Coming up with an effective marketing strategy that generates positive results is a complex process. It can include constant research and data gathering to analyse which strategies work and which need improvement.
For up-and-coming businesses that are just beginning to invest resources into their digital marketing plans, a commonly asked question is: SEO vs. SMM? Which of these two marketing strategies should they use to jumpstart their growth organically? Let’s compare.
SEO vs. SMM: A Detailed Comparison
Take a look at the fundamentals of both SEO and SMM so you can better understand which of the two strategies makes the most sense for your business.
Search Engine Optimisation (SEO)
Many experts believe that SEO is the most powerful organic marketing strategy that a business can use. Simply put, this strategy is the continuous process of optimising your website and its content in an effort to improve your rankings in search engine results and drive high-quality traffic to your website. This process is composed of using keywords or phrases that are relevant to the queries of your target audience. It also involves ensuring that the user experience of your website is seamless.
Social Media Marketing (SMM)
On the other hand, SMM is a relatively newer form of digital marketing. For most businesses, the majority of their target audience spends a lot of time on social media. To reach their target audience, marketers take advantage of social media platforms and curate marketing campaigns there. Social media marketing increases a brand’s recognition and reachability which, in turn, allows them to connect and engage directly with their audience.
| Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) | Social Media Marketing (SMM) | |
|---|---|---|
|
Main Purpose |
Rank your website higher in organic search rankings and drive organic traffic to your website |
Build brand awareness and engage with target audience |
|
Type of Content |
Compelling content with attractive headlines and descriptions to encourage users to click on the link |
Creative, visual content like photos, videos, banners, and more |
|
Content Goals |
Content should answer specific queries that your audience needs/want to see |
Content should attract, entertain, and engage |
|
Strategy |
Relies on using specific keywords/phrases and optimising the website for a positive user experience
|
Relies on publishing content that triggers interactions between users and the brand
|
|
Platforms Used |
Search Engines like Google, Bing, Yahoo!, etc. |
Social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, etc. |
|
Type |
Organic |
Organic and Paid Ads
|
Knowing these key differences will help you determine which one is able to help you fulfill objectives and achieve milestones in your business. This is an important step to take before committing to a marketing strategy.
What Happens When You Use Both SEO and SMM
So which is the better strategy between SEO vs. SMM?
Great marketing doesn’t just focus on one strategy. It combines a variety of digital strategies that are proven effective for your specific business goals.
While you are at liberty to choose between SEO and SMM, we recommend that you use both. Together, these two strategies can help you grow your business by driving high-quality traffic, increasing profit, and building communities around your brand – but only if utilised correctly and consistently.
SMM actually helps improve SEO and vice versa. Strong social signals (like getting plenty of shares on your posts) can help improve your search engine rankings. At the same time, using SEO helps your content get more reach, leading to better results overall. SEO and SMM can work together to grow your business massively.
Build Your Organic Marketing Strategy with SEO and SMM
Equip your business with both SEO and SMM to power up your organic marketing strategy and create sustainable growth for your business.
Reach out to our friendly team of expert digital marketers to get a curated search engine optimisation and social media marketing action plan designed to help you attract more customers and make more sales.
Get started on your organic marketing campaigns today. Let’s talk about your SEO and SMM needs.