Not Every Business Needs Traditional SEO: Finding Your Fit

In Indonesia's booming digital economy, many SMEs jump on SEO because it's a trend, without evaluating if their customers actually search for their products online, leading to wasted budgets.

Published on 2025 November 20, 07:55:02

1

Objective

  • To help businesses assess if their model, stage, and goals align with the commitment required for SEO.
2

Key Topics

  • Business models where SEO is critical (e.g., E-commerce, SaaS, Publishing).

  • Models where it might be secondary (e.g., Hyper-local apps, single-location services).

  • Company stage: Startup vs. Established business.

  • Alternative channels (PPC, Social Media, Marketplace).

3

Deliverables (for Readers)

  • A simple checklist to self-assess SEO need.

  • Understanding of complementary channels.

Covers market analysis, business model canvassing, and channel attribution to determine the optimal marketing mix.

Does Your Business Really Need SEO? A Realistic Guide for Indonesian Entrepreneurs

The viral success of TikTok Shop and live commerce in 2024-2025 has proven that not all businesses need to compete on Google.

For a local Batik workshop in Solo, hyper-local Instagram Reels and WhatsApp Business may yield faster ROI than targeting the broad keyword "Batik”.

Conversely, a B2B industrial parts supplier in Surabaya absolutely requires SEO to be found by procurement managers. The key is intent. Analyze your customer's journey: do they actively search for your solution, or do they discover it through social feeds?

Data from our own client portfolio shows that 30% of incoming leads were better served by a focused social media strategy, saving them significant upfront SEO investment and accelerating their revenue generation.

Business models where SEO is critical

These businesses thrive on inbound, intent-driven traffic. Customers actively search for their solutions.

For an e-commerce site, SEO is the digital shelf; for a SaaS, it's the top of the funnel. It's non-negotiable for scalable, predictable growth.

Models where it might be secondary

If your customers are found via social discovery or specific apps, SEO is secondary. A single-location cafe's primary channel is often Google Maps and Instagram, not ranking for "best coffee in the world”.

Allocate budget where your audience actively engages.

Company stage: Startup vs. Established business

A cash-strapped startup may need faster ROI from targeted PPC to validate its model. An established business with a steady cash flow can afford the long-term asset-building of SEO. The stage dictates the strategic marketing mix and investment horizon.

Alternative channels (PPC, Social Media, Marketplace)

Platforms like TikTok Shop or Tokopedia offer instant, high-intent visibility. PPC provides immediate traffic for testing.

Social media builds brand affinity. For some models, these channels offer a faster, more measurable return than the long gestation of SEO.

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Why this topic important?

  • Saves businesses from investing in the wrong channel.

  • Helps in resource allocation for maximum impact.

  • Prevents disappointment by setting the right expectations from the start.

Additionally

This content is issued by the Maarif Biz Team and validated by Rochman Maarif.

We continually calibrate the published information to ensure its relevance at the point of access. A systematic review cycle is instituted: all necessary recalibrations to the data presented on this page will be executed within a minimum of one month and a maximum of three months.

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