. In fact, the 2008 Pew Internet Project statistics indicate that internet search is one of the most frequently executed daily online activities – second only to email, and steadily outpacing news and weather checks.
Search Engine Watch notes, “People don’t go to web sites anymore. Web sites come to them. This is, perhaps, the best way to explain the impact of search on the online experience.” It’s time to stop trying to drive customers to your site, and instead, meet them where they already are – on Google (or Yahoo, or any other preferred search engine). Your customers are no longer necessarily focused on memorizing your name, your brand, or your website address. Instead, they’re interested in locating exactly what they need in as little time as possible.