How SEO is Like a Smile

When holiday cheer is in the air, I get in this state of mind where I hear jingle bells everywhere and the whole world is aglitter with tinsel. I have this constant stream of carols looping through my head and an urge to flavor everything with peppermint. But the holidays aren’t always a happy time for all.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jelene/ CC BY 2.0

The holidays are billed as a time of love and togetherness, which is great fun if you have someone to share it with. But when we’re reminded that others don’t have someone to share life and love with, we remember that the holidays are also about giving. As we remember all the things we have to be thankful for, we’re reminded that the world is full of people in need.

One of the simplest but most heartfelt gifts one can give, all year round, is a smile.

Now, if this was your reaction:

What do you mean, “Give a smile”? I’m an Internet marketer, not a GAP model! *

Not to worry. As it turns out, smiling has a lot in common with something with which you’re very familiar: search engine optimization!

Introduce Yourself Warmly

Before you whip out those pearly whites or that SEO strategy, think about your audience. Any introduction should be geared to the audience, whether it’s formal or casual, what the relationship might be going forward, and what’s expected of both sides. Search results are often the introduction platform between a searcher and a Web site. A site should make a great first impression by meeting the visitor’s needs, answering their questions, and leading them to the information they’re looking for with as little trouble as possible.

Which leads us to the next point…

Organize the Right Way

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dotbenjamin/ CC BY-SA 2.0

A smile and an SEO campaign should both be structured correctly. Someone offering a smile has to be aware of what kind of smile they’re giving (goofy, toothy smile? purse-lipped, toothless smile? relaxed, laugh-filled smile?) so that it matches the occasion. You wouldn’t want to laugh at someone when they’re hoping for gentle optimism? Likewise, an SEO campaign should seek to organize the site in the best way for users and search engines. Siloed, or theme-based, logical site architecture will act as a strong support for the themes of the site, at the same time making it easier for users to traverse the site.

Build from There

If a smile is like SEO, then a handshake is like link building, and a hug is like social media, and a pat on the back is like affiliate marketing, and you get the idea. Take your introduction and run with it to develop a strong relationship. Develop a holistic Internet marketing strategy that builds a continuing relationship with visitors, using all tools at your disposal. But don’t forget to keep sending out the smiles.

* I was just kidding about the whole “Internet marketers don’t smile” thing. I was just looking for a clever transition. You know you all have beautiful smiles! So use them! :)

Virginia Nussey is the director of content marketing at MobileMonkey. Prior to joining this startup in 2018, Virginia was the operations and content manager at Bruce Clay Inc., having joined the company in 2008 as a writer and blogger.

See Virginia's author page for links to connect on social media.