The term ‘search engine optimization,’ commonly known as SEO, refers to a series of actions that webmasters can take to maximize the discoverability of their website through search engines such as Google and Bing, i.e., to make sure that their website appears as close to the top of the results list as possible when a relevant search is done. While search engine optimization exists independently of social media platforms, there are ways to improve your website’s ranking while posting on social media. Read on to learn more about how to optimize your website’s ranking and increase search engine optimization through social media.
How Can I Learn About SEO and Social Media Algorithms?
A lot of boomers and Gen X-ers like to think that those younger than them—namely millennials and Gen Z—will know how to perform any action related to computers and the internet almost instinctively. If only that were the case! On the contrary, keeping up with how SEO and social media algorithms work takes a lot of time and effort and requires some specialized knowledge, especially given how often these algorithms change. Social media marketing has become such a vast and specialized field that you can do a whole M.A. in Communication Technology with a social media concentration. Beyond that, there are boot camps you can attend virtually or in person, and you can obviously browse the internet for blog posts (like this one!) to learn more about how SEO and social media interactions. Given the fast-changing nature of the field, however, make sure that the information you are reading is up to date.
What are the Basics of SEO?
Web marketing platform Semrush has created a comprehensive guide to the basics of SEO on its blog. Briefly, search engine optimization includes making sure that you have as many relevant keywords as possible associated with your website and its content, including variations and common misspellings; getting other websites, such as blogs, to link to your website; having your website listed in the relevant area and business directories; making sure that your website can be indexed by search engines, and that search engines have a sitemap for it; optimizing your website’s speed; having a secure (HTTPS) website, and publishing relevant content that the public is likely to click on. As you can see, there is a lot to search engine optimization!
How Can I Improve My Website’s Ranking Through Social Media?
From the list above, you have probably started to form an idea of how social media can help with search engine optimization. Having your website linked to social media posts—both yours and others—can boost your website’s SEO. As Ellen Williams, one of the directors of business consultancy ZenBusiness, reminds us, your SEO will also improve if the content you post on social media is widely engaged with—which means shared, liked, and commented on by users.
Finally, your SEO will be boosted if you have a high conversion rate, which means that a high percentage of users perform the action you are asking them to do through your social media posts, such as clicking on your link or buying a product. Producing highly engaging content for social media is key to achieving a good conversion rate.
