Is Social Media the New Search Engine?
Did you know that 40% of Gen Z use social media for search rather than a search engine, according to research done by Google? So, when a group of Gen Z’ers are looking for a local restaurant they just hop on Instagram or TikTok to see what content has been shared locally by other people. This can be done through geotagging or hashtags, where users can now search for location & hashtags as well as general keywords. And now with the ecommerce shopping that is available through social media, it’s making it the best way for people to discover new products/services that they find valuable to fit their tastes.
Did you know that 40% of Gen Z use social media for search rather than a search engine, according to research done by Google? So, when a group of Gen Z’ers are looking for a local restaurant they just hop on Instagram or TikTok to see what content has been shared locally by other people. This can be done through geotagging or hashtags, where users can now search for location & hashtags as well as general keywords. And now with the ecommerce shopping that is available through social media, it’s making it the best way for people to discover new products/services that they find valuable to fit their tastes. One can merely search for a bathing suit and see the possibilities on content creators they may follow and trust. 83% of Instagram users say they discover new products and services this way (Search Engine Journal). This interactive word of mouth (WOM) marketing is going a long way and it seems that this will be the search engine of the future. People want to be engaged. They want to buy from brands that they trust through word of mouth reviews by real people. UGC Hint Hint. If this is going to be the new Google, then brands on social media have to make sure that they’re optimizing their page for social media searches. SEO but for social media. Here are some of the best ways to ensure that happens.
Use keywords from your field and use them in your description in the profile
Use in the name line
Choose videos/photos that match the keywords
Hashtags are NOT a search ranking factor (except for reels)
Use keywords here as well
Make sure hashtags are relevant
Combine well-known and niche hashtags
Use keywords in the captions of your posts
Use reels & carousels
This will increase reach
Aside from keywords improving your visibility it will also help you understand your audience better, grow your following, increase sales and engagement. The more people engage with your brand in real life with positive experiences, the more they will share you through social media channels. People love to share their likes and dislikes on social media platforms. Since this is the new word of mouth, it is going to be the future of online searching.
Not So Social, Social Media: Pay to Play is Coming
The blue check verification has been like the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Everyone wants to get their hands on it, but not everyone can get it. The point of having this is so that your account is less likely to be hacked or copied. And… if you’re a business or content creator can also be seen as a status symbol. This is good for those with larger followings but doesn’t really matter for the lay person who uses social media to connect with friends and family.
The blue check verification has been like the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Everyone wants to get their hands on it, but not everyone can get it. The point of having this is so that your account is less likely to be hacked or copied. And… if you’re a business or content creator can also be seen as a status symbol. This is good for those with larger followings but doesn’t really matter for the lay person who uses social media to connect with friends and family. Recently, Elon Musk has announced that it will be offering Twitter Blue subscription from$5-$8 per month that offers subscribers the coveted blue check mark. Meta followed suit and is trying this out in Australia and New Zealand. Two-factor authentication will be removed from those that don’t subscribe and that leaves room for some angry users. This increases the chances of their accounts being hacked and raises security concerns for typical users. Subscribers will also receive increased visibility. This will blur the line of whether we see content from the algorithm or because those accounts paid for it. Good for content creators and business owners. Not so much for everyday users. “Nearly 1/5 of U.S. teens and adults experienced their social media accounts getting hacked within the first three months of 2022,” according to Time magazine. Social media will now be become a space of pay-to-play, where those that have privilege will have the better hand dealt. This will not only continue to increase the gap between lower and upper social classes, it will further perpetuate suppression of those groups that are underserved.