4 Ways Social Media Affects SEO

With billions of active users on social platforms, it’s hard to imagine that social media wouldn’t affect search engine optimization (SEO). But just how much does your social media activity affect your rankings? Here’s are four ways social media may affect your SEO efforts.

1. Social Media Profiles Also Rank in Search Engines

Your social media profiles will impact the content of your search results. Actually, social media profiles are among the first results when people search for brand names. Just search for one of your favorite brands, and you’ll probably find their Instagram, Facebook and Twitter profiles in the first few results.

These profiles listings are more beneficial than you might think. Let’s say that you ran a company that did SEO in Toronto. A prospective client is interested in your services, but wants to learn more about you and what others say about your services. When they search for your name, they find your Facebook and Twitter profiles just under your official website. By checking out your social profiles, they can learn more about your company, and read comments and reviews from followers.

In a way, your social profiles can be a way for potential customers to learn about your brand and offerings.

2. Social Platforms are Also Search Engines

One thing that most people forget is that social networks also act as search engines. Many people use social platforms to find what they need.

Let’s go back to the SEO company example. If you have a Twitter account, there’s a good chance that prospective customers will find your services by searching for SEO or a similar keyword in Twitter’s search engine. If you have an Instagram account, people may find your services by searching for the right hashtag.

People may also use social search engines to search for your company directly.

3. Social Links May Boost Your Rankings

It’s still up for debate whether social links can actually boost your rankings, but there’s no concrete evidence that they don’t impact rankings.

Many marketers believe that links from social media platforms do have a major impact.

One of the most effective ways for companies to achieve natural links is to develop original content that is shared on social networks. The links to your content on Facebook, Twitter and other networks help search engines understand that your website is credible and should be ranked for relevant keywords.

4. Social Content Builds Authority

Ultimately, the content you post and share on social platforms will help build authority. Search engines do put a lot of weight on a website’s authority. If your website has high value, it will have high authority, and you’ll have a better chance of ranking above sites with less authority.

Along with website authority, staying active on social media will also help you establish yourself as a leader in your industry. This can help you naturally build your following, encourage natural links and increase traffic to your website. If others view you as an expert in your industry, they’ll be more likely to trust you as a resource.