Search engine optimization (SEO) is a set of strategies to increase online visibility and improve rankings from search engines such as Google. Among them are using keywords that users are likely to search and creating authentic backlinks to your website.
However, implementing SEO is like walking a tightrope as it serves two masters. The first is search engine algorithms and getting them to rate your page as trustworthy. The second is human users who want to see interesting content.
How can social media enhance your SEO strategy?
Social media and SEO
Your social media accounts do not directly improve SEO rankings. However, they remain a powerful element for raising online visibility. For example, Google is not necessarily going to see your webpage as better than a competitor because you are active on social media and have more followers. The way it works is more subtle than that.
The relationship between SEO and social media is derived from using social media to promote content. People do not like and share irrelevant, meaningless content on social media.
When many people share what you post, it piques Google’s interest, with social signals showing the algorithm that your target market finds what you post interesting and useful. It will rank you higher based on that, which increases foot traffic on the site, according to engagement analytics experts at LeanData.
Content is king
As mentioned above, it is not about how much you post on social media that will impact SEO ratings, but rather the quality of your content. The Google algorithm is more sophisticated and discerning than ever before.
Sites cannot get away with keyword stuffing. This practice of putting so many keywords into the texts on a site without ensuring that content is top-quality is easily detected by Google.
Content quality is augmented by a sound understanding of the target audience. What you publish should speak to them and their needs. You have a message to convey to these people, and what you post should not deviate too far from it.
The first attempts might not be successful, but you can take posts that did not hit the mark and revamp them. Add more information or a different spin on successful posts.
Improve shareability
To create those social signals that Google favors, you need people to share content and posts. Make this as easy as possible by ensuring that social share buttons are active and visible. You will reach a broader audience, thereby boosting brand publicity and online visibility.
Another aspect of shareability is engagement. You need compelling headlines, captions, images, and calls to action (CTAs) to encourage social media users to share a post. Balance this against the quality of content and how useful readers will find it to craft the perfect post. Make social media users feel included in your business through storytelling or hashtag inclusion.
Social media optimization
The content of a social media profile is an essential component of its success. Therefore, when setting yours up, ensure you complete the necessary fields, including descriptions of the business.
Many users will get a business’s name from a search engine but still view with its social media accounts before engaging. Therefore, ensure that any social media profiles resonate with your site and brand message.
Image optimization is also vital. The human brain processes and retains a memory of images at lightning speed compared to text. Start by compressing a picture’s file size, so it loads quicker.
Rename an image using relevant keywords separated by dashes, for example, search-engine-optimization. Use keywords in the picture’s caption but in a way that makes sense to a reader.