Just a bit about search engine optimization.

Compared to paid advertising on search engine, the budget generally allocated to SEO efforts is really, really small. This holds true even though over half of the eyeballs that gaze upon the Google results page will never venture toward the right side of the screen. Conversely, a full 100% of all eyes will always look at the left side of the screen, at the organic results of that particular search. Did you read that percentage? One hundred percent of eyes will always look at the left side of the search screen.

To make matters even more interesting, only around half of all searchers look below the first sixth listing in those organic results most of the time. What this means, essentially, is that the top left of the first page of an engine’s results is the hottest, most looked at portion. This should be the focus of your boss’s efforts, not the right side of the screen.

Then again, most of you reading this already knew that, didn’t you? The trick is convincing your boss of this reality.

It can be hard to convince your employer of the magnitude of this realization, and even harder to convince them to act upon it and spend more on SEO. So what’s the best way to go about accomplishing this difficult task?

Considering that most business leaders today only have a rudimentary understanding of the Internet and digital marketing, it is important to avoid burdening your boss down with technical jargon he likely doesn’t understand. Focus on what your boss knows all too well: the numbers, the money, and how they compare. The use of visual data is highly recommended.

While pie charts and bar graphs will be really useful in getting your point across, think creatively about how you can use images to really drive your point home. A “Google Heat Map” can be exceptionally useful here, as it can very quickly show what would take all those numbers and charts time to reveal. Don’t just use logic to try and convince your boss: use your tone of voice and body language to denote excitement, which is very contagious and very useful in persuading people. Emotion is key.

Appeal to his financial interests. Talk up how wasteful it can be to focus exclusively on paid advertising, and mention how much more economic sense it would make to focus more resources on SEO. Money is the lifeblood of any business, and ineffective use of this lifeblood can be detrimental to the business. Use loaded words, if necessary. This is important, and in the end he’ll thank you. Possibly with a raise, but we make no promises about that.

Ultimately, your tone of voice and the materials you present should all be used in a persuasive manner. Use any means necessary (within reason) to show your boss the light.

About the author: Rune Risom, commited SEO innovator from free search engine optimization service SEOsupporter.com. Also behind web directories like BestLinksAround.com and GuideToTheWeb.net where you can submit links for free.