Can Social Media Help Your SEO? (Here’s What It Actually Does)
It’s easy to assume that being active on Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok will boost your Google rankings. After all, if people are engaging with your business online, surely that helps you show up more, right?
Well… yes and no.
Here’s the truth: social media doesn’t directly improve your SEO rankings. But it does support your SEO in indirect but important ways.
Let’s break it down, jargon-free.
Social Media Isn’t a Direct Ranking Factor
Google has confirmed that it doesn’t use your social media metrics (likes, follows, shares) as a direct signal for where you rank in search results.
So posting on Instagram won’t suddenly boost your website to page one.
But that doesn’t mean social isn’t important. It just helps in other ways.
Here’s How Social Media Does Help SEO
1. It Drives Real People to Your Website
When you post your blog content or services on social media, and someone clicks through to your website - that’s traffic.
And traffic does matter. The more people visiting your site, the more chances you have to:
Turn visitors into customers
Keep them engaged on your site
Build relevance and authority over time
If you’ve written a great blog post or have a strong local landing page, sharing it on social helps people find it.
2. It Helps You Get Backlinks
Backlinks are one of the biggest ranking factors in SEO. They’re links from other websites pointing to yours.
When you share useful content on social, it can get noticed by bloggers, journalists, or other businesses who might then link to your site.
No social post, no exposure, no backlink.
Social is the front door. SEO is the house.
3. It Builds Brand Awareness (and Searches)
The more people see your brand on social, the more likely they are to:
Search for your business by name
Click on your site when it shows up
Recommend you to others
Google pays attention to branded search terms. If more people are looking for you by name, that’s a good sign you’re a trusted business - and trust helps rankings.
4. It Keeps Your Business Active Online
An active presence on social media can:
Reinforce your legitimacy when people Google you
Help support your Google Business Profile
Make your brand look alive (not abandoned)
And when you’re regularly posting useful, helpful content, it supports your whole digital presence - not just one post or one platform.
TL;DR - Does Social Media Help SEO?
Here’s the summary:
❌ Social media isn’t a direct Google ranking factor
✅ But it helps by driving traffic, building brand awareness, and earning backlinks
So if you’re only using social for selfies and updates, you might be missing a trick.
Use Them Together
If you’re publishing useful blog posts on your site, share them on social.
If you’re running a special offer on your landing page, promote it on social.
If you’re getting reviews or case studies, post them.
Social is about people. SEO is about visibility. Used together, they help the right people find your business online.
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If you're in the SO postcode area and want more people to find you on Google, that's what I do.
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Does social media directly affect SEO rankings?
Not directly. Google has stated that social signals (likes, shares, follows) aren’t a direct ranking factor. However, social media can support SEO in indirect but powerful ways.
How does social media help SEO, then?
Social media can increase your content’s visibility, drive traffic to your site, encourage backlinks, and build your brand - each of which supports SEO.
Is one social platform better for SEO than others?
Not necessarily. It depends on where your audience is. Facebook, Instagram, and even LinkedIn can help if you're sharing useful content and linking back to your site.
Should I post SEO blog posts on social media?
Yes! Sharing your blog content on social helps get it seen, clicked, and potentially linked to - all boosting your SEO efforts.
