Social Media SEO Score Best Practices: Top 11 Strategies To Boost Rankings

Want to improve your SEO score using social media? This guide covers social media SEO score best practices that work globally, helping you enhance online visibility and drive organic traffic. Learn how to optimise profiles, leverage influencer collaborations, and create shareable content to maximise your SEO impact worldwide.

Key Takeaways

To boost your social media SEO score, you need to consider the following best practices:

• Optimise Your Social Media Profiles for SEO
• Use Social Media Shares as Backlinks
• Leverage Social Media Platforms as Search Engines
• Drive Traffic from Social Media Channels
• Collaborate with Influencers for Enhanced E-E-A-T
• Share New Content on Social Media for Faster Indexing
• Conduct Keyword Research Using Social Media Data
• Create Engaging and Shareable Social Media Content
• Enhance Local SEO with Social Media
• Monitor and Analyse Social Media Metrics
• Balance Social Media and SEO Efforts

What is a Social Media SEO Score?

Image source: Hookle

A social media SEO score refers to how well a brand or content creator’s social media presence contributes to their search engine optimisation (SEO) efforts. While search engines like Google don’t have an official “social SEO score,” marketers use this term to gauge the impact of social media activities, such as engagement, backlinks, and content shares, on their website’s rankings.

The score is influenced by several factors, including:

• Profile optimisation (keyword-rich bios, consistent branding)
• Content engagement (likes, shares, comments)
• Social backlinks (links to your website shared across social platforms)
• Brand mentions (even without direct links, mentions increase visibility)
• Traffic from social media to your website

A strong social media SEO score means that your social activities effectively support your SEO efforts, driving organic traffic and improving your brand authority in search engines.

How Search Engines Consider Social Signals in Rankings

Social signals refer to user interactions with your content on social media, such as shares, likes, retweets, and comments. While Google has stated that social media is not a direct ranking factor, there are indirect ways in which social signals influence SEO rankings:

1. Increased Content Visibility and Traffic
   • Viral or widely shared content drives more clicks to your website, increasing organic traffic.
   • High-traffic pages tend to rank better in search results.
2. Brand Authority and Trust Signals
   • A strong social presence helps build brand awareness, leading to more branded searches (which Google does consider).
   • If many users search for your brand after seeing it on social media, it signals relevance to search engines.
3. Higher Backlink Potential
   • Popular social media content is more likely to be picked up by bloggers, journalists, and websites, leading to earned backlinks.
   • Quality backlinks are a major ranking factor for SEO.
4. Faster Indexing of Content
   • Social media platforms are crawled frequently by search engines.
   • Sharing new content on social media can lead to faster indexing on Google.

In the next section, you will learn how to boost your social media SEO score. Consider the following points to improve your social media performance. 

Best Practice 1: Optimise Your Social Media Profiles for SEO

Image source: Sprout Social

Your social media profiles are digital assets contributing to your SEO strategy. A well-optimised profile enhances brand visibility, drives organic traffic, and strengthens your online authority. Here’s how to optimise your social media profiles for SEO.

Choosing Seo-friendly Usernames and Handles

Your social media username (or handle) is a unique identifier for your brand. It should be:

• Consistent across all platforms – Helps search engines associate your brand with the same entity.
• Short and recognisable – Avoid unnecessary numbers or special characters.
• Keyword-optimised (if relevant) – If your brand name includes a keyword, it can reinforce SEO.

Example:

• Bad: @BestSEOCompany123
• Good: @BestSEOAgency

 Pro Tip: If your desired username is taken, keep it professional. For example, instead of @DigitalMarketing123, try @DigitalMarketingHQ.

Writing Keyword-Optimised Bios and Descriptions

Your bio or about section is a prime space for SEO keywords. A well-crafted bio should:

• Include relevant industry keywords naturally.
• Clearly describe your business, services, or expertise.
• Maintain a brand-consistent tone to enhance trust.

Example:

• Before (Generic Bio): “We help businesses grow online.”
• After (SEO-Optimised Bio): “Expert in social media SEO best practices, helping brands boost search rankings and organic traffic through data-driven strategies.”

 Pro Tip: On LinkedIn, use keyword-rich job titles and headlines to improve discoverability in search results.

Adding Links to Your Website and Other Key Platforms

One of the most SEO-beneficial aspects of social media is the ability to link back to your website, landing pages, or blog content. These links:

• Drive referral traffic to your site.
• Signal relevance to search engines.
• Help distribute link equity when users share them.

Best Practices for Adding Links:

• Use the bio section to feature your main website link. (e.g., on Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, TikTok)
• Leverage link-in-bio tools (e.g., Linktree, Tap.Bio) to share multiple links.
• Regularly update links to feature new content, promotions, or lead magnets.

Pro Tip: On platforms like Pinterest, YouTube, and Facebook, add keyword-rich anchor text in your “About” section linking to your website.

Verifying Accounts for Credibility

A verified badge (✅ blue tick) adds trust and credibility to your brand, signalling authenticity to search engines and users. While verification requirements vary by platform, standard criteria include:

• A completed profile with bio, logo, and consistent branding.
• A history of active engagement (regular posting and interactions).
• Proof of brand legitimacy (news mentions, official website, or government registration).

Why Verification Matters for SEO:

• Higher visibility in search results – Verified accounts rank better in platform-specific searches.
• More trust from users – Increases engagement, which indirectly improves SEO.
• Prevents impersonation – Ensures that your brand remains the authoritative source of information.

Pro Tip: If verification isn’t available, establish authority using other credibility signals, such as a strong content strategy, active engagement, and professional branding.

Best Practice 2: Use Social Media Shares as Backlinks

Social media is more than just a platform for engagement. It’s a powerful tool that can indirectly boost your SEO efforts. While social shares are not traditional backlinks, they are social signals indicating content value and authority. The more your content is shared, the higher its chances of earning organic backlinks, increased visibility, and better search rankings.

Here’s how you can use social media shares as backlinks to enhance your SEO strategy:

Social Shares as Authority Signals for Search Engines

• When your content is shared on social media, it signals to search engines that it is valuable, relevant, and engaging.
• Although search engines don’t count social shares as direct ranking factors, they consider social signals when determining authority.
• High engagement levels on social media indicate that content is valuable, increasing the likelihood of better search visibility.

Social Shares Can Generate Natural Backlinks

• Viral or widely shared content catches the attention of bloggers, journalists, and industry leaders who may link to your site.
• These earned backlinks strengthen your site’s domain authority (DA), improving its ranking potential.
• The more backlinks your content attracts, the higher its credibility in the eyes of search engines.

Increased Social Engagement Improves Key SEO Metrics

Social media shares contribute to SEO success by enhancing engagement-driven metrics that search engines track:

• Higher website traffic – Users clicking on shared links drive organic visits.
• Lower bounce rates – Relevant social media traffic stays longer on your site.
• Longer session durations – More engaged visitors explore multiple pages, improving site performance.

Creating Shareable Content to Maximise SEO Impact

• Focus on high-quality, engaging, informative content that resonates with your audience.
• Use attention-grabbing visuals, compelling headlines, and strong CTAs to encourage sharing.
• Run user-generated content (UGC) campaigns, contests, or interactive posts to amplify shares.
• Optimise content for platform-specific trends (e.g., short-form videos on TikTok, infographics on Pinterest, in-depth posts on LinkedIn).

Best Practice 3: Leverage Social Media Platforms as Search Engines

Image source: EyeKiller

With the evolution of online search behaviour, social media platforms are becoming alternative search engines, especially for younger demographics like Generation Z. Instead of relying solely on Google, users now turn to platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest to discover information, brands, and trends. Optimising your content for these platforms is essential for improving your social media SEO score and driving organic traffic.

Here’s how you can leverage social media platforms as search engines effectively:

Optimise Content with Relevant Keywords

• Just like traditional SEO, keyword optimisation is crucial on social platforms.
• Incorporate high-ranking, platform-specific keywords in captions, video descriptions, and profile bios.
• Use search-friendly post titles and descriptions to improve discoverability on TikTok, YouTube, and Pinterest.

Utilise Strategic Hashtags for Better Visibility

• Hashtags work as search filters on social media, helping users find relevant content.
• Use a mix of high-volume, niche, and branded hashtags to maximise reach.
• Research trending hashtags on platforms like Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn to improve engagement.

Optimise Social Profiles for Search Discoverability

• Ensure your username and handle are consistent across platforms for easy recognition.
• Include a keyword-optimised bio that clearly explains your brand’s purpose.
• Add website links and CTA buttons to drive traffic from social media to your website.

Align Social Media SEO with Google Search

• Social media posts now appear in search engine results, making optimisation even more critical.
• Focus on creating high-quality, shareable content that ranks on both Google and social platforms.
• Engage in cross-platform promotion, ensuring your content is accessible across different networks.

Best Practice 4: Drive Traffic from Social Media Channels

A well-executed social media strategy can significantly improve your search engine rankings and overall social media SEO score. While social shares and links from social media platforms are often no-follow, they still serve as strong signals of relevance, engagement, and authority—factors that influence SEO. By strategically leveraging social media, you can drive traffic to your website, enhance brand credibility, and boost organic visibility.

Here’s how to effectively use social media to drive traffic and improve your SEO performance:

Strategically Place Links to Your Website

Image source: Belo Medical Group on Instagram

• Add your website URL to social media bios, descriptions, and posts for easy access.
• Include clickable CTAs (Call-to-Actions) in posts, encouraging users to visit your website.
• Share blog posts, product pages, and landing pages on social platforms to increase referral traffic.

Foster Engagement to Boost Visibility

• Respond to comments, DMs, and mentions to encourage more interaction.
• Host Q&A sessions, live videos, and interactive polls to engage your audience.
• Leverage user-generated content (UGC) by resharing customer testimonials, reviews, and social proof.

Utilise Social Sharing to Amplify Reach

• Encourage followers to share your content, increasing its chances of reaching new audiences.
• Use hashtags and trending topics to maximise content visibility across social platforms.
• Post shareable content formats like infographics, short videos, and listicles that encourage engagement.

Maintain a Consistent Social Media Presence

• Regularly post high-quality, valuable content that resonates with your audience.
• Share content across multiple platforms to create a continuous traffic funnel to your website.
• Monitor analytics to track which content drives the most website visits and conversions.

Best Practice 5: Collaborate with Influencers for Enhanced E-E-A-T

Image source: Bretmanrock on TikTok

Influencer marketing is a powerful way to enhance brand credibility, expand reach, and strengthen SEO efforts. By partnering with the right influencers, you can improve your social media SEO score while reinforcing Google’s E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness) principles—key factors that impact search rankings.

Here’s how influencer collaborations can benefit your SEO and social media strategy:

Build Authority and Trust with High-Quality Endorsements

• Influencers have established credibility within their niches, making their endorsements more authentic and trustworthy.
• Their recommendations reinforce your brand’s E-E-A-T, signalling reliability to search engines and potential customers.
• Partnering with experts in your industry enhances your brand’s reputation and perceived expertise.

Increase Engagement and Social Signals

• Influencers generate high engagement rates, which boost your brand’s visibility on social platforms.
• Shares, likes, comments, and mentions signal relevance and popularity, indirectly impacting SEO.
• Strong engagement can increase social referral traffic to your website, strengthening your SEO performance.

Earn Quality Backlinks and Mentions

• Influencers often link to your website, blog, or landing pages, increasing valuable referral traffic.
• High-authority backlinks from reputable influencers can enhance your domain authority and search rankings.
• Mentions in podcasts, social media posts, and guest blogs contribute to brand awareness and SEO impact.

Expand Social Reach and Content Distribution

• Collaborating with influencers helps you reach new audiences within your target market.
• Repurposing influencer content across multiple channels maximises content longevity and searchability.
• Increased brand exposure leads to higher search demand, improving branded search visibility on Google.

Best Practice 6: Share New Content on Social Media for Faster Indexing

By disseminating fresh content across various social media platforms, you can expedite the indexing process performed by search engines. Without such social media shares, it may take as long as a month for new posts to be indexed. Prompt sharing on these platforms ensures swifter recognition from search engines.

This acceleration in indexing due to active social media sharing contributes to enhanced visibility of your content, which favours SEO outcomes. This tactic allows your material to swiftly captivate a broader audience, effectively strengthening your approach to integrating social media and SEO strategies.

Best Practice 7: Conduct Keyword Research Using Social Media Data

Image source: Wordstream

Social media platforms offer valuable data for keyword research. Analysing social media platform analytics helps identify which keywords resonate most with your audience, allowing you to tailor your strategy to specific objectives and audience characteristics.

Use third-party tools alongside platform-specific analytics for deeper insights into keyword performance. This approach helps prioritise keywords based on relevance, search volume, competition, and user intent. Incorporating trending hashtags into your content further enhances visibility and engagement.

Regularly updating your keyword list keeps pace with evolving audience interests and industry trends. Leveraging social media data for keyword research refines your SEO strategy, ensuring your content remains relevant and engaging.

Best Practice 8: Create Engaging and Shareable Social Media Content

Image source: Quuu Blog

The foundation of a triumphant social media SEO strategy lies in content that is both engaging and conducive to sharing. Content crafted to connect with the audience emotionally tends to garner more shares and interactions, enhancing its viral potential. Essential components for creating such buzz-worthy posts include high-quality imagery, titles that compel users to click, and material rich in emotional appeal.

Subsequent sections will delve into methodologies for formulating captivating headlines, leveraging emotive content, and integrating superior images to elevate social media engagement and bolster SEO efforts.

• Craft Click-Worthy Titles: Creating titles that compel clicks garners interest and boosts website visits. It is essential to be direct and persuasive, incorporating enticing adjectives that align with your audience’s passions.
• Although such magnetic headlines may not consistently correlate flawlessly with search engine optimisation (SEO), they prove advantageous for enhancing conversion rate optimisation (CRO).
• Use Emotional Content: Crafting content that resonates emotionally with users dramatically boosts the likelihood of interactions and shares on social media. By tailoring your material to align with user interests, you enhance its attractiveness, leading to a greater propensity to become viral due to increased emotional engagement.
• Incorporate High-Quality Photos: Captivating, high-quality images in social media posts leads to higher engagement levels by drawing users’ attention and prompting interactions. Sharing and linking such posts with superior-quality visuals are more frequent, which can elevate your SEO rating.

Employing appropriate ALT text for pictures increases their visibility on search engines by offering necessary context. This tactic enriches your comprehensive SEO strategy and boosts the prominence of your content in search engine results.

Best Practice 9: Enhance Local SEO with Social Media

Leveraging social media to boost local SEO is essential to captivate a regional market. By infusing local features into your profile pictures and cover images, you reinforce the local essence of your brand. Incorporating location-based keywords within the descriptions on your social platforms informs search engines about the locality-centered nature of your company.

By actively participating in discussions with regional followers and contributing content pertinent to the community, businesses can foster customer devotion while enhancing their standing in terms of local SEO. Prompting customers for online feedback and employing hashtags related to specific locales also elevates credibility and visibility within localised searches.

Adopting best practices for local SEO across social media channels and corporate websites establishes a unified framework that improves performance outcomes.

Best Practice 10: Monitor and Analyse Social Media Metrics

Image source: Sprout Social

Tracking and evaluating social media metrics can sharpen your SEO strategies to boost performance effectively. Metrics related to user engagement shed light on the type of content that captivates your audience most, steering the direction for new content development. Interacting with followers on social media channels garners crucial insights that shape strategic planning.

Consistently examining these metrics can powerfully boost your SEO results as time passes. Pinpointing the most impactful metrics paves the way for decisions based on complex data, enhancing your efforts in social media and search engine optimisation.

Best Practice 11: Balance Social Media and SEO Efforts

Balancing social media and SEO efforts is key to a successful digital marketing strategy. Sharing plans, reports, data, insights, strategies, and test results between social and search teams can improve overall strategy. Social media management and SEO optimisation complement each other and amplify results.

Maintaining authenticity in your content is crucial, as genuine stories resonate better with audiences than purely optimised material. Finding the right mix of social media optimisation (SMO) and search engine optimisation (SEO) requires continuous testing and adaptation.

Analysing which strategies generate more leads helps balance social media and SEO efforts.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do social media shares impact SEO?

Social media shares enhance SEO by acting as backlinks that indicate to search engines the value and authority of your content, ultimately improving your search visibility and rankings.

What are the benefits of collaborating with influencers for SEO?

Working with influencers can increase your brand’s visibility and credibility, strengthening your E-E-A-T (Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness) profile. Such a collaboration results in heightened engagement and better SEO outcomes.

How can social media help with faster content indexing?

Disseminating fresh content via social media platforms dramatically expedites search engine indexing, boosting its discoverability and visibility. Employing this strategy guarantees that your content is delivered to audiences with increased speed.

Why is keyword research important for social media SEO?

Conducting keyword research is fundamental to optimising your social media presence. It helps you identify pertinent phrases that resonate with and captivate your target audience. This strategic alignment enhances your content’s reach and impact on various social platforms by customising your approach based on their unique preferences and activities.

How can local SEO be enhanced using social media?

To improve your local SEO through social media, refine your profiles with elements and keywords relevant to the locale, actively interact with the community in your area, and foster a culture of online reviews. Adopting this strategy markedly increases your visibility in local search results.