At first, social media marketing and SEO (or search engine optimization) might seem like two separate strategies. Social media marketing focuses on growing your online presence, building trust with your customers, and promoting your products/services. SEO is all about optimizing your website to rank higher in search results.
Here’s where they intersect: both marketing strategies have the same end goal. They help businesses generate more leads.
To understand the connection, it helps to know a bit more about how SEO works. First, we’re going to explain why your social media presence plays a significant role in a successful SEO strategy. Then, we’re going to tell you how to capitalize on this connection.
So, how does social media affect your SEO? Let’s dive in:
The Synergy of Social Media Marketing & SEO
Why is it so important to rank well in Google? SEO is beneficial for a few reasons:
Help customers find your business
Rank above your competitors
Raise brand awareness
Notice something about these answers? For the same reasons, many businesses also invest in social media marketing. When customers search for your brand, they’ll not only find your website, but they’ll also see your Facebook page and your Instagram account. Here’s why social media marketing and SEO go hand-in-hand:
Extend the Reach of Your Content
You can use social media to ensure your content reaches a wider audience. While some of your customers find businesses through Google, others use their favourite social media platforms, like Facebook or Instagram. When you post about your latest blog on social media, it increases the direct traffic that your website receives. Strengthen your online presence on all platforms to ensure that more customers see your new content.
Social Shares Help with Rankings
Google is notoriously ambiguous about which factors affect search rankings. But SEOs can find out by analyzing cause and effect. For example, if a blog post gets 10,000 shares on Facebook, and search rankings increase dramatically afterward, it’s reasonable to assume that social media played a role.
This is not to say that social media is a direct ranking factor. However, it does increase your website traffic, which can in turn, can improve your rankings. Use this to your advantage by linking to blog posts in your social media posts. Each time a user visits your site from those posts, it increases your direct traffic.
Social Media Posts Raise Brand Awareness
What’s something that every business wants, but can’t easily buy? Brand recognition. This refers to that lightbulb moment when a customer sees your logo and recognizes your business.
Consumers are more likely to purchase from businesses they trust. If you post regularly on social media, it keeps your brand fresh in customer’s minds.
Build Citations Using Social Media
Have you created a GBP (Google Business Profile)? This free online listing gives you an opportunity to appear in the Google Maps Local Pack (AKA: the first page of Google).
But how can you rank above your competitor’s profiles? Help your GBP rank by creating consistent website profiles and listings. For reference, a citation is any mention of your name, address, phone number, or website URL (Yelp, Bing, Facebook, etc.).
Does this sound familiar? It echoes the information that appears on your social media platforms. It’s important to keep your information consistent across all platforms. If you maintain consistent NAP across all of your listings, Google will consider your business as more credible.
Social Media Sites Are Search Engines
Even though Google and Facebook serve entirely different purposes, they benefit your business in the same way: They help customers find and connect with your business. If your Facebook page ranks on the third page of Google, it’s unlikely that any of your customers will find it.
As the saying goes, don’t put all of your eggs in one basket; optimize your business profiles on Google and social media platforms.
SEO Tips & Strategies
Rise above the competition by combining your SEO strategy with social media marketing. Both of these strategies work together to grow your online presence. Based on a local SEO guide, we’ve pulled together some strategies to improve your website SEO (and thereby boost your social media presence):
Post articles on your website blog regularly. Fresh content shows Google that your site is constantly updated with new information. Each time you upload a new post, you can share it on your social media pages.
Build links by adding a footer to your website that links to your Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram pages. Be sure that those profiles also link back to your website.
Encourage others to share your content on their social media pages. Each share counts as a backlink, which helps increase the authority of your website.
At BetterWave Marketing, we’re experts in Facebook and Instagram marketing. We’ll help you create an online presence that’s engaging and consistent. To learn more about how our social media marketing services can help your business, contact us today.