Imagine you just opened a cool new lemonade stand, but you hid it in your backyard where nobody can see it. Even if you have the best lemonade in the world, you need people to tell their friends about it so they will start looking for your house! The same concept applies when considering if Is Social Media Important for SEO in promoting your business.
The question of Is Social Media Important for SEO? can be answered with a resounding yes, as it plays a vital role in enhancing your website’s visibility and attracting more visitors.
This is exactly how social media works for your website. While Google does not give you a higher score just because you have a lot of likes, social media acts like a giant megaphone that helps the world and search engines find you much faster. Today, having a social presence is not just a hobby. Recent data shows that 94% of all internet users are active on social media, meaning if you are not there, you are missing out on almost everyone online. Understanding Is Social Media Important for SEO is crucial for anyone looking to grow their online presence.
For a long time, people thought SEO (Search Engine Optimization) and social media lived on different planets. But today, they are best friends. Let us dive into why social media is a must-have for your SEO strategy in 2026.
Does Google Actually Look at My Likes?
Let us get the technical part out of the way first. If you get 500 likes on a photo on Instagram, Google does not see those 500 likes and say that it should move this website to the top. Google has officially said that social signals, like hearts and retweets, are not a direct ranking factor.
However, that is not the whole story. While Google might not count the likes, it definitely counts the results of those likes. When a post goes viral, thousands of people click the link to visit your website. Research shows that 73% of marketers find that social media is highly effective for driving traffic to their sites. Google sees all those people arriving at your site and staying to read. That behavior tells Google that your website is popular and helpful. Because of that, they should show it to more people.
1. Social Media is the New Discovery Engine
In the past, if you wanted to know how to fix a leaky faucet, you went straight to Google. Today, many people go to YouTube or TikTok instead. In fact, 46% of Gen Z users now use social media as their very first option for online search. People are using the search bars on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest just like they use Google. They are searching for things like best hiking boots or local pizza shops.
Every time you post content with the right keywords and hashtags, you are making it easier for people to find you within those apps. For example, if you learn how to grow your LinkedIn profile organically, you are building a new search funnel outside of Google. Once they find you on social media, they are much more likely to visit your website.
2. Building a Reputation with E-E-A-T
Google has a special report card they use to grade websites. It is called E-E-A-T, which stands for Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness. Google wants to show content from experts they can trust. As the internet moves toward Google prioritizing real experts, proving your experience on social media is more important than ever.”
Social media is the perfect place to build this trust. Studies show that 74% of consumers rely on social media to help them make purchasing decisions. When you post behind the scenes videos or answer a follower’s question, you are showing your expertise. When customers leave happy reviews on your page, it shows you are trustworthy. When Google sees your brand being respected on social media, it confirms that your website is a high-quality source of information.
3. The Power of Branded Searches
Sometimes, instead of searching for cool shirts, you just type the name of a specific brand directly into Google. This is called a Branded Search. Social media is the best tool for this because it keeps your name stuck in people’s heads. Around 83% of marketers report that their social media efforts have led to increased exposure for their business.
The more people search for your business name, the more Google realizes you are a big deal. This helps your overall ranking for other keywords because Google sees you as a popular authority.
4. Winning at Local SEO
If you have a physical shop, social media is your secret weapon for Local SEO. Google checks your Name, Address, and Phone number across the whole internet to make sure it is accurate. This is vital because according to The Search Initiative, 97% of users search online to find a local business. By keeping your social profiles updated with local hashtags, you are helping Google verify exactly where you are. This makes you much more likely to show up on the map when someone nearby is looking for help.
If you are new to the world of neighborhood search, you might want to brush up on some local SEO terminologies to understand how these pieces fit together.
5. Capturing Backlinks Through Discovery
In the SEO world, a backlink is when another website links to yours. It is like a vote of confidence. Journalists and bloggers spend a lot of time scrolling through social media looking for stories. If you share a really cool infographic or study, a writer might see it and link to it in their next article. Infographics alone can increase website traffic by up to 12% (Editorial Link LLC) because they are so easy to share. You did not have to ask for the link; you just had to be visible where the writers could find you.
You can create these eye-catching visuals easily using some free Canva alternatives to make your posts stand out.
How to Make Your Social Media and SEO Work Together
- Make Sharing Easy: Put Share buttons on your blog posts so people can post your content with one click.
- Use Keywords in Your Bio: If you are a plumber, put the word plumber in your Instagram and Facebook bios.
- Add Links to Your Posts: Whenever you talk about a topic, provide a link to your website for more details.
- Interact with Your Audience: Reply to comments! Active engagement helps keep your brand relatable, which is something 56% of consumers say they want from brands.
- Consistency is Key: A profile that has not posted in a long time looks like a business that might be closed.
Avoid these common mistakes ecommerce sites make to keep your presence looking professional.
Conclusion: The Ultimate Partnership
At the end of the day, SEO and social media are two halves of the same goal. SEO is the long-term plan that helps you stay visible for years, while social media is the fast-paced conversation that builds your community. With the average person spending about 143 minutes per day on social media (Soax), you cannot afford to ignore it. When you use them together, you are building a brand that people and search engines cannot help but notice.
This is Muhammad Asad. I like to play table tennis and love Digital Marketing and SEO. I have 7+ years of SEO experience. I would love to chat, discuss or break down a problem.