The world of SEO is always changing, but SEO experts are predicting an unprecedented change is coming — that change is called a Beacon.
What Is a Beacon?
The word beacon conjures up images of lighthouses and shining cities on a hill, but in this case, a Beacon is a small, Bluetooth-enabled device. While most aspects of the SEO world are digital, Beacons are placed in physical locations. Using an app, consumers can select to have alerts sent from a Beacon directly to their phones.
How Does It Work?
For example, a couple could choose to receive alerts from their favorite restaurant in Park City, Utah. The next time the couple is enjoying an evening stroll downtown and walks past the restaurant, the Beacon will broadcast a notification with the latest dinner deal for two. The notification will pop up on the couples’ cell phones, and what do you know, they think, “Maybe we will eat out tonight.”
Obviously Beacons aren’t exclusive to Utah. They aren’t even exclusive to restaurants. Small businesses, large businesses, retail stores, non-profit organizations, major corporations, events, airports and even entire cities could use Beacons at their physical locations to advertise to consumers. To top it all off, Beacons are small enough to place on a desk and inexpensive, costing an average of $30.
Beacons and SEO
So what do Beacons mean for SEO? Beacon technology is still growing and developing, but its immediate SEO effects include ratings and website traffic.
Initial consumer groups give Beacons positive reviews. As a business’ Beacon draws consumers in, many of them use corresponding apps to give the business positive reviews. This, of course, contributes positively to search engine rankings.
As Beacons reach out to consumers, they provide another opportunity for more individuals to visit Beacon owners’ websites. This creates higher numbers of new site visitors, in turn improving Google rankings.
The ultimate impact of Beacons on SEO is yet to be seen, but whether you’re a small business in Utah or a major city on the East Coast, now is the time embrace the Beacon.
