Social Media Optimization (SMO) What is it?

We have all heard about social media networking/community sites like LinkedIn.com (a professional networking site), myspace.com and facebook.com which are examples of more main stream SM sites. The basic premise of an SM site is that each participant has an individual web page or profile page and becomes a part of a larger network. With SM sites like LinkedIn.com however, the benefit is that network is targeted and related to your professional industry as opposed to myspace.com and facebook.com where your network is the world. As social media sites evolve, it is clear that many different types of different interests such as fishing (bloodydecks.com) will be targeted. This arena is rapidly expanding which is why you need to think about the different opportunities that are going to arise while the first wave of industry specific SM sites hit the internet.

So back to our main question: What is Social Media Optimization (SMO) and how can it benefit my practice or business? The top benefit is the potential to obtain external links to your website from these vast networks of Social Media sites. Generating inbound links to your website is a very fundamental aspect of SEO and the linking opportunity associated with SM sites is huge if done properly. Keyword organic placement with your profile page is another great benefit. Instead of paying for another directory to get found under your name or business name, consider seeking out free directory opportunities which, if done properly can boost your search engine rankings. Finally, connecting with people inside of your network to obtain new customers and business contacts is a great reason to get involved. Picking the right SM sites is a tough task and there are many variables to consider. If you are interested in learning more about Social Media Optimization (SMO) please feel free to contact us for a consultation.