How to Use Social Media to Improve SEO & Brand Awareness

For small businesses, especially startups with limited online presence, every marketing move must count. Social media is often seen as a tool for engagement—but when used strategically, it also strengthens your search engine visibility. In this post, we’ll break down how social media can enhance your SEO and elevate your brand’s visibility at the same time.

Why Social Media Matters for SEO

While social media activity isn’t a direct ranking factor in Google’s algorithm, it plays a significant supporting role in your SEO efforts. Here’s how:

• Content Amplification: Sharing blog posts and service pages across social platforms drives traffic to your website. More visitors and engagement can signal value to search engines.

• Backlink Opportunities: High-quality content shared on social media increases the chance of earning backlinks from other websites—a known ranking factor.

• Brand Signals: A consistent brand presence on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn builds trust and brand recognition. When people search for your business, they’re more likely to click on a familiar name.

• Indexing Help: Pages that are widely shared on social media can get indexed faster, helping your content show up in search results sooner.

  
  

A laptop displaying the word "Social Media"—highlighting how digital platforms play a key role in boosting SEO and brand awareness.

Aligning Your Social Media With SEO Goals

To make your social media activity work for your SEO strategy, follow these best practices:

1. Share SEO-Focused Content Regularly

If you’re publishing blog posts or landing pages targeting specific keywords (like “affordable SEO in Loughborough”), share them frequently across your platforms. Use relevant hashtags, geotags, and engaging captions to expand your reach.

2. Link Back to Key Pages

Each time you post on social media, include a link to your website. Whether it’s a blog, a service page, or your contact form, make sure you’re driving traffic to pages that matter for SEO.

💡 Tip: Use tools like TinyURL or Linktree to tidy up long links and track engagement through UTM codes.

3. Encourage Engagement

Social media algorithms favour content that receives interaction. Ask questions, run polls, and respond to comments to boost visibility—and in turn, generate more click-throughs to your website.

4. Stay Consistent With Branding

Visual consistency across your social media and website builds familiarity. Use your logo, colour palette, and tagline (“A phased approach to online success!”) to create a recognisable presence.

Social Media + Local SEO = Stronger Online Presence

Local SEO benefits massively from strong social media engagement. Platforms like Facebook and Instagram allow you to tag locations and promote events, offers, or services in specific areas.

How social media supports local SEO:

• Your business gets cited across social profiles.

• Positive reviews and interactions on platforms like Facebook build trust.

• Location-based hashtags increase local visibility (e.g. #LoughboroughBusiness).

Maintaining an updated Google Business Profile and linking it with your social presence creates a powerful ecosystem that reinforces your credibility in local search.

Track Results & Adjust

Use Google Analytics and UTM tracking in combination with platform-specific insights to see which posts drive traffic to your website. Don’t just post and forget—use data to refine your content and improve performance.

Final Thoughts

Social media and SEO aren’t separate marketing efforts—they’re interconnected tools that, when used together, create a stronger digital footprint. For small businesses, this combined approach can build brand recognition while driving meaningful traffic that converts.

If you’re unsure where to start, book a free SEO Health Check with MyBusinessPal today.