Difference between revisions of "Social Sharing"

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<seo title="What is social sharing and why is it important?" metadescription="Social media marketing is an issue that poses great challenges for companies but is almost inevitable nowadays. Learn more ..." />
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<seo title="What is Social Sharing and why is it important?" metadescription="Social media marketing is an issue that poses great challenges for companies but is almost inevitable nowadays. Learn more ..." />
  
== Introduction ==
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== Definition ==
 
[[File:Social-Sharing.png|thumb|450px|right|alt=Social Sharing|'''Figure:''' Social Sharing - Author: Seobility - License: [[Creative Commons License BY-SA 4.0|CC BY-SA 4.0]]|link=https://www.seobility.net/en/wiki/images/5/54/Social-Sharing.png]]
 
[[File:Social-Sharing.png|thumb|450px|right|alt=Social Sharing|'''Figure:''' Social Sharing - Author: Seobility - License: [[Creative Commons License BY-SA 4.0|CC BY-SA 4.0]]|link=https://www.seobility.net/en/wiki/images/5/54/Social-Sharing.png]]
  
Social media marketing is an issue that poses great challenges for companies but is almost inevitable nowadays. High-quality content on social media that motivates users to share it not only has positive effects on companies but can also positively impact search engine optimization (SEO) of the company website. So-called "social sharing", i.e. the sharing of company content on social media, can have a positive influence on the ranking of a website on Google. However, in order to achieve such effects, you have to choose suitable social media platforms and handle them correctly.  
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Social sharing refers to the sharing of website content across social media platforms. This includes directly sharing content but also includes other actions like commenting on, liking, or otherwise engaging with content. It plays a significant role in digital marketing and search engine optimization (SEO) by increasing a piece of content’s reach and getting the brand/website in front of its target audience.
  
In the following sections, we will explain which positive effects social sharing can have and how you can make the best out of these SEO potentials.
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==Benefits of social sharing==
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Social sharing comes with a number of important benefits, including:
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*<strong>Enhanced visibility and Reach:</strong> Social sharing can significantly extend a piece of content’s reach, especially when it comes to sharable content like blog posts or [[Linkbait|linkbait]]. As users share content, it gains visibility, potentially leading to increased website traffic.
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*<strong>User engagement and trust:</strong> When users share content, it acts as a personal endorsement, building trust in the brand or website. This trust can translate into higher engagement rates, improved [[User Signals|user signals]] and potentially increased sales.
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*<strong>Backlink generation:</strong> Shared content can generate backlinks as other websites may reference it. These [[Backlinks|backlinks]] are crucial for SEO as they contribute to a website's authority and ranking on search engines.
  
 
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<div class="hl">
 
<div class="hl">
 
<h3>Social Sharing Checker</h3>
 
<h3>Social Sharing Checker</h3>
<p>Check if your web page offers possibilities for social sharing</p>
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<p>Check if your web page is being shared on social media</p>
 
</div>
 
</div>
 
<form action="https://www.seobility.net/en/seocheck/check#social-sharing" method="get">
 
<form action="https://www.seobility.net/en/seocheck/check#social-sharing" method="get">
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</html>
 
</html>
  
== Positive effects and dangers of social sharing ==
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==Risks associated with social sharing==
 
 
=== Better ranking on Google through social sharing ===
 
 
 
Although Google repeatedly claims that so-called "social signals" such as likes, shares, etc. have little effect on the ranking of a website, high-quality social media marketing shows the opposite. Social media function as a worldwide recommendation system. Users like, share and comment content that appeals to them. The more positive the social signals of a post, the greater the chance that it users will share it within and outside of social media. This can generate valuable [[backlinks]], which in turn have a direct impact on the ranking of your website on Google. A decisive advantage of social media is that this can happen within hours within such networks (depending on the number of followers ). However, this requires a thoughtful social media strategy as planned posts and actions on social networks can build a fanbase that is happy to share the content of a company.
 
 
 
=== Higher sales and increased trust through social sharing ===
 
 
 
Users only like or share a page on Facebook if its content is interesting or appealing to them. Each like (or share) is, therefore, a potential customer, which is why popular content on social media can also lead to higher sales. If users share a specific post a lot (which has a similar effect to a personal recommendation) confidence in the company's content also increases.
 
 
 
=== Extended reach of new content through social sharing ===
 
 
 
Especially for websites that dynamically generate content (such as blogs), being active on social media has become indispensable. Only in this way readers can be informed immediately about new content. Other sites can then more quickly take up this content. In the best case, this generates new backlinks. Thus, social media can help you to quickly achieve a high ranking on Google for newly published content.
 
 
 
=== Danger of shitstorms ===
 
 
 
Despite the advantages mentioned above, social media also pose risks for companies, and shitstorms are certainly one of the biggest risks of Facebook and other social networks. As positive reactions in social media don't take long, negative comments quickly hail when users don't like something. Companies that don't react appropriately will soon be confronted with a shitstorm and tons of negative comments. It is, therefore, the best option to respond to the negative criticism and try to resolve the points of critique. This is much more positively received by users than to hush errors. In addition, a well planned social media strategy is necessary in order to provide users with content that is relevant and interesting to them and thus reduces the risk of shitstorms.
 
  
== How to use the SEO potentials of social sharing as best as possible ==
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Alongside the many benefits, there are also some risks associated with social sharing.
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*<strong>Negative publicity:</strong> Negative reactions on social media can spread rapidly. Companies must be prepared to address criticism constructively to mitigate potential damage to their reputation.
 +
*<strong>Content misalignment:</strong> If the content is not aligned with the audience's interests or is poorly executed, it can lead to disengagement or negative perceptions of the brand.
  
=== Customize and plan content ===
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==Increasing Social Shares==  
  
An important factor in search engine optimization (SEO) of a website is to provide high-quality content to users. This also applies to social networks. Content on Facebook and Twitter is especially successful if it motivates users to like or share it. Companies should therefore always ask themselves whether a post encourages users to share it and is, therefore, suitable for social networks. For traditional industries such as insurance companies or banks, this is much more difficult as they can only seldom report on new products. But such companies have also found ways to use social media, for example by passing on tips on various topics to their followers. For example, insurance companies provide information on burglary prevention, while banks provide tips on how to handle money. Social media marketing, therefore, requires thinking outside the conventional norms of marketing, which, however, is appreciated by users, as they receive more differentiated information via social media than on the website of a company.
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There are a number of things that can be done to increase social shares for a blog post or other web page. Some of these include:
 +
*<strong>Create shareable content:</strong> By making sure content is relevant, engaging, and provides value to your audience, engagement can be improved.  
 +
*<strong>Use compelling visuals:</strong> Images and videos can significantly enhance a piece of content’s shareability. Visuals capture attention and can convey a message more effectively than text alone.
 +
*<strong>Craft catchy headlines:</strong> A post’s headline is the first thing users see. A compelling headline can entice users to click on and share content.  
 +
*<strong>Engage with the audience:</strong> Engaging with an audience by responding to comments, participating in discussions, and acknowledging feedback can foster a sense of community and encourage more shares.  
 +
*<strong>Promote sharing on multiple platforms:</strong> While it's essential to focus on platforms relevant to an audience, there is generally more than one platform that a target audience uses. Promote sharing across multiple social media platforms to increase a piece of content's reach.  
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*<strong>Use social share buttons:</strong> Make it easy for users to share content by incorporating social share buttons on a website. Ensure these buttons are visible and easily accessible.  
  
=== Find the best platforms ===
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[[File: Social-share-button-example.png|link=|700px|border|alt=Example of social share buttons|Screenshot of social sharing buttons on Search Engine Journal]]
  
In order to be able to use social media effectively for a holistic search engine optimization (SEO) for Google, it is essential to find suitable platforms in Web 2.0. These should fit the company and its products as well as be used by the target group. For example, if a company wants to reach a young audience through visual posts, Instagram can be the right medium. If, on the other hand, you want to send messages to your users frequently or even several times a day, you are better off with Twitter. You should also give visitors of your website the opportunity to link or share your page or individual posts. For this purpose, you can integrate suitable like or share buttons on your website.
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Example of social share buttons on [https://www.searchenginejournal.com/ Search Engine Journal]
  
=== Regular maintenance and strategic planning of content ===
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*<strong>Encourage sharing:</strong> Sometimes, a simple call-to-action asking users to share a piece of content can make a difference.
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*<strong>Monitor and analyze:</strong> Use analytics tools to monitor the content performance. Understanding which content gets shared the most can provide insights into what a target audience prefers.
  
Success on social media, as with many other online measures, is not immediate. You have to maintain profiles and content on Facebook or other social networks regularly and on a long-term basis in order to achieve the best possible success in the context of search engine optimization (SEO). Similar to blogs, you have to constantly publish high-quality content that encourages sharing and thus generates important backlinks. The strategic planning of content is also important because not every type of content increases [[Website Traffic|traffic]] on your site. Here it can be helpful to analyze the success of previous campaigns and to search for reasons for success or failure in order to better align future content with the needs of your target group.
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==Relevance to SEO==
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Social sharing has an indirect impact on SEO. While social shares are not a direct ranking factor, the increased visibility and backlinks generated through social shares can improve a website's ranking in the [[SERP|SERPs]]. The additional marketing/branding benefits, including increased brand exposure and improved consumer trust, can also spill over into a site’s SEO performance. This makes it an important aspect of SEO and general integrated marketing campaigns.
  
 
== Related links ==
 
== Related links ==
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| [[File:Seobility S.jpg|link=|100px|left|alt=Seobility S]] The Seobility Wiki team consists of seasoned SEOs, digital marketing professionals, and business experts with combined hands-on experience in SEO, online marketing and web development. All our articles went through a multi-level editorial process to provide you with the best possible quality and truly helpful information. Learn more about <html><a href="https://www.seobility.net/en/wiki/Seobility_Wiki_Team" target="_blank">the people behind the Seobility Wiki</a></html>.
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Latest revision as of 17:23, 6 December 2023

Definition

Social Sharing
Figure: Social Sharing - Author: Seobility - License: CC BY-SA 4.0

Social sharing refers to the sharing of website content across social media platforms. This includes directly sharing content but also includes other actions like commenting on, liking, or otherwise engaging with content. It plays a significant role in digital marketing and search engine optimization (SEO) by increasing a piece of content’s reach and getting the brand/website in front of its target audience.

Benefits of social sharing

Social sharing comes with a number of important benefits, including:

  • Enhanced visibility and Reach: Social sharing can significantly extend a piece of content’s reach, especially when it comes to sharable content like blog posts or linkbait. As users share content, it gains visibility, potentially leading to increased website traffic.
  • User engagement and trust: When users share content, it acts as a personal endorsement, building trust in the brand or website. This trust can translate into higher engagement rates, improved user signals and potentially increased sales.
  • Backlink generation: Shared content can generate backlinks as other websites may reference it. These backlinks are crucial for SEO as they contribute to a website's authority and ranking on search engines.

Social Sharing Checker

Check if your web page is being shared on social media

Risks associated with social sharing

Alongside the many benefits, there are also some risks associated with social sharing.

  • Negative publicity: Negative reactions on social media can spread rapidly. Companies must be prepared to address criticism constructively to mitigate potential damage to their reputation.
  • Content misalignment: If the content is not aligned with the audience's interests or is poorly executed, it can lead to disengagement or negative perceptions of the brand.

Increasing Social Shares

There are a number of things that can be done to increase social shares for a blog post or other web page. Some of these include:

  • Create shareable content: By making sure content is relevant, engaging, and provides value to your audience, engagement can be improved.
  • Use compelling visuals: Images and videos can significantly enhance a piece of content’s shareability. Visuals capture attention and can convey a message more effectively than text alone.
  • Craft catchy headlines: A post’s headline is the first thing users see. A compelling headline can entice users to click on and share content.
  • Engage with the audience: Engaging with an audience by responding to comments, participating in discussions, and acknowledging feedback can foster a sense of community and encourage more shares.
  • Promote sharing on multiple platforms: While it's essential to focus on platforms relevant to an audience, there is generally more than one platform that a target audience uses. Promote sharing across multiple social media platforms to increase a piece of content's reach.
  • Use social share buttons: Make it easy for users to share content by incorporating social share buttons on a website. Ensure these buttons are visible and easily accessible.

Example of social share buttons

Example of social share buttons on Search Engine Journal

  • Encourage sharing: Sometimes, a simple call-to-action asking users to share a piece of content can make a difference.
  • Monitor and analyze: Use analytics tools to monitor the content performance. Understanding which content gets shared the most can provide insights into what a target audience prefers.

Relevance to SEO

Social sharing has an indirect impact on SEO. While social shares are not a direct ranking factor, the increased visibility and backlinks generated through social shares can improve a website's ranking in the SERPs. The additional marketing/branding benefits, including increased brand exposure and improved consumer trust, can also spill over into a site’s SEO performance. This makes it an important aspect of SEO and general integrated marketing campaigns.

Related links

About the author
Seobility S
The Seobility Wiki team consists of seasoned SEOs, digital marketing professionals, and business experts with combined hands-on experience in SEO, online marketing and web development. All our articles went through a multi-level editorial process to provide you with the best possible quality and truly helpful information. Learn more about the people behind the Seobility Wiki.