SEO vs social media marketing

There are many decisions you have to make as a business owner, such as how much you charge for your product or service, whether you use Google Docs or Microsoft Office, and ultimately, which mediums you use to promote your business.

Two mediums you’ll most likely know about and have considered are SEO and social media marketing. Both mediums are extremely valuable to your business and both help you achieve different marketing goals.

Our partner WebCentral talks about the differences between SEO and social media marketing mediums and what marketing objectives these channels are best suited for.

SEO is best for: lead generation, sales and social proof
SEO is the only inbound marketing method where the customer is looking for your business. By searching your business’s name or industry keywords, you appear in the search during their search process.

Customers who are actively seeking a product or service are much more likely to take a positive action on your website than someone who has seen one of your Facebook updates. Their intent is stronger.

This makes SEO the ideal place to generate more leads and sales, and because it’s free to use, the ROI for this avenue is one of the highest in the industry.

Both Google and Apple Maps will propel your business to the first page of the local map search if your listing is optimised correctly.

The second benefit of using SEO for your business is social proof. By listing your business on Yelp, Yellow Pages and other review sites, dozens of positive reviews will give your business more credibility and help you stand out from competitors.

These review sites typically rank on the first page of the search when someone types in your business’s name.

Social media marketing is best for: awareness, branding and support
Social media marketing can certainly drive more leads and sales to your business, but it has a lot more to offer than just that.

With the average Facebook user spending 50 minutes of their day on the platform, social media has become a great place to generate awareness and brand your business.

A lot of the time people check out social media when they are bored and have nothing to do. They aren’t searching for your business nor are they actively looking to buy your product or service.

However, if you upload a cool video, image or blog post that your audience will value, they will click and consume.

This consumption of content leaves a lasting impression, and when they do need something you sell in the future, they know where to go.

I think we can all agree that social media is a lot more fluid and responsive than email, and it is why so many brands are leveraging Twitter as a way to provide extra support to their customers.

Xbox have won awards and entered the Guinness Book of World Records because of it.

In Summary

SEO and social media marketing should both be part of your overall marketing strategy. Both help achieve different marketing goals which ultimately impact how your business grows in the coming years.

In today’s competitive business environment, you can’t rely on one or the other and expect that to be enough.

If you are not sure where to start or what medium would be the best for your business, check out WebCentral’s social media and SEO services and request your free consultation today.

[This was a guest post written by online marketing expert Karen Lam of WebCentral]