20.09.2022

SEO for B2B - Why is it Different to B2C SEO?

SEO for B2B - Why is it Different to B2C SEO?

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When I first started in SEO over 10 years ago, I didn’t set out to become an SEO specialising in B2B. 

In fact back then, SEO was less nuanced so the differences between SEO for B2B and B2C businesses weren’t so readily apparent. 

Certainly not to me as a novice!

The reason I have come to focus on B2B SEO is simply down to chance. I have had B2C clients over the years, but most of the businesses I have worked with are B2B.

So are there really any differences between B2B and B2C SEO?

If you distil SEO down to its basics, there isn’t a difference. The fundamentals that underpin a solid strategy, such as a crawlable website, content that helps a target audience and links, apply in B2B and B2C.

The key difference lies in the type of visitor. B2B visitors differ in their buying behaviour compared to their B2C equivalents.

Here are the key differences:


  1. B2B products and services are generally more expensive and require careful consideration prior to purchase. This means the sales cycle length for B2B tends to be longer. Effective SEO therefore needs to be centred around building a relationship and trust with the target prospect first. Build trust first, sales follow later.
  2. There is unlikely to be impulse buying in the B2B space. You’re unlikely to be browsing the internet and suddenly decide to buy a VR training platform for your business!
  3. B2B businesses will likely serve a narrow market. This means that monthly search volumes for relevant keywords tend to be far lower than those in B2C. However, because they are of interest to a niche audience, B2B keywords tend to convert better.
  4. A B2C purchase often involves only one individual. When businesses are purchasing products or services from another business, there is usually a number of stakeholders involved in the process. From an SEO perspective, this means the strategy will need to include different content formats placed strategically in different channels to cater for the team involved in making purchasing decisions.

B2B SEO strategies are different to B2C, not because search engine algorithms care, but because the buying behaviours of the target audience are different.

If you’d like to chat about SEO or PPC for your B2B business, please get in touch.

  • B2B
  • seo

I am an experienced Search Marketing Consultant.

I specialise in B2B SEO, helping businesses drive growth and revenue through organic search.

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