“Social Media Optimization (SMO) is the use of many social media outlets and communities to generate publicity to increase the awareness of a product, service, brand or event.”
Yes, SEO is essential, but so is SMO.
Many companies sometimes overlook SMO, but using this strategy can play an important role in the success of their business.
Recently, search engines such as Google, Bing, Yahoo, etc., have started incorporating social media actions into their search results.
Below I search for “Face Painting in The Bahamas” using Google.
Even though the first four results were from bahamaslocal.com listings, the 5th was Facebook business pages. There have been a few times where I search on Google, and a business page post was in the results.
What this means is that your business needs to ensure that your online business content is more shareable, tweetable and likable than anyone else.
Step up your online marketing game with these 5 strategies for Social Media Optimization.
1. Be Social on Social Media
Your business is creating all this lovely content but not interacting with the audience. That is a huge no-no. If someone is asking a question, answer it. If clients are commenting, try to engage them in conversation. Even if it’s a “like.” Doing this keeps clients and potential clients engage in your posts, and you’ll get to find out what clients think about your brand/business. At the same time, their friends get to see what they posted and might want to get involved in the conversation as well.
Remember, the idea is to build relationships. 
2. Use Hashtags
Make it easy for clients to find you by using hashtags. All social media marketing platforms have incorporated the use of hashtags. Here is an example of me searching the hashtag #loveyourself on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Linkedln.
3.Integrate Social Media Links into your Website
On your business website make sure to include direct web links to your social media channels. 
4. Build A Strong Profile and make sure your Branding is clear
– Fill out all information asked for.
– Your username should be your company name
– Profile photo should be your company logo
– Your cover photo should showcase what your brand is all about
– Your company bio should be clear and state what your company does
– If you can add the company website in the bio that would be great!
5. Track Your Social Media Analytics and Experiment
Most social media platforms have made it easy to track all your SMO efforts. You can even view your website “referrers” to see where your audience is clicking the links from.
After viewing all of your tracking information experiment with optimal posting times. There are tons of statistics floating around online claiming optimal posting times. But honestly, it depends on the audience.
For example, managing a hair store social media page, most of the clients and followers comment, like, share, or send messages during the evening.
However, managing a sports team page, we notice most of the action is noon until 5 pm through the week and weekend it’s usually mornings.
By June Collie
Here at GROW, we offer SMO services. Let us know how we can help you with your social media today.
info@growbyjunecollie.com – 1 242 814 2872
GROW - Social Media Marketing 