Shoutout to everyone who works tirelessly to ensure your website or blog has amazing content all year round! But let’s face it, hitting “publish” is just the beginning – let’s explore how social media becomes your secret weapon to amplify your SEO efforts and drive serious traffic back to your website.Â
Why Social Shares Matter for SEO
Imagine this: someone stumbles upon your fantastic blog post on social media, intrigued by the headline and visuals. They read it, find it valuable, and hit that share button. Imagine it going viral – hundreds, even thousands, sending your content across the web. That’s the power of social shares – they send a loud and clear signal to search engines about your content’s worth.Â
Social shares matter for SEO because it signals
- Relevance: Social shares indicate your content resonates with your target audience, aligning with topics people are actively searching for.
- Quality: Low engagement translates to low-quality content in the eyes of algorithms. High shares signal high-quality content that deserves wider visibility.
- The Power of Buzz: Social media buzz creates a form of digital word-of-mouth. Search engines take notice of trending topics and content that spark conversation.
Crafting Content that Begs to be Shared: The STEPPS Framework
In his book, Contagious: Why Things Catch On, Jonah Berger outlines six key elements that make content go viral. Let’s apply these principles to your social media strategy, ensuring your amazing content reaches the widest possible audience and drives serious traffic back to your website.
- Social Currency: People like to share things that make them look good, feel smart, or in-the-know. How can your content be a status symbol? For example, a shareable headline will tease exclusive insights or contrarian viewpoints.Â
- Triggers: What are the common topics of conversation in your niche? Find ways to tie your content to what’s already top-of-mind for your audience. For example, if you’re a food brand, don’t just post common food recipes. Tie your content to trending challenges or upcoming events for an extra boost.
- Emotion: Aim to evoke strong emotions: awe, excitement, amusement… things people feel compelled to share. Usually, you can achieve this with captions that tell a relatable mini-story or start with a surprising statistic to spark emotional engagement.
- Public: Can people see what others are sharing? Use relevant hashtags and encourage tagging to make your content visible in the social sphere.
- Practical Value: Beyond buzz, give people something genuinely useful – actionable tips, and expert insights. And don’t be shy! Tell people to “Share if you found this helpful” or “Tag a friend who needs to see this”.
- Stories: Humans are wired for narratives. Can you frame your content as a short, compelling story? Case studies are perfect for this.
Applying the STEPPS framework is a proven way to boost your social shares. Couple this with eye-catching visuals and a clear understanding of your target audience, and you’ll see your social shares and SEO benefits skyrocket.
Related:Â Social Profile Visits, But No New Followers? Social SEO Could Be the Fix
Beyond Social Sharing: Building Your Content Empire
Social media isn’t just about hitting “post” and hoping for the best. Let’s delve into strategies that expand your content’s reach and SEO potential:
- Strategic Repurposing: Don’t limit yourself to the big social media platforms. Websites like Medium, LinkedIn, and industry-specific forums allow you to re-share content (with proper attribution) alongside a link back to your original source. This exposes your content to new audiences and builds valuable backlinks – a significant SEO win.
- Leverage on Community: Social media thrives on community engagement. Here’s how to leverage it:
- Partnering with Influencers: Collaborate with influencers in your niche for reviews, features, or content co-creations. This taps into their established, engaged audience, expanding your reach exponentially.
- Active Participation in Groups: Become a valuable member of relevant online communities (Facebook Groups, subreddits, forums). Share your insightful content (when appropriate and allowed), answer questions, and build relationships.
- The Power of Reciprocity: Don’t be afraid to promote other businesses and creators you admire. This fosters a sense of community and may lead to them returning the favour by sharing your content, further amplifying your reach.
Make it Easy to Share Across Your Platforms
It sounds obvious, but you’d be surprised how often this is overlooked! Seamless navigation between your website and social profiles is crucial. Use prominent social icons. Make it easy for visitors to find your social media presence. Include clear icons in your website’s header and footer, linking directly to your profiles. Also include clear links to your website in your social media bios or a prominent location, letting everyone know where to find more awesome content.
Ready to harness the untapped SEO potential within your social media strategy? We’re offering a FREE 7-14 day social media audit and trial for brands who reach us in the next 48 hours. Let our experts analyse your current approach, identify growth opportunities, and kickstart your journey to dominating search results across all platforms! Contact us today to schedule your consultation.
