Are you optimizing your social media presence? If the answer to today’s question is “No”, let’s talk about it.

As a small business owner, I know you’re familiar with SEO (Search Engine Optimization) on some level. You’ve been using the reach of search engines, such as Bing or Google, as a way to fuel a successful marketing campaign for a while now. However, as social media has grown to be a top platform in reaching consumers, fresh approaches to digital marketing have emerged. A new top strategy being used by businesses who are hoping to maximize their online reach is Social Media Optimization, or, you guessed it – SMO.

What is SMO? Well, basically, it uses social media as a catalyst to grow the online presence of your company. Many companies just set up a profile on some of the most popular platforms, such as Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter, so that they can be where the customers are. SMO strategically creates and maximizes your social media plan to actually connect to your target audience. You will be able to:

  • Empower your brand
  • Generate leads
  • Increase your online visibility
  • Connect with your audience

Why is this important? Until recently, social media marketing and search engine marketing were considered two separate aspects of marketing, but it is becoming clear that they are much more intertwined than that. Surveys are finding that half of all companies whose SEO is not successful are those who aren’t integrating their social media marketing with their SEO. 

Do you know your hashtags? It’s time to take control of your own marketing. Research the phrases and topics that your target audience is searching for so that you can create content for them. This may seem like a gargantuan task, but there are tools that can assist you in finding the most popular keywords and hashtags for your industry and brand. For example, the Twitter Keyword report can be helpful; build a list of keywords you think your target audience might use and add them to the report. You will then be able to see the keyword volume of all your phrases over time, and it will be clear which ones are used the most. Those are the ones you want to begin using in all your posts, for sure.

Let me see your profile. Optimizing your website is vital to your SEO. Every page and its content will help search engines know you and your brand. People who are searching for topics that are relevant to your site will receive recommendations to you. When it comes to SMO, you want to do the same thing to your profile. 

Your profile photo should be your logo, and your username needs to be the name of your company. This makes it easier for customers to find you when they do a search. Your bio should state clearly what it is that your company does, and a trackable link back to your website is a great tool for your customers, too. Fill out your profile completely, as well. The more information you provide, the fewer work people will have to do to find you. 

When it comes to your social media presence, there is a lot to think about. If you need help with your strategies and optimization of that presence, I offer both one-time review sessions and longer-term programs that can help you get you going in the right direction.