Can SEO and Social Media Optimization Work Together?

Search engine optimization or SEO is the means by which a website or blog gets increased visibility on a search engine results page. On the other hand, social media optimization or SMO means networking and getting content shared over the web using social media networks.

SEO vs. social media optimization (SMO)

The debate on which of SEO or SMO is more important never seems to end. Well, search engine optimization is important as it attracts visitors to a website or blog, where the web owner wants them get to. Similarly, having a well-optimized social media presence boosts the chances of a higher ranking in search engines. This is due to the fact that social media sites are themselves optimized, helping bring numerous incoming links to a website/blog.

However, social media may sometimes not consider certain factors considered by search engines while making content visible to people on the web. In other words, search engines have algorithms which they use to consider whether to rank a web page or not in a certain position. On the other hand, social media makes content visible to many different web users. Here, algorithms have no use. However, the quality of content should be high, as not too many people talk about poor content over social media networks.

So, it is a fact that SEO and social media optimization both contribute to making people view web content more, therefore bringing in more traffic to a website or blog and help one convert them to leads or regular visitors. The decision to give more emphasis on either SEO or SMO usually depends on the goals of the website owner, the kind of traffic being sought, and what one wants the traffic to do on their behalf. But the most important thing is to make the most of both SEO and SMO. In fact, it’s possible for one to make these two processes work for themselves because they have a lot more differences compared to differences.

Similarities between SEO and social media optimization

SEO and SMO seem to have a lot more in common compared to differences. Well, the following are four similarities between SEO and SMO.

Both SEO and SMO need the web owner to have quality content

If the content is not good enough, web pages will not get linked to and they will also not be visible on search engine results page. In addition, the content won’t be promoted over social media networks as people will not “tweet” or “like” the content. In simple language, people will not share the content over the web.

Trust is key in both SEO and SMO

If a website looks trustworthy and reliable, it will gain organic links more regularly and rank higher on search engines.

Similarly, the building of trust with fellow members of social media networks enables the site owner appear credible, making them clink his/her links more often and share his/her posts with their friends as well as audiences. As a result, the web owner gets more traffic from social media users. Furthermore, if fellow members consider the website owner to be an influential person, they can build relationships with him/her. This further helps to promote the web owners brand, whether it is a website, blog, or product/business.

Both SEO and SMO need one to work on-page and off-page

Whether it is SEO or SMO, both need the website/blog owner to work on-page and off-page. In SEO, on-page work is basically the proper use of target words of a web page in the content, title, and meta description. Off-page work involves building links for the website or blog.

In social media optimization(SMO), on-page work means producing quality content that people will want to share with their friends and colleagues. Off-page work involves networking with other people using social media networks, blog communities and so on.

SEO and SMO increase visibility over the web

While SEO helps increase a website’s visibility through a higher ranking on search engines, SMO enables the promotion and sharing of content across the web. The more the content gets shared, the more it gets known by people. This helps increase the visibility of a site or blog.

So, SEO and SMO can work together. Both can be effective for the long-term success of any business. And as long as the content produced is quality and unique, focused on the target audience, and makes the most of both SEO and SMO, one can expect long-term success in their business.

This article was written by Mehul Hathi.