There is discussion of which marketing strategy is more effective – Social Media or Search Engine Optimization. The answer to which is better may surprise you.
With the advent of social media platforms there has been a war of sorts that exists in the marketing world. While many have developed their strategies within the Search Engine Optimization (SEO) field the social media marketing strategies are gaining in popularity. Which is better?
If your business is in products or services, some recent studies have shown that more than 60% of consumers do research before they buy. Their research starts with a search of the internet for information on pricing, quality, and overall good review ratings from previous buyers or users.
"Studies show that approximately three-fourths of buyers who research a product or service on social pages or Twitter tend to follow the advice of other users to make their purchase decisions."
You can easily buy a spot at the top of the search results pages by paying for a sponsored link on page one. Your reputation will depend on reviews and customer comments. Since it isn't possible to respond to complaints or dissatisfaction right away, your brand could suffer negative consequences, even if they aren't deserved. The negatives will come up in the search pages as well as the positives.
Using Social Media Platforms to Promote Your Brand.
Using social media platforms to promote your brand also has its virtues. Studies show that approximately three-fourths of buyers who research a product or service on social pages or Twitter tend to follow the advice of other users to make their purchase decisions.
Putting up a page on Facebook, for example, can promote your brand by asking for ‘likes’ of your page. The exponential factor here is great for spreading the word. You can also give quick response to unhappy customers, putting out the fires as you go along.
So what’s the answer to which platform is better?
The answer is neither or both. Finding a good balance between the two is an excellent way to promote your brand to users searching the internet for a product and to promote it through a less formal and more personal social media page that allows you to interact with your consumers.
If businesses have learned one important lesson it is the importance of responding quickly to customer concerns. This gives you a personal touch that other businesses may be lacking.
Build your marketing strategy to include both SEO and social media. Use keywords in the traditional SEO marketing, but use them when you create your social media pages as well. Both are reasonable in cost and have a decent return on investment when done correctly.
