SEO, SMM, SEM, SERP… SOS so many acronyms. What do these all mean and how do they affect your business?
If you’re on the internet in your free time like most people, then you’re probably spending most of your time on Google, either searching for movie times, flights, or houses to buy, and social media platforms. This raises an interesting marketing question: Search Engine Optimization (SEO) or Social Media Marketing (SMM)? Which one is more effective for your business?
As with most things in business, it does depend on the industry and the types of customers you are trying to reach. However, as your digital marketing company, Branding Creatively has expertise in both SEO and SMM, and can help guide you in your decision for your business.
SEO is not just about stuffing key words into articles and web pages. Major search engines, such as Google and Bing, are straying away from what you might think of as traditional SEO. Rather, they are trying to focus on user experience and quality content instead. Getting high SEO rankings means that you need to be posting valuable content in a convenient manner. Companies with better organized web designs have higher conversions and can also have higher SEO rankings. It’s not about quantity, but quality. When done correctly, and when you are truly focusing on useful content, SEO can do wonders for your business. Be original and try to approach common ideas and topics with a new, unique approach. Be passionate and knowledgeable. That’s the best way to not only engage customers, but increase your SEO.
On the other hand, social media focuses a lot more on communication with people in a less formal way. More and more people are engaging in social media as the world is becoming increasingly digitialized. People, especially in younger generations, are more likely to interact with a social media post or graphic, than they are to sit down and read an entire article. Depending on your target audience, SMM might be a lot more effective for your business. Content should be more pictures and less words and more aesthetically pleasing to entice consumers. While SEO is great when people are looking things up, SMM is a lot better for creating an online community of consumers. SEO might be what you need to initially gain attention and new customers, but SMM is what you need to keep your customers.
