Why Every Business Owner Should Care Deeply About SEO (Search Engine Optimization)

Hi, I’m Adrienne Folse, owner of Design the Planet, a New Orleans-based creative agency that’s been helping businesses grow for over 25 years. Today, I want to have a heart-to-heart with fellow business owners about something that’s often misunderstood, underestimated, and—frankly—overlooked: Search Engine Optimization (SEO).

If you’ve ever thought, “I already have a pretty website. Isn’t that enough?”—this blog is for you. If you’ve poured your heart into your business and wondered why more people aren’t finding you online, this blog is for you. And if you’re still not sure how SEO fits into your business goals, let’s dive deep into the nitty-gritty of why SEO is not just important—it’s critical.


SEO Chart- Design the Planet

SEO is the Gatekeeper to Visibility

Imagine your business is a stunning boutique in the heart of New Orleans. You’ve spent time, money, and effort designing every detail to make it irresistible. But here’s the catch: the streets around your shop are dark, the signs are hidden, and no one knows you’re there. That’s what having a beautiful website without SEO is like—a hidden treasure no one can find.

Search engines like Google are the digital highways that lead customers to your door. Without SEO, you’re sitting on the outskirts of town, waiting for someone to stumble upon you.

Here’s the shocking truth: 75% of people never scroll past the first page of search results. If your business isn’t there, you’re invisible. And in today’s world, invisibility means irrelevance.


Your Competitors are Using SEO Against You

Let’s get real: your competitors are leveraging SEO to pull ahead. They’re showing up when potential customers search for products or services you offer. If you’re not actively optimizing your website, you’re leaving money on the table and handing it directly to them.

Think about it: when someone Googles “best New Orleans marketing agency” or “creative web design in Louisiana,” are they finding your business? If not, they’re clicking on someone else’s website, signing their contracts, and growing their brand—while you miss out.

Website SEO and development editing bay showing Design the Planet website while working on SEO

SEO is About Understanding Your Audience

Good SEO isn’t just about sprinkling keywords onto your website. It’s about getting into the minds of your ideal customers. What are they searching for? What questions do they have? What problems are they trying to solve?

When you understand your audience’s needs and optimize your website accordingly, you’re not just improving your rankings—you’re building trust. A well-optimized site that answers your customers’ questions and provides value positions your business as an industry leader.


SEO Builds Long-Term Value

Unlike paid ads, where the visibility stops as soon as you stop paying, SEO is an investment in the future of your business. It’s like planting a tree: with consistent care, it grows, provides shade, and bears fruit for years to come.

SEO can help you dominate local searches in New Orleans, expand your reach across Louisiana, and even connect you with customers nationwide. By investing in SEO now, you’re setting the stage for sustained growth.


A Pretty Website Isn’t Enough

Let’s talk about the elephant in the room: a beautifully designed website is useless if no one sees it. You might have stunning visuals, captivating content, and an intuitive user experience—but without SEO, it’s like having a billboard in the middle of the desert.

SEO ensures that your website works as hard as you do. It’s the difference between a digital business card and a full-time salesperson that works 24/7 to bring in leads.


The Nitty-Gritty of SEO Impact

Here’s how SEO impacts your business in ways you might not have thought about:

  1. Credibility and Trust
    Customers trust Google. Bing too, but Google is the 9,000 lb gorilla for now. When your business ranks high in search results, that trust extends to you. It’s like getting a personal recommendation from the most trusted name in the digital world.
  2. Improved User Experience (UX)
    SEO isn’t just about keywords; it’s about creating a seamless experience for your visitors. A fast-loading, mobile-friendly, easy-to-navigate website is an SEO win—and it keeps your customers happy.
  3. Data-Driven Decisions
    SEO tools provide invaluable insights into what your customers are searching for, how they interact with your site, and what drives conversions. This data is a goldmine for refining your marketing strategy.
  4. Local SEO for New Orleans Businesses
    Local SEO ensures you’re visible to customers right here in your community. From optimizing Google My Business to earning local reviews, it’s how you become the go-to business in your area.

SEO and the Future of Business

The digital landscape is evolving. Voice search, AI-driven algorithms, and mobile-first indexing are shaping the way customers find businesses. If you’re not keeping up, you’re falling behind.

At Design the Planet, we’ve seen how SEO transforms businesses. We’ve helped clients move from obscurity to prominence, turning their websites into powerful tools that drive traffic, generate leads, and increase sales.


A Personal Call to Action

As a fellow business owner, I know you’re juggling a million priorities. But here’s the thing: ignoring SEO is like ignoring the foundation of your business. It’s the silent engine driving growth, and without it, you’re stuck spinning your wheels.

If you’re ready to take control of your online presence, let’s have a conversation. At Design the Planet, we’re passionate about helping businesses like yours shine in the digital space. Schedule a consultation today, and let’s make sure your business is seen, heard, and thriving.

Because you deserve to be found.

Adrienne Folse

Owner and Chief Creative Director at Design the Planet. I work with business owners and marketing directors to understand and improve their websites and marketing, positioning them to reach a new level of success. Let’s work together to take your company from Good to GREAT!