As one of the world most popular social networking sites with 250 million active users worldwide, Facebook is a social phenomenon which has taken the world by storm and is attracting a noticeable amount of businesses.  Another hot topic in the online world is the importance of SEO and organic rankings. These two topics of interest are not often discussed in relation to one another, due to the fact that Facebook is a closed network of users not directly affecting rankings in mainstream search engines such as Google and MSN.

The point, that so often is missed, is that Facebook essentially holds its own internal search platform that your business could be organically climbing up in front of those 250 million active users.  Many SEOs may choose to focus solely on your Google rankings, but what about getting in front of the millions of Facebookers.

With Facebooks new enhanced search facility, it now allows its members to share and look back over 30 days worth of their networks updates, photos, links, videos and notes, plus the pages that they have become fans of.  Bing has now become the official search engine ‘Web Results function’ directly linked with Facebook.  Meaning the more SEO friendly and relevant content you have within your Facbook pages, the more likely that a Facebook user can be taken to your website directly from Facebook by clicking on the ‘Web Results’ button.  That’s only half the story….

Here are BOSSco’s tips for being SEO friendly for Facebook:

1. Increasing your network and fans of your business page is obviously an essential in gaining more out of social networking sites, the more fans you have the larger extended network you can reach.
2. Utilise the faculties Facebook provides, don’t simply set up a profile or fan page, create events, groups, add notes and blogs as all these features appear with profiles in Facebooks internal search.  Plus don’t forget to SEO all the content you add in to them.
3. Make your content available to the public outside of your network by changing your ‘privacy settings’ to ‘everyone’.  Remember in doing this everyone can see everything.
4. SEO your posts.  If it’s a blog, or your posting up news, make sure that you are using your keywords in the title and throughout your content to get yourself in to the search results for relevant searches by your extended networks.
5. Like websites, the more recent the content the more relevant it is deemed.  Don’t allow your business pages to sit there dormant, utilise them and use them on a regular basis.
6. It works both ways.  By following what the hot topics are among your networks you can better adapt and SEO your content to fit with their current interests.  Facebook users are savvy and social networking isn’t about the hard sell, it’s about interaction and the giving and sharing of information.  By shouting messages at your fans you are sure to be ignored.  Try asking their opinions?

Need help with the world of Social Marketing or SEO for your business?  If so contact BOSSco we have packages to help no matter how little or much experience you have.  Don’t be left out of the loop because of lack of knowledge or experience, embrace social networking and meet new audiences.