2019 was an excellent year for managing a small business. Technically, I opened my online thrift shop in October 2018, but my business only began to gain traction during the first quarter of 2019. How did I attract more customers, you might ask? It started when I asked for help from an SEO company in Singapore.
I chose to run an online thrift shop because of two things: first, my love for vintage clothing and items, and second, the power of the Internet. Ever since I explored thrift stores in Singapore as a teenager, I became interested in antiques and old-fashioned clothes. I said to myself that one day, I’d manage a thrift store myself. So here I am today, running an online store that sells trinkets, goodies, and quality apparel.
Nonetheless, running a startup can be challenging these days, considering how fierce the competition can get. It’s a jungle out there, and I don’t want my business to be a mere blip on the customer’s radar. That’s why I researched digital marketing to discover how it can benefit my business. I wanted to get ahead of my competitors through digital means, which is why I looked for an SEM agency in Singapore that could help me out.
I never quite understood the benefits of search engine optimisation (SEO). I keep seeing the term mentioned around the Internet, yet I really can’t grasp how it can help my online business. Sure, I already know that it’s helpful in little ways, but I can’t see myself investing in SEO strategies in the long run.
However, after I discussed the details of my marketing campaign with the SEM company, my perspective changed. It turned out that SEO is not as what I’d expected it to be. In short, SEO helped boost my business and place it in a position where it is today.
Here are some of the ways on how SEO (and digital marketing in general) helped my online store gain leads.
1. WEBSITE SPEED IS ESSENTIAL
One of the very first topics we’ve discussed is the importance of website speed and performance for websites, especially online stores such as mine. Since my online thrift store will serve as a gateway for both new and existing customers, I must ensure my website is running smoothly at all times. Slow loading times will hurt the user’s experience, and as such, I could lose customers faster than Bruce McLaren driving a Ford GT40 Mk.II.
While talking with the SEM company, their head marketer mentioned how avoiding a one-second delay in a page’s loading time should be our priority. I’ve seen data explaining how a one-second delay in your website’s loading speed can instantly result in lesser conversions and fewer views.
2. FOCUS ON CREATING QUALITY CONTENT
I have so much to say about vintage fashion and antiques. The best part is that my store holds a variety of products, all of which derive from different eras. With such a diverse range of history behind my products, I could write so much about them. For that reason, I built a blog page for my website.
The good news is that blogging is an essential part of digital marketing. Writing content helps in boosting SEO, especially if you know the right keywords for your website. Fortunately, I had a team of marketers by my side who helped me create quality content related to my line of work.
We wrote about the thrift store industry and how it deserves to be recognised by the public. Other topics include tips for finding the best vintage clothes that you could add to your wardrobe. Our blog page is filled with more topics about thrift stores, and the best part about it is that there’s no shortage of ideas. As long as my passion for old-fashioned clothing is alive, so is my energy for creating endless articles about such topics.
3. WHITE HAT VS BLACK HAT SEO
The first time I saw the terms white hat and black hat SEO, I already had a clue about their definitions. I’m an avid reader of all things pop culture, and some of its topics included Hollywood and history. I learned that in classic Western films, most stories would let the hero wear a white hat, while the villain would wear a black hat. In short, white hat SEO is good, while black hat SEO is not so good.
The SEO company explained to me that following white hat SEO techniques is the right approach. Black hat SEO involves unethical strategies that could penalise my website and its search engine rankings. Because of the severe consequences, I’d have to avoid black hat SEO marketing strategies. Instead, I should focus on white hat SEO and conduct proper digital marketing techniques.
These are just some of the things I’ve learned while working with OOm. If you want to work with an SEO company in Singapore like them, you can visit their website to see if their services are right up your alley.
