How do I include SEO in our QBR without losing the room?

To include SEO in your QBR without losing the room, focus on presenting clear, concise results and actionable insights that tie directly to business goals. Avoid jargon and instead, use relatable metrics and stories that demonstrate SEO’s impact on revenue and growth. This approach will keep your audience engaged and invested in the SEO discussion.

Why SEO Matters in a QBR

Quarterly Business Reviews (QBRs) are all about showcasing progress and aligning strategies with company objectives. SEO often gets sidelined because it can seem too technical or abstract. Yet, it’s a vital part of digital marketing that directly influences your visibility, traffic, and ultimately, revenue.

Imagine you’re a B2B SaaS company. You’ve invested in SEO to improve your online presence. Now, it’s time to show the execs how this investment is paying off. If you dive into keyword rankings and backlinks, you risk losing their attention. Instead, focus on how SEO has driven leads or sales, or improved customer acquisition costs. That’s the language they understand and care about.

Keep It Simple and Relevant

When you’re preparing for the QBR, think of SEO as a story you need to tell. Here’s how to keep it simple and relevant:

• Start with the Why: Explain how SEO aligns with business objectives. Are you targeting new markets? Trying to increase brand awareness? Link SEO efforts to these goals.

• Use Data Wisely: Present data that matters. Show how organic search traffic has increased and what that means for lead generation or sales. Use visuals like graphs to make the data digestible.

• Highlight Success Stories: Share specific examples where SEO has led to tangible business outcomes. Did a blog post rank on the first page of Google and drive significant traffic? Did a new keyword strategy lead to more leads?

• Actionable Insights: Offer clear next steps based on the SEO data. What should the team focus on next quarter? What changes could further improve rankings on Google?

• Avoid Jargon: Keep the language simple. Instead of saying “backlink acquisition”, say “getting more websites to link to us”.

By following these steps, you’ll make SEO a compelling part of your QBR narrative, capturing attention and buy-in from your audience.

Make SEO Relatable

Here’s the thing. Not everyone in the room cares about SEO. And that’s okay. Your job is to make them care, even if just for a few minutes.

Talk about SEO like it’s a tool in the company’s toolbox — not just a line item in the marketing budget. Relate it to what they already know. If you’re speaking to sales, highlight how SEO has brought in warmer leads. If it’s the finance team, focus on the cost-effectiveness of organic traffic compared to paid ads.

And remember, if you’re feeling stuck, an seo optimisation expert can help translate these concepts into business language. Knowing when to call in the pros can make all the difference.

In the end, it’s about making SEO feel less like a foreign language and more like a natural part of your business strategy. Keep it real, keep it relevant, and you’ll keep the room.