SEO and Social Networkin - 5 Great Benefits

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SEO professionals and Internet marketers are all too aware of the importance of social networking for effective Internet marketing, but are you? If you're not yet convinced that you should be using social networking, here are 5 great benefits to keep in mind.

1. Mindshare. Social networking sites allow you to tailor your message to your target audience depending in which platforms you use and which followers you have. Whereas the old model used to rely on newspaper ads and billboards, the social networking model focuses on profiles and updates. Social networking sites are a great way for a small business owner to announce company news and offers, broadcast timely information of interest to a business owner's target audience, and engage followers in a relevant and helpful. The number of social networking users is actually quite staggering, so if you aren't using social networking as an SEO tool, then you're really missing out.

2. Build Relationships. Gone are the days when customers were willing to simply trust a business owner whom they may never see or to whom they may never talk. Some customers would be interested in reading your blog while others might want to follow you on Twitter. Some will review your products on Amazon. A customer's experience or perception will always be enhanced by the opportunity to interact with you on some level. Google Alerts is a great way to find out what people are saying about you in forums with which you might not even be familiar.

3. Link Building. Link building is one of the most important SEO tasks you can undertake, and social networking is a great way to get it done! Link to your website from your profile and, if possible, include keywords as anchor text within your profile. Then point those links to optimized pages within your website.

4. Drive Traffic. It doesn't take a genius to figure out that the
more exposure you have on the Internet, the more people will be interested in visiting your website. The key to driving traffic is not only providing a link, however; it also requires providing helpful information and high-quality content that will build your credibility with your target audience. This information should also be so compelling that your target audience just can't help but click on the link to your site. One of the most important things you can do is to send your social networking traffic directly to a landing page that you've created just for them. It should be targeted to the audience with whom you interact in social networking sites and should contain a particular call to action that pertains to them.

5. Rank High. The more high-quality content you place on social networking sites, the more you become visible to your target audience, and the more likely the search engines are to notice you and reward you with high rankings. Remember that search engines don't just index websites, but also photos, images, videos, blogs, social networking profiles, and podcasts. Good content located in many relevant places helps you get noticed by the search engines and thus ranked higher.

The biggest social networking mistake you can make is not using it as an effective SEO tool. If you're not using it already, then you can guarantee that you're losing business to your competitors who are. There are so many social networking site users out there now that you simply can't afford to ignore these sites. They not only allow you to build valuable inbound links to your site, but they allow you to build relationships with your potential customers. They provide you with widespread exposure and the ability to establish yourself as an expert within your market niche. If you need further guidance in using social networking as an SEO tool, consult with an Internet marketing professional who can help you integrate social networking into your overall Internet marketing plan.