Small Businesses

Pros and cons of investing in SEO

  • 4 min Read
  • October 15, 2017

Author

Escalon

Table of Contents

Before we dive in to the pros and cons of investing in SEO, let’s firmly define it.


SEO is an abbreviation for search engine optimization. While the term, SEO, can leave many startups confused, it’s simply how you get free and organic traffic to your website.


Breaking it down even further, consider this example. Your potential customer goes to Google and enters a term in the search bar that has something to do with your business. If you show up on the search engine results page near the top or at least on page one, you’ve succeeded at search engine optimization.


Google, Bing and Yahoo are the three major search engines, and if your business populates on page one, your SEO is working.


Pros of investing in SEO



It’s good for your startup to invest in SEO. It brings visibility to your business and ultimately revenue.


The pros are many, and let’s look at a few:


1. You gain more business by spending time and money on SEO. Do note that it is a long-term marketing strategy. Getting listed on page one of the search engine results pages takes time and patience. When you continually fine tune your SEO, you watch your page rise on results pages in a gradual manner.


2. Investing in SEO builds trust and credibility with the major search engines which reward you in the long run. Not only does SEO boost your organic website traffic, but it also increases the visibility and credibility of your startup. If your website always appears in the top section of results, potential customers know you are trustworthy.


3. SEO delivers continual, free traffic to your website. Unlike pay-per-click campaigns, investing SEO doesn’t cost you (unless you hire an agency). SEO is also free because you aren’t paying for traffic to your website like you would with ads.


4. According to experts, web searchers are 8.5 times more likely to click on an organic result than they are a paid search result. So, the opportunities that arise from organic search are exponentially better for your startup.


Cons of investing in SEO



While the pros outweigh the cons of investing in SEO, there are a few disadvantages to take note of.


1. Search engine optimization takes time, and it’s not a quick fix. For example, if you use paid advertising, you notice an increase in web traffic as long as the ads are running. With SEO, you invest in the beginning, but you still reap the benefits for months and years.


2. As your SEO begins to work, your competitors may take notice and start to work on their own digital marketing strategy. Once the competition sees that you have the top spots on search engine results pages, they’re going to start working on their own SEO.


3. Another pitfall for startups may be that if you do SEO really well, you might end up with too many leads or an excess of sales that you can’t handle. To combat this, be sure you have the processes and structure in place to handle the additional business and sales leads.


4. Some startups end up working with digital agencies that don’t always work ethically. They may cut corners or break the rules to get your website to the top of search pages. Be wary of these agencies as they can also get you black-listed from Google and other search engines. Check references and make sure you work with a reputable SEO agency if you aren’t doing the work yourself.


Final thoughts



Now that we’ve looked at the pros and cons of investing in SEO, the ball is in your court.


Search engine optimization includes the methods you use to ensure your website performs well in search engine results.


So, even though there are a few minor disadvantages to investing in SEO, it really is important for the overall health of your website and the well-being of your business.


If it’s important to you to show up on page one of the search engine results pages and near the top, then you want to concentrate on SEO.


Finally, it’s worth noting that according to Search Engine People, ranking highly for organic search results is crucial because between 70% and 80% of users completely ignore paid advertisements.”


Are you a new startup ready to succeed? Are you looking to get your new business off the ground and watch it rise to success? We are here for you. We can help answer your questions and guide you through the process. Outsource your HR duties, finances, payroll and more to us. Contact Escalon today to get started.

Talk to our team today to learn how Escalon can help take your company to the next level.

  • Expertise you can trust

    Our team is made up of seasoned professionals who bring years of industry experience to the table. You gain a trusted advisor who understands your business inside out.

  • Quality and consistency

    Say goodbye to the hassles of hiring, training and managing in-house finance teams. You will never have to worry about unexpected leave of absence or retraining new employees.

  • Scalability and Flexibility

    Whether you’re a small business or a global powerhouse, our solutions scale with your needs. We eliminate inefficiencies, reduce costs and help you focus on growing your business.

Contact Us Today!

Tap into the latest insights from experts in your industry

Accounting & Finance

Managing Multi-State Compliance as Your Workforce Becomes More Distributed

Rapid expansion and remote work trends have empowered medium-sized businesses to hire talent nationwide. Yet with multi-state operations come multi-layered...

Read More
Leadership & Growth

How to Build Leadership Pipelines to Sustain Growth 

Growth often hinges on capable leadership at every level. Yet many medium-sized businesses focus on filling immediate management vacancies rather...

Read More
uncategorized

How to Avoid Operational Bottlenecks When Scaling Beyond $10M ARR 

Reaching $10 million in Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) is a major milestone, but scaling further brings new operational hurdles. From...

Read More
Press Releases

Escalon Achieves SOC 2 Type II Compliance

April 30, 2025– Escalon Services, a leading provider of back-office solutions for startups and SMBs, proudly announces that it has...

Read More
People Management & HR

From 25 to 100 Employees: The HR Systems You Need to Stay Compliant

Moving from 25 employees to 100 is a tipping point for many businesses. What worked with a lean, close-knit team...

Read More
uncategorized

Compensation Strategies for Medium-Sized Businesses: How to Stay Competitive

Compensation isn’t just about paying people to show up and do work; it’s a strategic tool that can attract top...

Read More
Accounting & Finance

Common Accounting Mistakes That Cost Medium-Sized Businesses Millions 

Accurate accounting is the bedrock of any successful business operation. Yet, medium-sized businesses—those that have grown beyond the small-business stage...

Read More
Taxes

1099 vs. W-2: How to Ensure Compliance and Reduce Risk 

Distinguishing between independent contractors (1099) and employees (W-2) is a pivotal compliance matter for U.S. businesses. Misclassification can result in...

Read More
Accounting & Finance

Capital Raising in Spring: How to Position Your Startup for Investor Interest

Spring symbolizes renewal, making it an apt metaphor for startups aiming to secure fresh capital to fuel their next growth...

Read More