There's no doubt that technology has had a profound impact on society. Thanks to the Internet of Things (IoT) and technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), businesses are going digital rapidly. It is a good thing in many ways. Plus, there's a never-ending supply of technological innovations transforming industries across the globe. But since businesses have become more reliant on technology, software-as-a-service (SaaS) solutions have become popular business models for IT companies.
What Is SaaS and How Does SEO Fit?
The SaaS business model is one where businesses are charged to use a specific product or tool.
This business model is quite popular, and many technology companies offer their products as SaaS. It enables vendors to charge different rates for various services or features within the same software suite. Customers may be required to pay an additional fee if they want extra features. Also, SaaS companies could create features tailored to specific markets or audiences.
Nowadays, many businesses use search engine optimization (SEO) as a marketing tool. Given the high level of competition in the IT industry, tools like SEO play a crucial role in helping a company become more visible online. SaaS companies can also benefit from SEO.
SaaS companies must use both on- and off-page SEO for maximum effect. An effective SEO strategy will ensure that your page appears near the top of search engine results pages (SERP). However, the truth is that SEO for SaaS can be tricky. As a result, it is best to collaborate with a professional SEO agency like Amplifyed, which can help you with everything SEO-related.
Reasons Why SaaS Companies Need SEO
There are several reasons why SaaS companies need SEO. Below are some examples:
SEO is vital because it can increase your business's online visibility. It is crucial given that IoT has a large audience. The greater your visibility, the better. Therefore, SEO should be part of your marketing strategy if you want to grow your business.
- Works Across Multiple Marketing Platforms
SEO doesn't always work in isolation. You can also use SEO in unison with other marketing channels in your SaaS business. Because omnichannel marketing has become the norm rather than the exception, SEO can be a good addition to any marketing strategy.
Even though SEO is closely linked to content marketing, you could repurpose that same content to other marketing channels. Examples could be email marketing and social media marketing. Therefore, SaaS SEO could help you to generate and convert leads from other platforms.
- Reduction in Cost Per Acquisition
Marketers frequently utilize paid forms of advertising. Some of these paid ads may be effective. However, paid advertising can be costly. SEO is generally much cheaper than other forms of marketing. You must invest in SEO for the long haul to see results. But unlike paid advertising, costs will not increase with every click. So, investing in SEO may drastically lower your cost per acquisition.
Keyword Research For SaaS SEO
Keyword research is part of the process of establishing an SEO strategy. Since the focus is on the SaaS industry, you want to look for high-ranking industry-specific keywords. These keywords should give you a good idea of what products or solutions your prospective customers are looking for. Understanding your prospective customer's pain points is key to developing an effective SEO strategy. Establishing user intent using keywords isn't easy. Nevertheless, it's probably the most crucial part of creating your SEO strategy.
The reason you should understand search intent is that it provides insight into the results your typical customer expects from the SERP. If you can predict this, you can use the appropriate keyword strings to increase your content's search engine rankings. That's why keyword research is so important. SaaS companies should consider using keyword research tools to help them find and use strong and relevant keywords. Remember that creating a list of targeted keywords is best since SaaS companies may fall into different niches or categories.
Other Things To Consider In SaaS SEO
It should be noted that SEO isn't easy. Many technical aspects go into SEO that only experts will understand. That's why it would be ideal to have experts on your team. But other, less technical aspects are worth considering. The list below details some of these aspects.
- Identify Your Target Audience
You must understand that successful SEO for SaaS necessitates understanding your target audiences' problems. Simply put, you must tailor your SEO strategy to your audiences' problems. Users derive value from your SaaS business based on how well you solve their problems. Therefore, the goal is to make your website the go-to place for people with concerns that your product or service can solve. But this all starts with identifying and targeting the right people.
Typically, when a user has a problem, they'll search for a solution online. They'll come across several results. When they open your page, your job is to convince that visitor that your software, service, or product is the solution to their problem. But first, you need to drive traffic to the right audience. That's why you need to use targeted keywords in your SEO. It all starts with packaging your brand, product, or service as a solution to a problem.
- Define Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
Establishing goals for SEO is crucial. Without goals, you won't be able to track progress. You can use KPIs to measure how far you are from the desired destination.
When setting goals, avoid being unrealistic and vague. For example, you shouldn't expect to see results within the first month of implementing your strategy. You may see some results, which is good. But you want to manage your expectations with SEO because it may take time to see results and reach your goal.
Moreover, you need to set clear goals. Clear goals will enable you to direct your resources toward achieving that specific goal. If you set broad goals like 'increase website visibility quickly,' you're not giving yourself something substantial to aim for. Instead, you could be more specific and say, 'increase monthly revenues by x amount in a year.' Such a goal will help you gauge whether your SEO strategy is working. You can identify problems quickly. So if you need to make any changes, you can make the necessary adjustments.
- Conduct Competitor Assessment
Conduct an assessment of your competitors to understand how they handle their SEO. The IT industry is becoming more competitive. As a result, if you want to stay ahead of your competition, you must be aware of what they are doing. Knowing their strategy's strengths and weaknesses enables you to create superior SEO strategies.
Remember, you can learn something from your competitors. The goal is to improve on the best aspects of your competitors' strategies. Then, to outperform your competition, you must address the flaws in your strategy. During competitor analysis, make sure to conduct keyword research for companies within your niche or industry. It can help you determine the keywords that are generating the most traffic. Additionally, check where your competitors are getting the most links from.
Evaluating your direct and indirect competitors' SEO strategies will help you create a more comprehensive strategy. Learning from your competitors can save you a lot of time and money that you would have wasted if you had not done competitor research.
- Publish High-Quality Content
Creating high-quality content should be a priority for any SEO strategy to succeed. Bear in mind that users are constantly bombarded with information on the internet. If you want your website's content to stand out, you've got to ensure it's high-quality. If users perceive your content as valuable, they'll stick around.
Most importantly, your target audience should find your content valuable. That's why you also need to optimize your content for your target audience. You also want to optimize that content so that search engines rank it favorably. It all boils down to comprehending your users' search intent. Then, optimize your content accordingly.
Keep in mind that content is king nowadays. People won't consume your content if it's of poor quality. Even though consistency in posting is vital, quality matters way more than quantity in content SEO. Consider working with a SaaS SEO expert who can help you develop a great content SEO strategy.
- Consider Technical SEO
While developing quality content should be a priority, pay attention to on-page and technical SEO too. To make your website SEO-friendly, you must carefully detail the back end. Therefore, conducting a technical SEO audit before implementing your SEO strategy would be best. Ensure that the site is optimized for mobile use and user-friendly.
- Utilize Backlinks
Backlinks are incredibly beneficial in SEO. They have the effect of signaling to search engines that your website is credible. Your authority increases, especially if you receive backlinks from credible websites. However, backlinks aren't easy to get in SEO. Therefore, you have to be in it for the long haul to see success with backlinks. You can achieve this by consistently creating valuable content. Over time, you'll generate traffic and increase your visibility online. Consequently, your backlink volume will steadily increase.
Conclusion
The SaaS industry, like any other in the IT sector, is very competitive. Businesses are now vying for market share on the Internet of Things. That is why SEO is such a valuable tool for marketers. As a SaaS firm, you want to ensure your SEO strategy is targeted. So, start by identifying your target audience and their problems. Then create your SEO strategy based on that, and position yourself as a solution to their problems. In addition, establish a great content SEO strategy to help you distinguish yourself from the competition. It would be best to partner with an expert who can help you with SEO.
