Social networking sites are growing at a rapid rate and many people are now turning towards their social networks before they make a purchasing decision. The popularity of social networks has almost forced search engines like Google to include social signals into their Search Engine Rankings algorithm. As usual Google acknowledged they use these signals in their rankings but stopped short of giving any exact factors or numbers. But this recent study which analyzed how tweets effect search engine rankings, gives us an indicator of how they are factored in.
How Social Media Help in Search Engine Rankings
1. Interaction and Presence
As you see when you get around 50 tweets they usually tend to rank in the first page for relevant keywords and once you get around 5000 tweets they tend to come to the first three or four results. This is some amazing data to have as a marketer and I’m sure search engines have built in checks to stop spammers abusing this.
You must always be active to have interaction with people and solve their queries. Internet world is all about faith and interaction. Try to be more and more helping in social media.
The research is done only for Twitter but it is fair to say Facebook likes, Google +1 and other signals are considered in the ranking algorithm. Especially Google+ as it is Google’s own social network. Additionally Google+ is strongly encouraging real people to the network and improving rankings through authorship etc. Combination of all these factors will surely make Google+ a prominent social network especially for SEO people.
Read : Better Social Media Interaction-Is It Essential for Online Business
2. Other Sites
Number of likes and tweets is not the only way social media helps in search engine rankings. In its core social sharing sites like StumbleUpon and Reddit are discover engines. They help people discover great content and when they discover great content they are likely to link to it from their blogs.
When it was at its peak getting to Digg front page means lots of links because hundreds of people linked front page articles in Digg, some even without bothering to link to articles. After the fall of grace of Digg, ReddIt seems to be the site to be. Although I’m not personally happy about the new Digg mechanism it sure looks like good way to make the experience more social and also helps to get rid of spam content. So I wouldn’t give up on Digg just yet.
Read : StumbleUpon Can bring TRAFFIC more then Facebook and Twitter
3. Google Plus Identity
Mentioned above are the two main ways social media help in search engine rankings. With Google +1 button in search results, tweets’ showing up in search it is safe to assume that this is only the beginning. Early adopters always have an advantage so now is a good time to embrace social media while you are ahead. Having Google plus ID have become must have thing for bloggers because this is the only way we can have author image in Google SERP.
So along with on-Page SEO and other Search Engine Rankings methods you must have a attention and proper usage of social media to stand out of the crowd.
3 Tips to Protect you Blog from Over SEO Optimization
New Pinterest: Features Added and Removed [InfoGraphics]
Facebook Addiction is Affecting our Mind Badly [Infographics]
About Nishadha
Kulwant Nagi is a 25 years old Full-Time Blogger from Haryana, India. He Loves to write about SEO, WordPress and Blogging. Blogging Cage is a webmasters blog where you will learn blogging and SEO Tips. 
I highly appreciate the content of blog and i like your first point.
1. Interaction and Presence
Hi Nishadha,
All the points highlighted by you are very relevant social media’s role in influencing search engine rankings. Sites/blogs gain popularity through worthwhile posts but stay on top if they rely upon social media for promotion. All these are the order of the day now for many bloggers.
Regards,
Sanjib Saha
Sanjib Saha recently posted..How to Install CyanogenMod 10 on Galaxy Tab 7.7 P6800/P6810/I515
you are so right
social media is becoming more important than ever
thank you so much for the info
fanstap recently posted..The 5 worst blogging mistakes you can ever make
Thanks for dropping comment !!
I don’t think social media can help us a lot in getting ranked higher on search engines but surely promote it a bit. I’m trying to have more +1s for my site, let’s see how does it help me.
PrIyAnGsHu recently posted..Anvisoft Cloud System Booster Pro License Keys / Codes Giveaway
PrIyAnGsHu !! Social media helps you promote your site more widely.. which indirectly helps you to improve Search Engine Ranking.
Yes google circle gives good ctr
(dofollow)
and via social sharing google collect social signals [popularity]
social is one of the most important factor of SERP
ved prakash Joshi recently posted..Root AT&T Sony Xperia Ion Android Phone with Easy Tutorial
Social Media is as much important for a blog as SEO.
No blog runs without a proper social media campaign. It helps the blogs grow so much… Social media grabs the people’s attention and brings in traffic! Thanks for sharing this post
Christopher Joseph recently posted..Blogging vs Social Networking – What The Future Holds?
You said right that “No blog runs without a proper social media campaign”. No one can even assume the existence without Social Media. My biggest source of traffic is also through Social Media.
Hi,
I too agree with you about the role of social media in search engine ranking. Although after the releasing of google plus, sharing on it is important to get our article easily.
Google is smart and they have added Google Plus share must for bloggers.