For many years, businesses have been using different means of promoting their cause on the internet. The Web has proven to be a rich, potential-filled avenue which can be tapped into and leveraged in many creative ways to promote the cause of different businesses. Consequently, in many important business verticals the use of the internet as a means of promotion and marketing is rampant. The techniques in use are also often different, but the two most oft-used techniques for online business supremacy are Search Engine Optimization and Social Media Optimization. These have varying amounts of impact on different business verticals, and most businesses use a smart mix of the two techniques to further their business interests successfully.
For all business verticals, online marketing has primarily to do with increasing visibility, awareness and eventually higher sales conversion. Two of the most important and frequent ways people find businesses online are –
- A particular business shows up high in search engine results, or
- A particular business is recommended or mentioned in social media
SEO and SMO involve these two eventualities, and have a certain amount of impact across all business verticals.
SEO
Search Engine Optimization involves formulating and implementing a set of strategies that help improving your business website’s standing with leading search engines, and trying to bring people to your website through organic search engine results. With good search engine standing, there is more chance of getting organic traffic. Being well-placed in search results also provides your business with credibility and authority, and influences people about your quality of service in a positive way.
SMO
Social Medial Optimization has to do with the growing importance that social media now commands in the field of business. SMO involves increasing exposure, reputation, presence and visibility for your business through the use of different interactive communities and social networks. Usual SMO efforts include commonly and popularly used networks like Facebook and Twitter, and also make use of other specialized social platforms like blogs, discussion forums, photo and video social sharing services, etc. A solid SMO strategy can not only bring better exposure for your business, but can also increase the standing of your brand. It evokes trust and familiarity due to its recommendation-based workflow.
SEO vs SMO – Which is good for your business
The important thing to note here is that both SEO and SMO have pronounced impact across all business verticals. For companies in the retail business, especially those that allow for online transactions, both SEO and SMO can be effectively used to achieve success. For service industries, the focus needs to be on an adequate mix of SEO and SMO to achieve better results. It is important to understand that both SEO and SMO can influence, reputation in their own ways, and can bring fresh, new traffic to your business website. Consequently, it is important that both these avenues to get exploited when attempting to create a niche in your chose business vertical. With a proper strategy and accurate implementation, SEO and SMO can be extremely instrumental in shaping your success.