There’s no doubt that your social profiles matter to Google and especially those looking for you online. A few active channels can make the experience of getting knowledge or discovering a brand more fun engaging personally at first glance.

That’s why keeping them current with up-to-date information on what services are offered as well as interesting content should be one goal amongst many others in maintaining their popularity among potential customers who will ultimately help drive traffic back towards them through search engines such as Google.

However, a lot of small business owners are faced with the question, what is the best way to drive traffic? Whether they have a goal of building brand awareness or making sales, most tend towards either SEO or social media. But, why do we have to choose one over another?

Debunking The SEO Vs Social Media Debate

It’s generally frowned upon for businesses to invest heavily in just one channel. Combining multiple types such as social media and SEO into an overall digital marketing strategy has been proven to be successful at strengthening brand visibility, generating conversions, and return on investment (ROI) in this ever-changing landscape.

In this article, we will explore how SEO vs social media are friends, and not enemies. The two marketing strategies go hand-in-hand and complement each other rather than hinder one another.  If you’re still not sure what would work for your company, Our dedicated team can help!

History Of Social Media And SEO

Did you know that the idea of social media was first developed in 1971 with e-mail? Believe it or not, social media has been around for over 40 years. Even before Facebook, the concept only began to take off when the very first site created solely based on interactions among users rather than products or services became available a decade later when Six Degrees launched in 1997.

The growth of social media has created a need for platforms to evolve with consumers’ demands. Over the years, there have been many networks that we’re unable to adapt their platform to meet these needs.

Fast-forward to the present day, as everyone wants their information immediately, today’s ever-evolving technology has enabled companies the ability to find new ways to communicate/interact, scale, and grow their team.

 SEO Vs Social Media

Social media channels can feel more personal than web pages, and they’re a great way to get an idea of what company you’re dealing with from the jump. For example, when researching companies for either business or pleasure, a person’s first stop is commonly their social media sites if it shows up in top search results.

Social media is an essential tool for any company looking to grow its customer base. Having active social channels can make the experience of getting to know brands on a more personal level.

Businesses should be active on social media, but some may think of it as an independent entity. When businesses make their efforts more cohesive with other parts of digital marketing they can create a better experience for customers and employees alike.

What Is Social Media?

The way we communicate with one another has changed drastically over the last ten years. Social media has become one of the most influential and important virtual spaces where people can use their voices to not only network but also digitally sell themselves.

Digital marketing is about reaching audiences, educating them on your services via different traditional and digital platforms like social media to make an impact for you or a brand we represent (ourselves).

Social media is a collection of apps designed to allow you to connect with other people and share content. It can be used for social networking, blogging, or video-sharing on various platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Linkedin.

Social media has become one of the most influential and important virtual spaces where people can use their voices to not only network but also digitally sell themselves. The benefits of social media marketing include:

• Garner attention and build brand/company awareness
• Communicate authority
• Show authenticity
• Encourage engagement
• Grow affordably
• Provide support

The social media industry is projected to grow at a rate of 25% over the next five years. This means that now would be an excellent time for you to invest in this type of marketing if your business has not already done so.

What Is SEO?

Search Engine Optimization, SEO for short, is a strategy that marketers and content strategists use to increase the visibility of their brand on search engine result pages (SERPs). Creating an effective SEO plan involves organizing websites into topics which helps Google understand your intent when you type in something.

Writing blogs and web pages is an essential part of SEO. Keyword planning helps articles rank well on the Search Engine Results Page (SERP) for Google, as well as other search engines like Bing or Yahoo!.

Keywords related to a specific topic help improve the overall quality and quantity of traffic coming from organic searches which means it’s important not only because people will find what they are looking for but also because you want those visitors if possible converting into customers.

Search engines may look as simple as someone typing in a keyword and they get a list of the best and relevant web pages based on their search query. Truth is, it isn’t, as search engines are specific algorithms that are made up of significant rules and various components.

We will help you gain an understanding of the power of search engines and how they are the driving force behind SEO and social media marketing.

Importance Of SEO For Social Media’s Development

The internet has been a major player in the world of SEO and as Google’s algorithm updates continue to evolve, so must we. Over recent years they have changed what type of content is going viral on social media. It used to be all about keywords, now it isn’t just one thing: links from authoritative sites help boost rankings too (link building).

In addition, people are turning away from traditional outlets like newspaper ads or TV commercials towards online platforms that provide more engagement opportunities with fewer costs all while still achieving high ROI rates through conversion tracking technology.

The importance that companies and agencies alike place on social media when thinking about their SEO strategy started back in 2014. Google’s Matt Cutts made a video highlighting the importance of social media as a factor in search rankings.

In December 2010, Cutts himself said that social signals were a factor in ranking. But, 3 years later in 2014, there was a correction. Cutts stated that metrics such as followers on social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter don’t affect the way your website shows up for searches.

It didn’t take long before marketers were operating under this assumption, understandably so. Evidence suggests they are indeed using those preferences once again to help them decide which sites should rank higher on Search Engine Results Pages (SERPs).

Turns out that social signals were factored into Google’s search engine algorithm as indicators of trustworthiness and quality. However, the results show that even though social media may not be a direct factor, it DOES certainly influence your SEO rankings.

Similarities Between Social Media And Search Engines

Social media networks and engines are alike in many ways. For example, they both use the same basic algorithms to determine what content should appear first on your feed or at least be more visible than other posts from users who haven’t engaged with them as much. Social media is everywhere.

Google used to be the only way people found out about new products, services, and information. But now that social media provides instant access into global conversations with a click of your mouse or tap on an app icon, it’s become just as important for businesses in this digital age.

Google processes 3.5 billion searches every day and nearly half the planet’s population (2.65 billion) are active social media users; this means that digital marketers need to account for both search engine rankings and social media.

How Social Media Helps SEO

Nowadays, people don’t just go to Google and Bing search engines for information; they also use social media channels. This is because of how the internet has changed over time. Instead of looking things up in one central location on an old-fashioned website or book, many people are now finding what they need by scrolling through posts on their favorite networks such as Facebook and Instagram.

The reason why this matters? It impacts your SEO efforts. SEO and social media go hand-in-hand, they should not be looked at as enemies or separate entities when developing your marketing strategy.

How TDI Can Help Improve Your SEO And Social Media Strategy

Our team was built with one goal in mind: Provide the best Digital Marketing services to all industries, through all channels. TDI’s proven methods and strategies give your organization the ability to engage with your customers.

By promoting your brand, our agency can assist in creating a lasting impression of your business while helping grow your customer base. Contact us today, we look forward to working with you.

References

https://neilpatel.com/blog/social-media-and-seo/

https://www.seotrafficlab.com/blog/the-history-social-media-marketing/

https://www.toprankblog.com/2019/06/relationship-between-seo-social-media/

https://www.searchenginejournal.com/social-media-seo/196185/#close

https://sproutsocial.com/insights/seo-and-social-media/

https://vujadaydigital.com/seo-vs-social-media-the-ultimate-traffic-showdown/