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Social media optimization (SMO) is similar to search engine optimization (SEO) but uses social media tools to increase online activity. SMO includes SEO keywords but also encompasses other site optimization practices, such as user-generated content and linkability. SMO sites actively engage in the online community and encourage inbound links through rewards and downloadable files.
At first glance, social media optimization (SMO) looks similar to the better known search engine optimization (SEO). Both types of optimization are web based and both seek to increase your internet traffic and overall advertising. The main difference lies in the specific use of social media tools for social media optimization in its efforts for more online activity.
SEO is, actually, a large part of SMO. A website that has been optimized using SMO principles will contain extensive SEO content. Search engine optimized content incorporates specific, highly researched words and phrases. These “keywords” appear in written content with finely tuned regularity designed to increase page views.
It is important that an SEO page contains only enough keywords. Too few keywords and the page won’t rank highly when searched for popular phrases on Google, Yahoo, Bing and other search engines. Too many keywords and search engines will ignore the page as spam altogether. A good keyword density is typically around 3%.
Social media optimization includes important SEO keywords, but it also encompasses a number of other site optimization practices. Specifically, SMO achieves increased site traffic by using social media tools along with SEO best practices. Social media, such as Facebook, Twitter, Myspace, WordPress and LinkedIn are all online media that encourage active user dialogue, exchanging photos or sharing links.
Social media platforms provide an online mechanism for users to socialize in a purely virtual world. True social media is composed of user-generated content (UGC). A website that has been optimized with SMO will promote itself with engaging social comments on UGC websites. Additionally, a social media optimization site will also have its pages dedicated to UGC.
In other words, an SMO website actively engages in the so-called UGC “online community”. Site administrators post comments on numerous external websites, prompting users to relogin to the SMO site for further details. SMO site staff also responds to comments on their sites, providing photos, videos and other social material whenever relevant.
SMO websites, according to experts, must have excellent “linkability”. In other words, there should be enough content on a site for users to justify linking to the site for repeat visits. The website should also be easy to tag and bookmark, with helpful on-site buttons designed to streamline the process. SMO sites also encourage inbound links by offering link-backs, hidden Easter egg content, or other rewards for users who link to the site.
Sites optimized for social media also work well with downloadable text, audio or video files that users can easily share. Such files help content travel across the web for greater visibility. Downloadable files are also central to UGC, encouraging highly visible “mashups” of a site’s content. A mashup is an Internet site that combines information from multiple pages into a shorter, more comprehensive format.
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