As a marketing coordinator here at Dalarna Digital, I’ve seen how important it is to not only create great content, but to get it to the right people. Every day, countless posts are published on social media worldwide, creating a lot of competition for attention. But this is where SEO (search engine optimization) plays a crucial role. It’s not about SEO for Google, but for the social platforms. By understanding the platform’s own search algorithms and optimizing your content properly, you can really get your brand noticed and engage your target audience.
In this guide, I will give you concrete SEO tips to improve your presence on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and YouTube. I have chosen to focus on the platforms where it is most important to think about SEO to create visibility, engagement and build a stronger brand online.
SEO for Instagram
Link strategically in your bio:
Use the link in your bio effectively. Update it regularly to direct followers to current campaigns, your latest content, or external pages.
Use story highlights:
Create highlights to give visitors quick access to your best content. This can be a good introduction to your profile.
Use slideshows (carousels):
Slideshows increase engagement and visibility. Instagram often displays slideshows multiple times with different images as the start image, which provides higher exposure.
Write engaging captions:
Encourage interaction by asking questions, sharing stories, or using calls to action such as asking followers to save posts.
Caption videos:
Add captions to your videos to improve accessibility and help Instagram better understand the content for indexing.
Use effective hashtags:
By using both popular and niche hashtags, you can increase the visibility of your posts. Do a hashtag analysis to find the most relevant ones for your content.
Tag people and companies:
Tag relevant accounts and partners in your posts to increase your reach and the likelihood that they will share your content.
Use geotagging:
Tag your location to increase visibility, especially if your content is geographically relevant. This can also help your content appear in the Explore section.
Use alt text:
Add alt text to images to improve accessibility and help Instagram better understand and index your content.
Engage with your followers:
Respond to comments and interact regularly with your followers. Build an engaged community to strengthen your presence on Instagram and improve visibility.
SEO for TikTok
Choose a relevant username:
When creating a TikTok account, choose a username that reflects your niche and preferably includes a relevant keyword. This will make it easier for people to find you.
Create an enticing bio:
Write a short and engaging bio that clearly describes what you offer. Use keywords and important hashtags.
Link to other platforms:
If you have accounts on other social media platforms such as Instagram or YouTube, link to them in your TikTok profile to encourage people to follow you there as well.
Capture attention immediately:
Since TikTok videos are short, be quick to capture viewers’ interest at the beginning. The first few seconds are crucial in getting them to continue watching.
Maintain a consistent style:
Create a consistent style in your videos. A consistent visual and thematic approach makes your content easier to recognize.
Create interesting thumbnails:
A good thumbnail can be crucial in determining whether someone chooses to click on your video. Make it clear and exciting with a caption that arouses curiosity.
Write engaging video descriptions:
Describe the content of the video in a way that makes people want to watch it all the way through. Use keywords and encourage interaction.
Use captions:
By adding captions, you make your video more accessible to a wider audience and give TikTok more information to index.
Use relevant hashtags:
Add both popular and niche hashtags to your video descriptions to increase visibility and reach the right audience.
Encourage engagement:
Ask questions or request feedback in the comments. Interactions signal to TikTok that your content is popular.
Engage with others:
Comment and interact with other users on TikTok. Being active on other people’s profiles can lead to increased exposure for your own content.
SEO for Facebook
Do keyword research:
Conduct keyword research to identify relevant terms related to your industry and business. Use these keywords in your business profile, description, and posts to increase visibility.
Create a custom URL:
Create a custom URL for your company profile that includes your company name or a relevant term.
Write an About Us (Summary):
Write an engaging and informative summary of your company that describes your business, vision, and offerings. Be sure to include keywords that are relevant to your industry.
Describe services and offerings:
Describe your products or services on your business profile.
Ask for recommendations and reviews:
Encourage customers to leave reviews and ratings. Positive customer reviews increase credibility and make your business more visible in search results.
Use alt text:
Add alt text to images and videos to improve accessibility and make your content easier to find through Facebook’s search functions.
Caption videos:
Use captions to make your video more inclusive and provide additional text content to rank and index.
Tag relevant companies and partners:
Tag other companies, partners, or industry leaders in your posts. This increases the chance that your content will be seen in their networks.
Use hashtags:
By using both popular and niche hashtags, you can increase the visibility of your posts. Do a hashtag analysis to find the most relevant ones for your content.
Maintain continuity:
Post regularly to keep your company profile active and visible. This helps build a loyal customer base and increases visibility in Facebook’s feed.
Be engaged:
Respond to comments and messages from customers. Being active and available for questions can lead to increased visibility.
SEO for YouTube
Do a keyword analysis:
Identify relevant terms with tools such as Google Trends, Semrush, Serpstat, or Ahrefs, or through autocompletion. Check out competitors for more ideas.
Choose a good channel name and description:
Choose a name that reflects your niche and includes keywords. Write a short, clear channel description with relevant keywords.
Write video titles:
Create short, enticing titles with the most important keywords at the beginning (max 60 characters).
Use keywords in the script:
Include your keywords naturally in the script to improve visibility.
Create thumbnails:
Create visually appealing thumbnails with images and text to attract clicks.
Use subtitles:
Upload subtitles to make the video more accessible and give YouTube more text to index.
Choose the right tags:
Use both broad and specific tags to help YouTube understand and rank your content.
Write a video description:
Write a summary of the video, including keywords, important links, and timestamps.
Link to other videos:
In your video description and at the end of the video, link to other related clips or topics you’ve created.
Make playlists:
Organize your content into playlists to help users and YouTube understand your content better.
Encourage engagement:
Ask viewers to like, comment, and subscribe, in order to signal relevance to YouTube.
Post regularly:
Create a consistent publishing schedule to keep your channel active and build viewing time.
With the right SEO, you will maximize your social media presence
With the right SEO strategy, you can not only stand out in the vast amount of content published every day, but also build an engaged and loyal following. By implementing the tips I’ve shared here, you can increase your visibility and create long-term success on social media. Keep in mind that SEO isn’t about being good at technical details, but about creating value for your audience and giving them content they really want to see.
We are here to boost your social media presence
I understand that it can feel like a lot to take in, and sometimes it can be difficult to know where to start. If you feel you need support or help in setting up an effective strategy for your company’s digital presence, we at Dalarna Digital are happy to assist you. With our experience and focus on long-term results, we can work together to develop a plan that suits your business. Don’t hesitate to get in touch, I’m here to help you navigate the digital world and create the best conditions for your business.
