Will SEO & Social Media Kill Other Types of Media Marketing?

by Guest Blogger on October 27, 2011

Social media killer

You know that song Video Killed the Radio Star? Someone should have been making sequels. We could have had Facebook Kills the MySpace Star or YouTube Kills the Quicktime Movie Star. Or maybe just the Internet Kills All the Non-Internet Stars.

With Facebook becoming more ubiquitous by the moment and SEO becoming the go-to formula for long-term internet success, will they soon leave behind other forms of marketing and advertising?

What’s to become of print advertising, radio ads, email marketing software, commercials, journalism or even snail mail?

-And, why has the Internet taken over? Simple. Its widespread accessibility, ease, and entertainment factor make it a desirable destination for just about anything.

The Age of Internet Marketing

Just as technology changes, the way we use it changes as well. Websites used to be all businesses needed for recognition on the Internet, but now that’s not enough. The way we once used internet marketing is coming to an end.

Sales and marketing have changed over the years from selling just products to selling the ideas, lifestyles and image that come as a result of using their products. This monumental shift means that advertising on the internet became key for reaching a target audience and for putting forth the cutting edge image that puts customers in a buying mood. What monumental shifts can we expect in the coming years?

SEO versus SM

Though it may have started off slow, Internet Marketing has taken off. Facebook now garners more weekly traffic than Google. If Facebook were a country, it would be the third largest in the world behind just China and India.

With 800 million users now on Facebook, businesses are using and will continue to use social media to recruit. Eighty-percent of companies are already using social media to recruit new employees and of that percentage, 85% use LinkedIn.

The Rise of Social Media

Ubiquitous social media sites like Facebook or Twitter mean that businesses of all sizes promote themselves online for free and this trend will only continue in the future. Businesses no longer need a domain name, fancy website or full-time graphic designer. They can create a Facebook page or Twitter account and easily be found by anyone looking to engage with their brand.

Social media makes it easy to establish the online presence of your brand. On Facebook or Twitter, giant companies like Coca-Cola or Johnson & Johnson are on the same playing field as Fred’s Froyo Stand or Natalie’s Nail Salon. They have to generate followers, of course, but the basic bones are the same.

In the next 10 years, 40% of our current Fortune 500 companies won’t be around anymore, which is mind-boggling to think about. The future of business is difficult to predict, but as more arise and as it’s easy to get exposure, what’s the best way to stay on top?

With everyone fighting for digital relevance through social media and more archaic forms of Internet marketing, what’s to be done to beat your digital competitors? The answer: SEO.

The Rise of SEO

Many companies like to think they don’t need SEO to be found. But, the history of changing Internet trends suggests otherwise. Businesses have been told over the last 15-20 years that they needed websites, blogs and social media sites. Many didn’t listen at first, but soon realized their blunders. This pattern is now becoming the case with SEO.

With the rate that search engines Google update their algorithms, the only way to stay ahead of the game with a digital presence on Facebook, Twitter, WordPress or anywhere else is through the use of SEO. If people can’t find you online, your business will not flourish.

The Verdict

So, what does all this mean? Will social media and SEO really trump other forms of media advertising? While there is no way to predict the future with absolute certainty, following the cues of history tell us that SEO is going to be the next big thing in Internet marketing. Soon, Facebook pages, Twitter accounts and websites won’t be enough to help potential customers find you on the web. Like it or not, the future is now.

Guest post by Megan Emily Brown

Megan Brown is a social media networker at Slingshot SEO. She also blogs on various subjects, from sports to lifestyle topics. Keep up with her on twitter (@thatgirlmegan) or check out her personal blog.

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Tagged as: Media Advertising, SEO, Social networking

{ 12 comments… read them below or add one }

Brett Beck Twitter: nextfly March 11, 2013 at 9:20 am

This is truth. The future is now and more than ever clients are understanding that. People aren’t going to find your company organically – you’ve got to HELP them find it. That’s why social media and SEO are so great. It gets the name of your company out there for the eyes to see.
Brett Beck recently posted.. The Day I Unplugged

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jack May 27, 2012 at 9:01 pm

Traditional marketing had been weak for the past 5 years because of social media and SEO. But I still believe in this marketing strategies such as TV advertising and Radio advertising.

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Alfred Hester March 20, 2012 at 8:38 am

I do agree with Brian the SEO thing should not be taken for granted. I have a friend who is into SEO and she helps a lot of people to earn. I think SEO is a great powerful technique and always being in a team is wonderful.

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Brian November 30, 2011 at 2:37 am

SEO really plays a vital role in internet marketing. At first, i thought SEO is useless and it is just a waste of money. However in the long run, i noticed that i only have few visitors and i’m not really generating an income in my business. Now, i’m studying how SEO and SMM work. Based on my experience, this two are really important and should not taken for granted. As of the moment, i’m getting a decent traffic when i started my link building strategy and i’m really happy with the results.

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natharn November 16, 2011 at 2:42 am

i think seo is great than social media. if you got the #1 position traffic more than social media (some keyword).
natharn recently posted.. Hot Product Review Blog

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Prude November 9, 2011 at 11:10 pm

Thanks for sharing. SEO is a very powerful technique that you can use to rank your sites on top of the search engine results. However, I really hate it that sometimes, it often takes a long time for your site to gain traffic. Waiting is such a tiring job that is why it would be helpful if you try some software’s like answer assault. Software’s can help you a lot when it comes to gaining traffic in a fast and easy way.

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Sarvesh November 8, 2011 at 11:34 pm

I think SEO is most powerful technique than any others. It is a good way to make the links for the web site. It is a nice and well written articles.

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B. Ligerent Twitter: copywrote October 30, 2011 at 11:16 pm

Kill? No.
Maim? Yes.

SEO and social media marketing are beating traditional marketing in the knees with a baseball bat.
B. Ligerent recently posted.. Fun Ad Interlude: James Brown Does Japanese Miso Soup

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JRPittman Twitter: jrpittman November 7, 2011 at 10:54 am

You have a way with words, B. Imagine that! :D

There’s still a use for traditional marketing but, as one commenter said, online marketing is becoming a necessity.

Love your comments – keep ‘em coming!
JRPittman recently posted.. Branding and Inbound Marketing: Can YOU Handle the TRUTH?

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B. Ligerent Twitter: copywrote November 8, 2011 at 2:51 am: Thanks. I will be checking back in often!
B. Ligerent recently posted.. Find Your Voice – Part 1 of 3

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Wasim Ismail Twitter: wasimalrayes October 29, 2011 at 3:38 am

I think the bottom line is “If people can’t find you online, your business will not flourish” if every business owner had this mindset they will know the importance of having a presence. It doesn’t matter if they are a local store or just an online store, they all need customers, so why neglect SEO.

I see many local SMEs, take the step to create a facebook page, which is great, but they don’t have a website, they are building a presence, but just on one foot, website, social media, SEO all work hand in hand, and to fully reap the rewards (flourish) a business owner needs to fully understand the benefits of SEO & how it can improve their business, brand, and bottom line.

Megan thanks for the article :) have a great weekend.
Wasim Ismail recently posted.. Weekly Business Sales Quote by British Writer

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Megan Twitter: thatgirlmegan November 16, 2011 at 11:15 am: Wasim-

I completely agree- it’s the convergence of tools, not just one that stands alone, that truly benefits a brand!

Thanks for reading :)

-Megan

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Guest post by Megan Emily Brown

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