Search engine Google has said it uses social signals as part of its ranking formula. The logic is that if a piece of content on the web is causing social buzz then it stands an even chance of being good content and so performs well in the search results. Social signals are becoming such an important part of online marketing campaigns that some companies like this SEO Isle of Man company are now essentially specializing in social media marketing but there are some basic steps you can take yourself to get your company noticed.
The most famous social media sites are presently Twitter and Facebook.
Tweeting
Twitter is neat because it doesn't take a lot of work. Every day a short sentence is sent out with a link and this is otherwise known as a tweet. Create a twitter account and gain fans by following other users. Do not make the error of presuming the more followers you've got the more successful you'll be.
When having a look at potential folks to follow, ask if they are relevant to you and your business. Following someone that sells stationary when you are a restaurant owner will generate very little interest. Once you've chosen your followers then make an effort daily to respond to their tweets, by doing this you are inspiring readers to read you.
Facebook now allows folk to build fan pages and other users rate the fan page if they find it useful. There is a common mistake made by many though. They are expecting the Facebook page to drive traffic to their site when the fan page hasn't ever been promoted.
A website can also drive traffic to a fan page. Display a Facebook fan page on your internet site, it is an almost certainty that the majority of your audience will have an account already. Driving traffic to your fan page encourages readers to rate your page making it popular.
Remember to frequently update your Facebook page. Ideally you should be aiming at one update a week. Make content fascinating to the reader, generate interest so that the reader will tell other Facebook users about you.
Enable Facebook users to get something freely. Run contests, display money off vouchers or permit readers to click-through to your own site to download a free e-book. If you have any offers then advertise them too. Everybody loves it when we get something for nothing.
Both Facebook and Twitter are the first steps of any campaign if you hope to create some buzz.
The writer is the Director of eStoresNow and a previous search engine marketing advisor specialising in email marketing.