SEO Meets Social Media: The Dynamic Duo Transforming B2B Marketing in 2024
A Match Made in Digital Heaven
In the whirlwind of B2B marketing, the lovechild of SEO and social media optimisation (SMO) has become the superstar no one can ignore. Picture this: SEO is your nerdy yet brilliant strategist, quietly ensuring your brand shows up when prospects are Googling. Meanwhile, SMO is the party-starter, getting people talking and sharing your content across LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok (yes, even TikTok for B2B – who knew?) and beyond.
So, why does this duo work so well together? Because they complement each other like an umbrella and a rainy day in Manchester – SEO brings in traffic, and social media gets people chatting, liking and, most importantly, sharing.
Ah, SEO. It’s been around for a while, but don’t think for a second, it’s gone stale. In 2024, SEO is all about adapting to AI-driven search engines, voice search, and mobile-first indexing. No longer can you just stuff a few keywords into a blog and call it a day. Google’s algorithms have evolved prioritising user experience, fast load times, and relevant, rich content.
If you’re not optimising for voice search and conversational queries yet, now’s the time. With more people shouting “Hey Google, where can I find the best EV corporate vehicle hire?” into their phones, businesses that tailor content to these long-tail, natural-sounding phrases are going to scoop up the traffic.
And don’t forget the basics! Good ol’ on-page SEO still works wonders: optimise headings, meta descriptions, and include keywords, but do it smartly. And when it comes to backlinks? Quality over quantity – gone are the days of spammy links from dubious blogs. It’s all about getting mentions from authoritative sources in your industry.
If SEO is the reliable workhorse, social media optimisation is the charismatic, always-on-life-of-the-party counterpart. Social media algorithms have changed – dramatically. Platforms like LinkedIn don’t love it when you try to take people off their site (seriously, try posting a link to an external blog and watch it get the engagement drop-off). Instead, it’s all about native content – videos, carousels, and snappy posts that keep people hooked without leaving the platform.
Want to get ahead? Video content is your golden ticket. Short-form, snackable videos on LinkedIn, TikTok, and even Instagram are driving organic growth like nothing else. And no, it doesn’t have to be a Netflix-level production. People value authenticity over polished perfection.
Even if you’re not quite ready to go full TikTok B2B influencer (yet), focusing on platforms where your audience hangs out and engaging with them on their terms is key. Ask questions, create polls, share behind-the-scenes snippets – give them reasons to stop scrolling and start interacting.
Here’s where the magic happens: combining SEO and SMO. Let’s say you’ve just published a cracking blog post optimised for SEO. Great. Now, take that piece, pull out the juiciest insights, and share them across your social channels. Engage your followers by asking their opinions, creating a poll, or sharing a video snippet that ties into the blog. Not only does this boost your social engagement, but it also drives traffic back to your site, which helps with off-page SEO
It’s a win-win.
What’s even better? Social shares and backlinks from authoritative sources can tell Google, “Hey, this content is popular,” which can help improve your organic rankings. See how this comes full circle? When SEO and SMO work together, it’s like a digital power couple that just keeps getting stronger.
So, how do you make the most of this dynamic duo? Here are a few tips to keep you ahead of the game:
- Repurpose Your Content: Don’t let your content sit in one place. Use a blog post to create multiple social media snippets, infographics, or even a quick video.
- Focus on Engagement: Whether it’s SEO or social media, getting users to interact with your content is gold. Longer dwell times and lower bounce rates are indicators that search engines love.
- Be Consistent: Keep your content fresh and relevant. Regularly update your website, publish blogs, and stay active on social platforms. Both SEO and SMO require you to show up consistently.
- Leverage Data: Use analytics tools to track which content is working, both on search engines and social media. Adjust your strategies based on what your audience engages with the most.
In today’s B2B marketing landscape, SEO and social media optimisation aren’t just nice-to-haves—they’re essential if you want to build brand visibility, generate leads, and drive conversions. It’s about working smarter, not harder, by integrating your SEO strategy with a solid social media presence.
Ready to take your SEO and social media game to the next level? At Upp B2B, we specialise in blending data-driven SEO strategies with creative, impactful content that gets results. Whether it’s optimising your website for voice search or creating a video series that resonates with your audience. Get in touch with us today, and let’s make some marketing magic happen.