Is SEO Really Worth It?
- Kevin Davidson
- Nov 26
- 4 min read
The Honest Answer Every Business Owner Needs to Hear
If you’ve ever found yourself wondering, “Is SEO really worth it?”, you’re not alone. Almost every business owner reaches this point usually after trying to grow online, spending time and money on their website, and not seeing the visibility they expected.
It’s a valid question.
And after 25+ years in sales, marketing, a decade running my own business, and helping people improve their websites, I can tell you this:
SEO is absolutely worth it if you understand what it really is, what it’s meant to achieve, and what role your website plays in the bigger picture.
Most people think SEO is some kind of “dark art” or quick trick to game Google.
In reality, it’s much simpler:
SEO is the process of making your website understandable, trustworthy, and valuable for both people and search engines.
Once you see it like that, everything changes.
SEO Matters More Than Ever Before
We’re living in a time where people search for everything online, from services and advice to reassurance and solutions. Your website is often the first impression someone has of your business.
But here’s the uncomfortable truth:
A website without SEO is like opening a shop in the middle of the desert. It can look beautiful, but nobody is going to find it.
This is one of the main reasons I started my SEO Consultancy in May 2024. I’d already been helping people with their websites for over a year quietly, in the background. I believed in my ability to help people, and SEO became the channel that allowed me to do exactly that.
I see in my work every day this same pattern:
Good people doing good work, but they’re hidden.
Not because they're not talented.
Not because their services aren’t valuable.
But because their website isn’t visible.
That’s what SEO fixes.
What SEO Actually Does For Your Business
SEO genuinely gives you:
1. Visibility [Your Ideal Clients Can Actually Find You] Most websites are invisible. Not because they’re bad, but because search engines can’t understand them. SEO gives your website structure, clarity, and purpose so Google and AI search tools can confidently match you with the right searches.
2. Authority [You Become Trustworthy Online] When your pages are well-written, well-organised, and aligned with what people are searching for, your business becomes the clear, reliable source.
3. Long-Term Growth [Not Just Short Bursts of Attention] Paid ads disappear the moment you stop paying. SEO compounds over time. A well-optimised page can bring you leads for years.
4. Better Clients [Because they already understand your value] SEO attracts people who are actively looking for what you do. These clients convert faster, ask fewer questions, and stay longer.
And for me personally, that’s what makes SEO so fulfilling. It genuinely helps people grow sustainably, ethically, and without the pressure of having to “perform” constantly on social media.
Why Do So Many Business Owners Think SEO Isn’t Working?
I hear this more often than anything else: “I’ve had SEO before, but nothing changed.”
And the reality is usually one of these:
1. The strategy wasn’t focused on buyer intent. Getting traffic is easy. Getting the right traffic where the people are ready to buy is where SEO becomes powerful.
2. The basics were never fixed. You wouldn’t build a house on weak foundations. But many websites are missing the essentials:
Broken links
Missing or duplicated title tags
Weak page structure
Thin or unclear content
Slow performance
No AI-readable metadata
These unglamorous fixes are the ones that move the needle.
3. The content wasn’t written for humans. Google doesn’t buy from you. People do. Content needs to sound human, helpful, and easy to understand and not robotic or stuffed with keywords.
4. Nobody explained what was being done. This is the one that frustrates people the most. Some SEO providers overwhelm clients with jargon. Others send 30-page reports that nobody reads. Some disappear entirely. Clear communication is part of the service, and it’s something my clients value most.
What Sets My Approach to SEO Apart
After decades in sales and service industries, I understand people, their motivations, their hesitations, what builds trust, and what creates friction.
I’ve built my SEO services around four principles:
1. Clarity Over Confusion. I explain what’s happening, why it matters, and what results you should expect in easy-to-understand language, not tech-speak.
2. Practicality Over Theory. Everything I recommend is actionable. You get clear steps and are not being overwhelmed with abstract advice.
3. Simplicity Over Over-Engineered Strategies. You don’t need complex funnels or endless content. You need a website that gives search engines exactly what they need.
4. Honesty Over Hype. SEO isn’t magic, but paired with a good service, a strong brand, and consistent messaging, it can be transformational.
Is SEO Worth It?
Yes, undoubtedly.
SEO is worth it when your website is worth finding!
If your message is unclear, if your services are confusing, or your website isn’t aligned with what your ideal client actually searches for, then SEO can’t fix that.
That’s why I take a holistic approach:
Website clarity
Service clarity
Messaging clarity
On-page readability
Buyer intent optimisation
Technical health
AI searchability
Content that genuinely helps
SEO works when all these work together.
The First Step: Know the Health of Your Website
Most business owners don’t have a visibility problem. They have a website health problem:
Broken links.
Weak metadata.
Low-value pages.
Outdated content.
Thin blog posts.
Poor structure.
No keyword alignment.
Zero AI optimisation.
Once you fix these, even before creating new content, Google and AI systems instantly understand your business better.
That’s why I created my Essential SEO Audit.
It gives you:
A full, clear breakdown of what’s working
What’s not working
What’s holding your website back
What needs fixing first
And recommended improvements prioritised by impact
No overwhelm. No jargon. Just clarity.
Final Thought: SEO Is Worth It and Often the Missing Piece
From my own journey from working in corporate sales and stepping into my own business, I have learned this:
Visibility creates opportunity.
Opportunity creates stability.
Stability creates freedom.
That’s what SEO really gives you. More than rankings, it gives you the freedom to grow your business on your terms.
CTA
If you’re ready to understand what your website needs to become more visible, more searchable, and more effective, I’d be happy to help.
Email or comment SEO, and I’ll send you the details of the Essential SEO Audit.
Take care,
Kevin x
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