Every business would like to see their website appear first in Google search results for keywords related to their industry.
Indeed, Internet users browse only the first 3 to 5 links presented in the search results. Several tactics exist to improve web referencing, that is to say the positioning of a site in search results. Better SEO means more traffic to your site, and therefore more sales or potential leads.
Traditionally, the elements that can influence the position of a site in search results are divided into two main categories: static elements of the site, such as the title of the pages, the information of the “meta” fields, the links between internal pages, etc., and off-site elements, such as the number of links pointing to the site, and awareness of sites pointing to yours, etc. And Google now includes social media in its calculation.
In order to better position their site in search engines, companies, even B2B companies, have an advantage to make better use of social media and include them in their SEO strategy.
9 Ways To Improve SEO Using Social Media
Develop a global strategy
Incorporate your keywords into your social media postings:
Once you’ve identified your keywords, keep them in mind when composing updates for Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, or other social media you use. Be careful not to overdo it, and remember you are writing for your audience!
Prepare to Measure SEO:
To make sure your actions are paying off, and to be able to adjust your strategy if necessary, you need to measure social media traffic. Choose a suitable URL shortcut tool that measures the number of visits and is suitable for SEO. Bitly.com is a good example. Also take the time to analyze statistics from different social media.
Make it easy to share information:
Integrate share buttons, links and anything else that can make it easier to share your site’s pages and social media interventions. The more your content is shared, whether it’s your articles or your social media additions, the greater your chances of being better referenced by Google. Pay special attention to the “meta” descriptions of your pages and articles so that they are attractive to visitors. This description appears as snippet when someone shares the page on a site like Facebook or LinkedIn, for example. It is therefore important that this description is clear and encourages sharing.
Make your business as “social” as possible
Write a blog:
Writing a business blog is an effective strategy for both business development and the SEO of your website. The blog allows you to express your point of view, create interesting articles for your customers and increase the opportunities to communicate with them. Each article page represents a potential gateway to your site, and can be shared on social media. But be prepared; writing a blog requires consistency and commitment.
Engage your employees:
Do you have dedicated employees? Put them to work; encourage them to share company-created content. Encourage them to share information about their profiles, thereby increasing the reach of the posts. You can even provide them with pre-composed messages, ready to be published. Do not forget, however, to communicate the rules to be followed with regard to the company on social networks.
Multiply your distribution channels:
Social media isn’t limited to Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. There are many other social sites that are proven to be effective for SEO, like Pinterest, Instagram, or CircleMe. If there is a social network specializing in your field, use it. Also take advantage of content sharing sites that do not necessarily require a constant presence, such as Youtube for videos or Slideshare for PowerPoint presentations.
Be prolific:
Participate frequently in discussion groups on LinkedIn, on Facebook or in active forums related to your field. Create content that people will want to share, like a “white paper” or some other form of valuable content.
Pay special attention to your profiles:
The name of your social media profiles, as well as the description or the “bio” are other elements where you can add keywords (be careful again to stay natural) and encourage Internet users to follow you.
Measure and adjust:
Take the time to assess and analyze the results of your actions. Look at the number of clicks, the sources of traffic to your site, what kind of information is shared most often, what is most popular, etc. and adjust your actions accordingly.
And to conclude, never forget that you are communicating with human beings! By trying too hard to improve your site’s position on search engines, you could forget how your actions, your texts and your image will be perceived by users who read you.
