Why Social Media Is The Secret Sauce For SEO In 2023

TL;DR;

In 2023, the relationship between social media and SEO is as tight as a hipster’s black jeans. They directly impact each other. A viral tweet (an X??) or a well-written blog post shared on LinkedIn isn’t just content – It’s a tool that boosts your professional network and site’s domain authority.

Introduction:

Gone are the days when social media was just an outlet for sharing holiday snaps and tasty brunches. In today’s digital landscape, it’s very different. It’s far more than that.

Social stands as a cornerstone in the SEO realm, decisively influencing search rankings. It’s the digital reality we’re living in…. Here’s How.

The Rise of Social Signals:

Modern search engines don’t just read the content of your website… they sift through your social channels too. Every like, share, and comment on your posts is a signal, a thumbs-up, giving the search engines the signals they’re looking for… ‘This is great… this content is good… It’s relevant!’. Relevance remains core to SEO signals.

Imagine a local bakery is sharing a post about their newest sourdough variety. If this post secures hundreds of shares and comments, the search engines notice this, and it directly boosts their local authority, and search ranking.

It’s not just about the number of reactions and engagements – it’s about their quality and relevance.

Socially Integrated SEO:

Social media and SEO aren’t just related anymore – they’re practically siblings. They aren’t having a casual fling – they’re happily married!

When your website traffic spikes after a post gets massive share attention and goes ‘viral’, it’s not a coincidence – it’s the direct impact of social.

Consider a local plumber sharing a video on how to fix a leaky tap. This isn’t just a helpful video demonstrating skills and bulding trust – It’s a beacon leading users to search for their services and land on their website. That video is going to sit there online in perpetuity, continually sending signals and driving traffic.

A well-optimised article on the benefits of meditation shared on Facebook isn’t just content – It’s a catalyst for increased searches for meditation classes. A makeup tutorial by a beauty influencer on YouTube isn’t just a video – it’s a product showcase that leads viewers to search for the products used, boosting SEO for those product pages.

This traffic isn’t just numbers – it’s potential customers. They’ve engaged on social, they trust, and they’re now there, on the businesses website, ready to buy, book or call.

Strategies To Use Social For SEO:

1. Engage, Reply and Discuss: Posting and forgetting is an ineffective, old strategy. In 2023, you must engage, and you must reply. When a new restaurant replies to comments about their menu, initiates discussions about dietary needs, and seeks feedback on their dishes, they’re not just engaging in their community – They’re boosting their online visibility.
   
   
2. Collaborations and Partnerships: Two voices are louder than one. A fitness trainer partnering with a local nutritionist on a ‘Healthy Living’ series isn’t just providing massive value toe their target audience – They’re cross-promoting their content and themselves, driving traffic to both their sites, and amplifying their overall digital exposure.
   
   
3. Quality Over Quantity: It’s not about how much you post – It’s about what you post. A local hardware store sharing a detailed guide on building a garden bench isn’t just a post – It’s a resource for their target customer. When the local DIYers search for tips, this post ensures that their end destination is store’s website.

Ultimately, high volume at high quality is optimum, but as a minimum you must ensure quality over quantity.

SEO Strengths of Each Social Platform:

Each social media platform offers unique strengths when it comes to SEO, catering to different audiences and content types:

1. Facebook: As a versatile platform with a vast user base, Facebook excels in community building and engagement. Businesses can share posts, host live sessions, and create groups, all of which can drive organic traffic back to their websites. Its review system also aids in local SEO, with many users searching for businesses based on recommendations and reviews.
   
   
2. Instagram: A visual powerhouse, Instagram is perfect for brands with strong visual content. From product showcases to behind-the-scenes stories, the platform’s image and video-centric nature can lead to increased brand searches, especially when users are inspired by what they see.
   
   
3. X (Formerly Twitter): With its real-time updates and trending topics, X (Who, like me keeps calling it Twitter??!) is the go-to for news and instant information. Brands can leverage hashtags to increase visibility, and engaging tweets can lead to spikes in website visits, especially when content goes viral or taps into trending conversations. Similarly, the new kid, Threads by Instagram, has similar possibilities but likely with a more ‘Insta style’ crowd – Maybe less political and news driven, but that remains to be seen.
   
   
4. YouTube: As the second-largest search engine after Google, YouTube’s strength lies in video content. Detailed tutorials, product reviews, or informational videos can rank in both YouTube and Google searches. When users seek visual explanations or demonstrations, a well-optimized YouTube video can lead them directly to a brand’s main website, and is a must for serious SEO in 2023.
   
   
5. LinkedIn: The professional network, LinkedIn, is a hub for B2B interactions. Companies can share industry insights, post job vacancies, and engage in professional discussions. This platform is crucial for boosting company credibility, leading professionals to explore company websites further after engaging with their posts. An essential channel to boost SEO for big enterprises and professional services.
   
   
6. Tik Tok: The young gun of social, Tik Tok, is all about short, engaging video content for the short attention span of the younger demographics. Brands should tap into challenges, use popular soundtracks, or collaborate with influencers. While it’s still relatively new, it’s potential for virality is still incrementally higher as it’s still farther away from it’s ‘feed saturation point’. This can lead to significant brand searches, especially if a particular video captures the audience’s imagination.

By understanding the nuances of each platform in the context of SEO, businesses are able to tailor their content strategies to capitalise on the SEO benefits of social media.

Conclusion:

SEO in 2023 is not just about keywords and backlinks. The rise of voice search and AI into search algorithms, proves the landscape is ever-evolving, and right now social media plays a major part.

The marriage between social media and SEO in 2023 is influential and undeniable. For businesses, this bond offers unparalleled digital opportunity. When drafting a social post, optimising your website, or writing a blog post, remember they aren’t separate entities.

They’re intricately linked partners in the collaborative digital dance of SEO in 2023, shaping the way businesses grow their presence online.