Although computer science was introduced in the 1950s, after the first website went live in 1990, the demand for finding information online continued to grow. At that time, search engines like Yahoo Directory and AltaVista were popular.

But the advent of Google in 1998 changed the entire game. Google introduced the PageRank algorithm, which determines the quality and relevance of websites. As a result, search engine users started getting more reliable information. This is where Search Engine Optimization (SEO) comes in.

Source: The Guardian, The article titled “How Google Beat Its Rivals to Become the World’s Biggest Search Engine” was published in 2018.

The Impact of SEO on the World

SEO is a unique chapter in the history of digital marketing.

 

• • According to HubSpot’s research, websites on the first page of Google get 75% of the clicks of search traffic. Only 5-7% of users visit from the second page.

• • According to Statista (2024), 60% of the world’s online marketers believe SEO is the most effective strategy for long-term success.

• • According to Forbes, SEO is the most cost-effective digital marketing investment.

SEO in the Context of Bangladesh

The emergence of digital business in Bangladesh started mainly after 2009, when the government announced the “Digital Bangladesh Vision 2021.”

• • In 2013, several e-commerce sites, including Daraz and Azkdeal, achieved rapid growth through SEO.

• • Local businesses such as Home Market, Demand, and Variety have also used SEO as their main marketing strategy.

• • According to the ICT Division’s 2021 report:“SEO is essential for the sustainable growth of small and medium businesses (SMEs) in Bangladesh.”

SEO is the best for your website.

1. Organic Traffic (Free and Sustainable)

When you do SEO, your website gets visitors from search engines without advertising. For example, there are about 8.5 billion searches on Google every day (Source: Internet Live Stats, 2024). This means that if you do SEO correctly, you will get an endless source of visitors.

2. The Long-Term Results

Advertising stops when the budget runs out. But SEO, once done, can bring traffic for months and even years.

3. Brand Value and Trustworthiness

People tend to trust websites that appear on the first page. The top 3 sites in Google’s search results get the most clicks. As a result, the brand’s value and credibility increase.

4. The Target Customer

SEO doesn’t just bring visitors to your website; it brings people who are actually looking for your product or service. This increases the conversion rate.

5. Staying Ahead of the Competition

Competition in the digital market is increasing. A new website is launched every day. If your competitors do SEO and you don’t, they’ll take away customers.

6. The Development of User Experience

SEO isn’t just about keywords—it’s about making a website fast, mobile-friendly, and user-friendly. The visitor is satisfied, spends more time, and comes back again and again.

Lessons from History: The Value of SEO

The history of the digital world shows how SEO has evolved:

 

• • 1990s: Directory-based search

• • 2000s: Google algorithm updates (Panda, Penguin)

• • 2010s: Content- and mobile-friendly sites at the heart of SEO

• • 2020s: AI-based search (Google BERT, AI Overviews), where content, authenticity, and user experience matter most

SEO has proven itself at every step of the way.

Analysis

SEO is no longer just a technical job—it’s the mainstay of businesses, brands, and digital presence.

Experts say:
When the money spent on advertising ends, so does the traffic.
But SEO is an asset that, once done, gives results for a long time.

SEO is an investment, not an expense.

That’s why, by 2025, it will have been proven that SEO is the best investment for a website.