As a digital marketing agency, we understand that high-quality social media and SEO are two cornerstones of a comprehensive digital marketing strategy. As our digital world continues to evolve, however, these strategies no longer work side-by-side but are becoming more integrated each day. When used together with the right approach, social media and SEO can amplify each other’s impact, boosting online visibility and driving even better results.
Why? Because social media has transformed. It’s no longer just about connecting with people or sharing updates. It’s now a dynamic space that blends entertainment and connection and serves as a search mechanism for information. By aligning your social media efforts with SEO principles—like optimizing content for searchability and using keywords strategically—you can create a digital landscape in which both channels enhance each other’s value.
The Rise of Social Search
Online search behavior doesn’t look the same as it did 10 years, 5 years, or even one year ago. Instead of relying on traditional search engines like Google and Bing, more people are searching directly on social platforms for products, trends, and services.
This shift is driven by platforms like Facebook and Instagram enhancing their algorithms, allowing users to search with full keywords and phrases instead of being limited to hashtags. Similarly, TikTok and Pinterest are evolving to function more like traditional search engines, catering to the way people now explore content online. Social platforms also offer image and video content, creating a richer search experience compared to plain text results on Google.
Leveraging Social Search to Improve Your Online Visibility
While Google has stated that social media presence isn’t a direct factor in search engine rankings, a strong presence is certainly still a ‘green flag’ and can contribute to your overall SEO efforts. For example, a popular post on social media may result in increased brand searches on Google, driving more people to your site. This buzz not only boosts visibility but also indirectly influences how search engines like Google perceive and rank your website.
Here are a few tips to enhance your social media, expand your reach, and drive greater engagement:
- Add Website Links to Profiles: Add your website to your social profiles to create a direct path for users to learn more about your brand and drive site traffic. Instagram, for example, allows for 5 links to be added to your profile; ensure all of these direct followers back to your site.
- Add Keywords to Your Content: Your keyword strategy can work for more than your website. Consider adding (not packing) keywords into your social bios, post captions, video captions, and hashtags. Just make sure they fit naturally into the content and align with how you talk about your brand on your website.
- Create Searchable Content: Research how people search on social media and turn it into things like how-to videos or posts that answer FAQs. For example, a skincare brand could post a “how to apply your skincare in the right order” reel on Instagram.
- Leverage Paid Search Ads on Social Media: Platforms like Facebook and Instagram allow businesses to run targeted ads that appear in search results, giving them a direct path to reach interested users.
- Add Alt Text: When sharing images on social media, make sure to include descriptive alt text that clearly explains the image’s content. This not only enhances accessibility for visually impaired users but also provides search engines with additional context to better understand your posts.
Sharing high-quality, relevant, and timely brand content on social media not only attracts visitors to your site but also signals to search engines that your website is valuable. As search engines take note, your rankings improve, leading to greater visibility.
At MJ2, we can help you integrate your social media marketing and SEO efforts to amplify your brand online. Our goal is to increase your online visibility, drive more qualified traffic to your website, and ultimately boost your bottom line. Whether you’re a local business or a national brand, our social media marketing and SEO services are tailored to meet your specific needs and help you achieve sustainable growth.
