Search engine optimization (SEO) can be a futile effort if it does not divert traffic to your website. SEO is not a one-time investment that will reap immediate benefits—it is a constant process that requires regular maintenance. Today, many websites are lost in cyberspace since they cannot divert enough traffic through SEO.

Initially, the SEO process involved adding targeted keywords to your webpage content. It often allowed your site to rank higher in searches for those keywords. However, with the evolving use of social media, keyword optimization became less significant.

Social media marketing (SMM) elevates the digital marketing process. It also helps marketers connect with their audience. The debate between SEO versus SMM is ongoing as developers find new ways to increase website rankings.

What do you need? SEO or SMM?

An effective digital marketing strategy requires a combination of both search engine optimization techniques and social media marketing. Here are some proven SEO and SMM tips that will help you divert traffic to your website.

Search Engine Optimization (SEO):

Search engine optimization involves indexing your website so search engines can find it quickly. It also makes it easy to find your site when people carry out relevant searches. SEO has evolved from simply adding keywords to a more complex process. It involves both on-page and off-page SEO strategies that improve your web ranking.

What is on-page SEO?

On-page search engine optimization involves many different aspects. These include:

• URL : Get the right URL structure by adding permalinks and keywords. This does not mean you have to change every URL on your website. Changing established links can damage your current SEO ranking.
• Headings :Add appropriate keywords to your headings that match your page content.
• Title Tags :Add target keywords in the title tags of every page on your website.
• Page Loading Time :According to Google, a fast website can load pages in less than two seconds. If your site takes more than two seconds to load, you can lose potential revenue. Using shorter codes, web-friendly picture formats, and lesser plugins can decrease your page loading time. Using a good network for content delivery, lesser redirects, and mobile optimization are a few simple steps to improve your web response time.
• Content :Google appreciates quality over quantity. Adding lots of content to your website does not assure ranking. Quality content promises better results.
• ALT Text :Adding ALT text to images is beneficial for SEO. This is also useful for visually impaired individuals who make use of screen readers. Adding keywords to these ALT texts is helpful as well.
• Internal Links :Search engines often value websites that offer engaging content. Linking to other pages on your website can help search engines recognize the credibility of your brand.

What is off-page SEO?

Off-page SEO offers insights into how useful Google finds your website. These insights can help your website attract good traffic. Off-page SEO involves processes like link building that help improve your ranking. These steps include:

• Backlinking :Linking different websites to your webpage helps create backlinks. This is an important part of the search engine optimization process. Quality content is the key to generating more backlinks.
• Social Bookmarks :Posting articles on popular websites like Delicious, Digg, Reddit, and Stumble Upon can bring traffic to your site. This can build backlinks and generate potential leads.
• Reviews :Reviews on Google and Yelp help create a good reputation for your site. They are also useful for the SEO process and backlinking. If you are carrying out local SEO, make sure you monitor reviews and solve problems if any arise.

Social Media Marketing (SMM):

Social media marketing involves increasing your company’s utilization of social media. It means that you are carrying out social media optimization (SMO). Creating a strong social media presence is an important part of SMM. To maintain this, make sure that you do not create a business profile on every social channel. Focusing on too many channels at the same time can weaken your social media strategy.

Creating a social media presence is not enough to instantly increase sales or boost your website’s ranking. Social media channels are full of fake profiles, so you cannot rank higher by merely creating a profile.

However, a steady stream of likes and shares can help improve social media rankings. Maintaining an active social media presence and posting engaging content improves the visibility of your business. It also helps create backlinks to your site. The more backlinks you have, the higher your website will rank.

Before starting the SMM process, it is essential to cover all aspects of on-page SEO.

Search Engine Optimization and Social Media Marketing are both essential.

SEO with SMM or SMO is essential to connect with potential customers. Social media can direct people to your business website, which will eventually boost your website ranking.

Additionally, carrying out social media marketing without search engine optimization is not helpful. Trying this method could make it difficult to find your business organically outside of social media channels. Both SEO and SMM are an essential part of digital marketing.

There is no wrong SEO and SMM combination strategy. The key is to analyze data and make a plan of action that works for you.

How should you decide on SEO or SMM?

It is essential to have both. However, you can decide how much effort you want to put in each. Optimizing social media marketing requires an understanding of the vast user data. For example, along with likes and shares, users need to visit your website. These clicks can be monitored and tracked to measure the effectiveness of your SMM campaign.

After users click on your site, it is also essential that they stay and interact with other engaging posts. Convincing visitors to sign up for newsletters, create an account, or buy your products requires a solid social media marketing strategy.

Social media platforms like Facebook offer insights about your website visitors and their behavior. When combined with Google Analytics, it creates a perfect balance between SMM and SEO to build better outcomes. Analyzing the data is the best way to select your target strategy.

Create a successful digital marketing strategy for your business.

The amount of time and money you spend on search engine optimization and social media marketing depends on many factors. Ranking difficult keywords can be trying at times. However, increased website traffic makes your website credible for Google. Website rankings and business targets can help you make the right decision.

Managing all this is a very difficult and time consuming task for companies, keeping that in mind it’s best that business should hire an SEO Company OR Social Media Marketing Agency.