Home Social Media Optimization Social Media Optimization (SMO): A New Marketing Phenomenon
August 29, 2006 30 Comments

Social Media Optimization (SMO): A New Marketing Phenomenon

Social Media Optimization (SMO) is a concept defined by Rohit Bhargava of Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide.  The concept of SMO makes perfect sense with the emergence (in some cases, domination) of social media sites like myspace, digg, del.icio.us and youtube.  Basically, SMO is about implementing changes to a site (or blog) so that others can easily link to it, tag it, post a comment to it; and then submit it to social bookmarking sites. The result is more visibility in the above mentioned websites, more exposure on Technorati, inbound links, an increase in targeted traffic. The key, however, is having valuable content that “engages” others. 

Technorati Tags: social media optimization, smo, socialmediaoptimization

Related Posts

Filed Under: Social Media Optimization
About Michael Brito

Michael Brito is a Senior Vice President of Social Business Planning at Edelman Digital. He helps his clients transform their organizations to be more open, collaborative and socially proficient; with the end result of creating shared value with employees, partners and customers. Prior to Edelman, Michael worked for Intel and Hewlett Packard in various social media marketing roles. Opinions posted here are his own.

Feel free to follow him on Twitter, subscribe to this blog or read some more of his content on Social Business News.

  • http://na Jason Welch

    Hey..I also read the post from Rohit. I am wondering if this new strategy will ultimately replace SEO? Any thoughts on this?

  • http://www.toprankblog.com Lee Odden

    I don’t think social media optimization will replace SEO, but augment the free traffic companies want. In fact, new websites can benefit from the traffic from SMO until their SEO efforts mature.

  • http://www.britopian.com Michael

    Lee. It’s an honor to have you post on my blog. I have been reading yours for almost 6 months now and have learned allot from you. I do agree with your comment as it mirrors your latest article on Web Pro News.

    Another random thought: I assume many organizations will adopt the concept of SMO faster than they did SEO (although some fortune’s 500 have yet to adopt an SEO strategy) due to the growth and media attention of of social media sites like Myspace, Digg, Del.icio.us, Wikipedia, etc. I do know first hand that HP is looking how to leverage social media within their overall marketing mix. Any thoughts on this?

  • http://www.toprankblog.com Lee Odden

    I think brands are exploring slices of social media, but I think there are few who are embracing it as a strategy.

    They’re testing boundaries and capabilities to see where individual social media channels fit within their existing, and often archaic, online marketing strategies.

    In time, big brand marketers will catch up to the more nimble organizations that have been playing with these toys for 12-24 months already. But by that time, there will be something else….

  • http://www.buzzoptimization.com Paris Roussos

    I think that SMO will become increasingly important, for the following reason. It is likely that relative traffic will drop from the larger older social networking site and begin to spread more evenly. This will make it difficult for individual companies or persons to handle the larger quanity of effort needed to keep up with getting plugged in. SEO will increasingly rely on SMO because SMO will become a strong indicator of authority in algorithms.

  • Pingback: Proven Strategies to Achieve High Rankings in the Search Engines » Online Marketing Blog - Social Media Optimization, Paid Search & SEO

  • Pingback: Treating Social Media Optimization as Another Distribution Channel » Online Marketing Blog - Social Media Optimization, Paid Search & SEO

  • http://www.brandmantra.net/ Arun

    Please Do not Compare SEO VS SMO

    SMO is only ADDED feature of SEO and not more that.

    Do not forget one thing when you including other website link for Social bookmark you are promoting outbound link which never be a good idea from SEO point of view. Outbound link can be use only Reciprocal link purpose.

    thanks

    SEO Expert
    http://www.brandmantra.net

  • http://www.britopian.com Michael Brito

    SEO Expert – actually SEO and SMO are very similar and CAN be compared to eachother. Here is my reasoning: SEO (on page) and SMO are techniques that marketers have direct control over. It’s about optimizing their web assets to help facilitate the flow of content.

    However, I don’t agree that SMO is an added feature of SEO. Yes, they are very similar and SMO does compliment SEO in the form of inbound links; but strategically; they serve to different purposes. SEO is about achieving high search engine rankings. SMO is about helping your content travel across Web 2.0/Social Media channels like Digg, Delicious, etc.

    Geez – I am getting sick of these acronyms….

  • Pingback: The Importance of Social Bookmarking » Online Marketing Blog - Social Media Optimization, Paid Search & SEO

  • http://www.socialmediaplatforms.com Social Media Marketing

    I believe that Social Media Optimization is going to be even bigger then SEO because a good SMO strategy includes branding, which is another word for keyword optimization. I use moguling.com service which combines SEO with SMO.

  • http://www.raycreationsindia.com/ Web Designer India

    If I am not mistaken, isn’t Social Media Optimization a part of SEO itself. After all it is to promote a business or a website, right?

  • http://www.seotrafficspider.com/ Edward Izzys

    Interesting!

    I feel like there is a scarcity of good marketing today. Good marketing means which can convert the leads into sales. The only marketing that has moved me in the last couple of years is Social Media Optimization.

  • seo_company

    By using the services of an seo consultant
    they can make sure that the search engine optimisation implemented, will have the necessary effect, they will compliment this by adding your website to a web directory .
    They know the fundamental errors that a website designer may make when designing your website.
    To compliment the seo they may recommend a pay per click campaign, to help you generate inquiries, while the optimisation takes effect.
    They will also update you on seo news, unlike an normal seo company ,also they will suggest to create blogs about your products like leather sofas or if its a service like
    ironing services to assist with your seo.
    Do you require the assistance of an seo consultant well if that is the case, contact Proweb Direct, Proweb Direct have provided search engine optimisation campaign strategies, for various companies in many sectors, we have our own web directory to add you too, we have skilled web designers if your in need of website design , if you are thinking of a pay per click campaign, we have ppc account managers who can look after your account for you,
    why not visit our seo blog about seo news and updates, Proweb Direct are an experienced seo company , why not read some of the latest articles on our blog about leather sofas and ironing services .

  • seo_company

    By using the services of an seo consultant
    they can make sure that the search engine optimisation implemented, will have the necessary effect, they will compliment this by adding your website to a web directory .
    They know the fundamental errors that a website designer may make when designing your website.
    To compliment the seo they may recommend a pay per click campaign, to help you generate inquiries, while the optimisation takes effect.
    They will also update you on seo news, unlike an normal seo company ,also they will suggest to create blogs about your products like leather sofas or if its a service like
    ironing services to assist with your seo.
    Do you require the assistance of an seo consultant well if that is the case, contact Proweb Direct, Proweb Direct have provided search engine optimisation campaign strategies, for various companies in many sectors, we have our own web directory to add you too, we have skilled web designers if your in need of website design , if you are thinking of a pay per click campaign, we have ppc account managers who can look after your account for you,
    why not visit our seo blog about seo news and updates, Proweb Direct are an experienced seo company , why not read some of the latest articles on our blog about leather sofas and ironing services .

  • andylock

    A mere online presence won’t serve the purpose of reaching out and impressing your target audience, to beat the competition you need a well designed website with a good search rank and for that you need help of companies which provide complete solutions in http://www.vsworld.com/?loadSwf=swf/webDevelopm… website designing and development and http://www.vsworld.com/?loadSwf=swf/seo_sem.swf search engine optimization.

  • ericafiller02

    A relative new form of online promotion and marketing,

  • http://firstpagegoogleresults.com/ website marketing seo

    if used correctly can open up an entirely new … the social media platform that has quickly become a phenomenon in online marketing. …

  • http://seopilot.ru/ seopilot

    nice post

  • http://landseo.ru landseo

    ???????? ????????, ????????? ? ???? ????????.

  • http://www.seotrafficspider.com Name

    great information thanks for providing it

  • http://gidwarez.ru gidwarez

    This cool post

  • http://www.wheelmax.com Wheels For Sale

    Good marketing means which can convert the leads into sales. The only marketing that has moved me in the last couple of years is Social Media Optimization. The social media platform that has quickly become a phenomenon in online marketing. …

  • sbxwebdesigner

    ya that's really true… now social media optimization has become very significant in creating traffic for business through more visibility, increasing sales and brand value…. and surely its becoming new marketing trend

  • http://www.naturalk9supplies.com/Dog-Food/orijen-adult.aspx Orijen Adult Dog Food

    Marketing is a important segment in a business. By using this businessman can maintain good relation with the customer.

  • http://DCincome.com/blog Gerald Cotley

    SMO is the methodization of social media activity with the intent of attracting unique visitors to website content. SMO is one of two online methods of website optimization; the other method is search engine optimization or SEO.

    Here are some rules on this:

    1. Increase your linkability
    2. Make tagging and bookmarking easy
    3. Reward inbound links
    4. Help your content travel
    5. Encourage the mashup
    6. Get communities connected

  • http://www.directorysubmissionservices.net Nick

    i agree with you 100%, i think best example of offline social media is word of mouth (WOM), which can generate a lot of leads to your business, and merging both kind of media (online and offline social media) we can expose the benifits of this market for our purpose.

    ways a company can employ them to deliver a message, manage your reputation, or encourage brand loyalty. We have the knowledge and experience necessary to help you combine social media, SEO and other strategies to present the best image possible and help clients become a real part of your community.

  • http://www.dealzbydesign.com/pages/search-engine-optimization.html SEO Lexington KY

    This concept is really starting to take off, I think you guys should do a follow up.

  • http://www.moldremoval.org/ Mold Removal Ontario

    Thank you very much for this seo information.

  • http://security-wire.com/01/how-to-remove-disk-optimizer-fake-security-program.html remove disk optimizer

    That's a good idea for promotion.