Many startups rely on paid advertising and social media promotion, forgetting about SEO (search engine optimization). However, organic traffic remains one of the cheapest and most effective channels for attracting customers. In this article, we'll look at why SEO is still important and how a startup can use it correctly.

1. The long–term effect is that paid advertising works as long as it is paid for. SEO provides a constant flow of fines.
2. Low cost of attraction – leads from organic search are cheaper than from contextual advertising.
3. High level of trust – users are more likely to click on natural results than on ad blocks.
4. Increasing brand awareness – if a startup occupies top positions, it is perceived as an authoritative source.

It is important to understand what queries users enter when they search for your product. Use:

• Google Keyword Planner
• Ahrefs or SEMrush
• Serpstat

Choose queries with high frequency and low competition.

SEO-optimized pages should contain:

• Simple and clear headings (H1, H2, H3).
• Keywords are in the text, but without spam.
• Clear and informative meta tags (title, description).
• Internal linking – links between articles for the convenience of users.

Google lowers slow sites in search results. What to improve:

• Optimize the download speed.
• Set up the mobile version (Google Mobile-First Indexing).
• Add an SSL certificate (HTTPS is a mandatory requirement).

Google takes into account the credibility of the site. How can I raise it?

• Guest articles on major websites in your niche.
• Crowd marketing – links from forums, social networks, and comments.
• Affiliate links – cooperation with other companies.

SEO is not fast, but it is an effective and long–lasting tool for attracting customers. If a startup wants to receive a steady stream of leads without huge advertising budgets, SEO is an essential element of a marketing strategy.