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In a year, we grew a local pizza chain’s Facebook page from 0 to 50,000 fans. |
Get Informed About Google’s Turn to Social Media SEO
August 16, 2012 | Posted By: Brett Lohmeyer
Category: In the News, Integ-Theory
It’s no secret that social media sites like Twitter, Facebook and Google+ have been used by Google’s ranking algorithm for the last few years. Yet, until earlier this year, social media was only a marginally valuable tool in an SEO strategy. A great social media campaign could help a lot, but it was easier and cheaper to rely on a link building campaigns from blogs. Link building from blogging networks was a low-cost way to boost your website in the rankings.
In April, Google changed this.
Earlier this year, Google released the Penguin update, an update that targeted low-value links. Many of the questionable to outright fraudulent link building campaigns began to lower websites’ rankings in Google’s search engine result pages.
Various Google sources, including the face of Google search Matt Cutts, have made it clear that social networks like Facebook and Google+ can be used to separate the wheat of the Internet from the chaff. Both white- and black-hat SEO professionals have adapted to this change, but in different ways.
Black-hat SEO professionals have changed their tactics in cheating Google’s ranking algorithm. Many of the same people who procured links from poorly written blogs now run spam campaigns on Facebook with likes from fake profiles or purchased profiles using Amazon’s Mechanical Turk.
But for those willing to put in the extra work, there are plenty of options for creating quality social SEO campaigns. A good place to start is Social Media Examiner’s article 3 Ways to Use Social Media to Improve Your Search Rankings. The theme of the article is that providing valuable content on social networks like Facebook is the best way to create valuable links.
This transition from traditional link building campaigns to social SEO campaigns is actually a good thing for white-hat marketing professionals. Social media can provide more than just improved rankings in the search engine result pages, because it can be a traffic generation resource on its own. Make sure your marketing team is looking into the value of a strong social SEO campaign for your business.
Written by Brett Lohmeyer
Brett is a graduate of Webster University with a degree in Video Production. Starting in 2009, Brett has been working in different aspects of search engine marketing. It has been a great fit for a guy that loves all things Google. If you want to talk about your favorite Google Reader features, Chrome plug-ins, or discontinued Google services you once loved, Brett has plenty to say. Outside of the office Brett is a big fan of all things nerdy. This includes: chess, role playing games, George R.R. Martin books, and fantasy baseball.
