Integrating SEO with SEM

Search engine optimization (SEO) and social media optimization (SMO) are two different techniques with a common aim. While SEO methods have been popular almost since the advent of Internet, SMO is relatively new. With more innovations happening in both levels, many experts now argue that SEO can be integrated in SMO.

The whole concept of SEO focuses on optimizing the Web site for search engines. This is important considering the role search engines play for driving traffic to a Web site. In fact, a Web site’s PageRank is now accepted as a criterion to decide the popularity of the Web site. Customers are likely to get attracted to a Web site that shows up on top of the search engine page result (SERP). They assume that only successful Web sites (read businesses) can achieve the top rank from popular search engines such as Google.

With so much of relevance for search engine optimization, Web sites have explored different ways to improve PageRank. Popular methods include keyword optimization, link exchange, social bookmarking, and pay-per-click advertising. With the evolution of social networking solutions, some of these SEO techniques are now merged with SEM techniques. Typical example is exchange of links through mass email, blogs and forums enabled through social communities such as MySpace, Facebook, LinkedIn, etc.

Social media optimization though focuses greatly on communicating with individual community members using popular communication methods such as email, instant messenger (IM), Skype, Twitter, etc. Unlike the SEO methods, there is a personal involvement in these communications. For example, a micro-blogging application Twitter enables a Web site owner to regularly send Tweets (small messages in the form of text, image, video, Podcast, and links) to customers on a regular basis. There are provisions to customize the message by displaying the logo and theme of the brand.

Twitter is the latest example that shows how SEO can be integrated with SMO. Twitter allows Web sites to share their contents through RSS or direct links to a large community managed by highly popular Web site Twitter. Other Web sites offering such micro-blogging services are Jaiku, Pownce, Tumblr, and MySay. Micro-blogging is now integrated with popular social networking sites such as MySpace, Facebook and Orkut. These are the best-rated Web sites among the trillions of Web sites launched in the World Wide Web. This would mean that any Web site that gains traffic through these sites will get a share of their popularity.

More such innovations are expected in the coming years. Any technology that facilitates smart and fast communication is the need of the day.

Shilpi is an SEO consultant and currently associated as Internet Marketing Manager with IDS Logic, an offshore outsourcing company and web design agency providing SEO services India and web based solutions to global clients.