Social media, particularly focusing on the social networking sites, is swiftly becoming the staple form of content online - user generated content is also some of the most important, as it is the honest voice of the public.

Social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter, linkedin and YouTube are among the more popular and profitable social networks. They’re freely available for anyone to use, and are challenging the convention of traditional media. Social media optimization, or SMO, involves using this new form of media to increase your web presence and overall credibility.

Optimize for your keywords, but always try and use fresh content rather than replicating old copy across the internet. Include the appropriate keywords, but not so much that the reader finds it repetitive.

Blogging is the best way to create content on an ongoing basis, as there is always a new angle to take or industry news to relate - it’s not like setting copy into stone on your formal website; it has the potential to be much more personal and interactive than that.

Even more uncomplicated, personal and interactive, micro-blogging platforms such as Twitter are great ways to increase search engine visibility through the community of users.

Everything you do online should be easy for users to share. Chicklets are the little buttons which are inserted added to blogs and websites making social bookmarking possible at the click of a button. Use them in your content, and bookmark your new blog posts. We will be looking at how to use social bookmarking sites to increase your web presence in the future, so remember to keep an eye out on this blog.

Probably the most important aspect to SMO is social discussion and commentary. It’s no good being silent or stagnant online - the internet is way too interactive for that. Comment on blogs, ask questions, provide answers and generally just use your pulpit wisely.

Tags: Social Media Optimization

This entry was posted on Tuesday, February 9th, 2010 at 8:25 am and is filed under Social Media, Social Media Optimization. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.