The ranking factor of Social Influence

Posted by Anton on Feb 3, 2011 in Social Media

For quite a while now the online world has been moving social.   For search engine optimization, links from top blogs, user generated content like Hubpages and even social bookmarks are considered as valuable links.  We now have confirmation from Google and Bing that they are using links from Tweets as one of their ranking factors. Web 2.0 and search engine optimization are increasingly converging with the lines between them becoming blurred.

Social media and SEO now works hand in hand.  Links will always be the currency of SEO that ensures top rankings.  Web 2.0 together with social networking are becoming the relationship side of SEO that seems to be the future of the web.  Social link connections are highly valuable now, especially by Google.

Should I just build social media links?

Not all these links are weighted equally.  Links from websites and profiles with a higher “social authority” are given more weight.  Social authority is developed when a person or business establishes themselves as an “expert” or “influencer” in their market or niche.

What creates a high social authority?

• Quality: Having more important friends and followers.
• Quantity: Having more followers and friends.
• Topic: Social authority will likely be related to relevant subjects.

Links from Twitter are nofollow.  That means none of the precious link juice search engine marketers are after will count but, it still creates social signals that influences rankings.  If the Tweet is made by someone with social authority, then they will create ripples in the search engine results.

Social authority is all about exerting influence.  Experts and celebrities that are social connected will be able to wield their influence in a way that will greatly affect search engine rankings.

Just something to think about.