Search engines are one of the most important tools for finding information on the web. They help people find information by matching their query with a list of websites based on the words or phrases they type into the search box.

With over a billion websites, it’s no surprise that search engines are hard at work trying to help you find what you’re looking for.

What you will learn

Search engines catalog the Internet to help connect searchers with exactly what they’re looking for. That makes them a great marketing tool. This post covers:

• A brief history of search engines

• How search engines changed business

• Why search is a good place to start.

Where did search engines come from?

One of the earliest search engines was a program called Archie, which debuted in 1990 and allowed people to access and search file names—basically the names of the web pages. But, Archie couldn’t tell you what was on those pages.

Fast forward a few decades, and search engines like Google, Bing, Yahoo!, Ask.com, AOL, Baidu, and Yandex have come a long way. These search engines use incredibly sophisticated computer programs to sort through billions of web pages.

Most search engines basically work in the same way. When a person wants to find something, they type in a word or phrase called a search query (e.g., “best cheap laptops”). Then, the search engine compares that query to its catalog of web pages (e.g., “best cheap laptops”). Pulling out the best matches and ranking them from best to least to show the searcher.

Their goal is to create the most relevant list of results possible, to help searchers find what they are looking for. The results page includes links to websites, but you might also see local business listings, items for sale, advertisements, images, maps, videos, and more. 

How does this apply to you and your Business?

Well, imagine you own a food store. If someone searches for a Food store in Nigeria— that’s you!—this is the perfect opportunity to appear on the search results page.

In the same way, if you’re a technician who repairs air electrical appliances, or runs a logistic company ready to deliver goods around Lagos, you want to show up when people search for related words and phrases.

Why? Because the words entered into the search engine indicate the searcher is interested in your products and services, right now. 

The best thing about it is that You can also make use of Google search console and other analytic tools like SEMrush, and Ahrefs to know which keyword is bringing people to your site and how many people are looking for your business.

Read Also: All The SEO Tools You Need To Run A Successful Blog

See why search is such a great place to be? It’s a way to target people who are already looking for you.

Does this mean you should ignore other ways of advertising online? Of course not! Your plan can and should include lots of different ways to promote your business, like social media, email marketing, and display advertising.

But, if you’re a business interested in promoting products and services online, being on search is the way to go.

Sources

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