Why should I care about Social Media Optimization?
You should care about Social Media Optimization (SMO), because you care about your company’s image. Social Media Optimization Defined
In its most basic form, Social media optimization (http://www.neboweb.com/social-media-optimization.php) is any method used to raise your website’s online visibility through meaningful communication. The open format strengthens your search engine optimization efforts by fostering a mutual connection with your clients through the myriad of online communities, also called social media sites. Current examples of SMO include:
-Creating profiles in social media communities such as MySpace, Facebook, and VIRB.
-Creating and sharing content through community based sites like Flickr, YouTube, and more.
SMO allows you to become an active member of your online community, quite an important aspect of marketing your brand. Creating legitimate content, building relationships and instilling trust in your community is the very backbone of SMO. SMO Etiquette
Legitimate SMO techniques are centered on sharing information and exposing your community to your interests. Using unsavory SMO techniques is the Web 2.0 equivalent to spam. Is SMO right for my firm?
There are many different types of Social Media sites currently available. Now, consider the possibility that there’s at least one Social Media site for each of your interests. A few examples of the different Social Media genres include:
-News – These sites allow users to submit news articles. Examples include: Digg, Propeller, Newsvine
-Media – These sites allow users to upload and share a variety of different media files. Examples include: MySpace, Facebook, Virb
-Bookmarking – These sites allow users to compile public bookmark collections of sites they find interesting, informative, or helpful. Examples include: Stumble Upon, Technorat, Del.icio.us
When executed properly, Social Media Optimization can be quite a beneficial marketing tool. Some questions you might like to consider before launching your SMO campaign are:
-Most SMO sites share very specific information.
-The audience for most Social Media sites is more of a young, tech savvy group.
-Does your web site contain a blog, or similar media outlet, you can regularly update with relevant content?
-Given the fact that community based sites focus on individual profiles and commentary, are you comfortable with developing unique profiles across multiple sites?
In summary
Social Media Optimization has become a successful marketing tool for one simple reason.
