Social Networking Vs SEO – How You Should Promote Your Business

Popularity and change are two very important terms to address when analyzing the benefits of social networking vs SEO strategies in business marketing.  As internet access and use continue to change, the most effective methods of attracting online attention will inevitably change as well.  These two common, affordable and often easy online marketing platforms both provide an array of different benefits and disadvantages.  Those businesses who are well-aware of the importance of both popularity and change in their marketplace will see that there are clear positives that help to indicate the best marketing path.

Social Networking As A Limited Playing Field

One of the most appreciable aspects of using social media marketing in the promotion of a business is its ability to produce an exponential response.  Only minimal amounts of strategic effort and careful investing can produce an outstanding influx of traffic and consumer interest.  With a good profile, a steady growing fan base and efforts made to keep posts current, relevant and beneficial, companies can enjoy a tremendous amount of growth through this online marketing vehicle.

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The downside to social media marketing as the sole marketing platform in use, is that it limits companies to a dramatically reduced playing field.  While many people use social networking sites, many web users do not.  When companies limit themselves to only reaching out through social networking sites they miss out on highly qualified consumer demographics that might actually be more profitable in terms of the products or services that are provided, than those that can be linked up with through social media.

The Whirlwind Of New Opportunities

Nothing reveals the continual state of flux that the internet exists in like social media.  New methods and vehicles for attracting consumers arrive each and every day.  Companies who get on board with those offers that have the highest potential for profitability can recognize astronomical levels of success.  The interest and effectiveness of these opportunities is as likely to change, however, as the wind is to blow and thus, they may be profitable only for a short time and then to only a very limited number of businesses.

The Downsides To Jumping On Board

It is important to note that not all advertising and promotional vehicles that are accessible through the use of social media marketing are guaranteed to benefit a business.  For instance, the proliferation of daily deal offers through specialized sites and through social media marketing provided numerous businesses with an opportunity to garner a significant amount of attention from their local markets.

These offers provided consumers with the ability to use local services or obtain locally offered products at a mere fraction of their normal costs.  For businesses, the goal was to secure enough sales to offset the production expenses.  In many cases, the demand was so high and the competitive pricing placed so low, that the attention gained from daily deals ads through social networking was financially devastating.  Thus, even positive aspects of social networking can be detrimental when timing and planning are not on point.

SEO And Its Risks

Coversely, with SEO, there are few risks to securing a top slot in local search engine listings or for high-use keywords.  Companies do not need to make a firm commitment to selling their wares or services at bottom dollar rates.  This is in fact, a real opportunity to display the highlights of a business and to begin branding the business in a very non-aggressive way.

The efforts that are often employed to obtain organic optimization will usually include the creation and posting of valuable, informative and even quotable content, which will help to establish the business as an expert or as an at least trustworthy source in its industry.  Alternatively, companies who were overwhelmed by the response of their daily deal campaigns through social networking sites often displayed undesirable commercial characteristics as they battled their way through over-demand: unresponsiveness, disorganization and poor-planning.

Search Optimization And The Many Roadblocks That It Entails

Optimizing for major search engines allows companies a chance to gain worldwide attention and even international success.  The problem, however, is that few small businesses are really ever able to capitalize on this potential or to satisfy the needs of the world market.  Geographically local optimization has helped web users to streamline their searches for only geographically relevant businesses and businesses have even been able to secure choice first page listings for their local territories.

Many of the different aspects of the optimization process help to establish a recognizable company image and brand and are thus doubly effective in their ability to both optimize a site and brand a commercial image.  The major downside to this online marketing strategy is that the parameters for gaining SEO are constantly on the move and algorithm adjustments made by a major search engine can negate a number of marketing efforts that small businesses have employed.   Thus, in both social networking and SEO, there are inherent risks.

Summing It Up

The overall analysis of social networking vs SEO marketing strategies for promoting businesses large and small cannot help but to reveal one thing: companies must invest themselves in all popular internet platforms in order to accommodate the ever-present change that shapes and defines consumer internet use.  While social networking is a limited marketing platform, it remains an essential one for attracting local attention, building a public face and experiencing the opportunity to join in on highly profitable group marketing efforts.  It is in fact, the surest and only way to reach certain consumer demographics.

Search engine optimization is equally vital for any business that maintains an online presence.  Companies cannot avoid this essential step in achieving product or service recognition and web traffic.  While social networking is popular among web users, search engine use is far more common, especially in terms of searching for consumer goods and services.  In order to effectively self-promote online, businesses must implement both social media marketing and SEO strategies.

Samuel Uherek, the author of this guest post, helps othres to fulfill the passion of running an online business and live their dreamed lifestyle. For more articles and tips visit his Internet Marketing website.

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Tagged as: seo, Social networking

Article by Samuel Uherek

Samuel has written 1 articles .

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