If you’ve been researching ways to boost your brand’s online presence, chances are you’ve come across the terms SEO and SMO. But what do they actually mean and how do they fit into your wider digital strategy?
In this blog, we’re answering the all-important question: What is SEO and SMO in digital marketing? We’ll break down what each acronym stands for, how they work, and why businesses that combine both tend to see better, longer-lasting results.
What is SEO and SMO in digital marketing?
What is SEO in Digital Marketing?
SEO stands for ‘Search Engine Optimisation’. It’s the process of improving your website so that it ranks higher within relevant search results. This is achieved by better aligning your sites offerings with search engine algorithms, with the goal of increasing visibility.
To effectively improve your websites ranking, brands need to be focusing on each of the following areas…
- On-page optimisation– Ensuring your content, headlines, meta descriptions, and images are all user-friendly and contain relevant keywords.
- Technical SEO– Improving site speed, mobile responsiveness, site structure, and crawlability.
- Content marketing– Creating valuable, keyword-rich content that helps answer your audience’s questions.
- Backlink building– Earning links from other reputable websites to improve domain authority and trust.
SEO is a long-term strategy that builds trust and drives consistent, organic traffic over time. While it does require patience, its effectiveness has been proven time and time again, making it a go-to strategy for millions of brands around the world.
What is SMO in Digital Marketing?
SMO stands for ‘Social Media Optimisation’. While SEO focuses on search engines, SMO is all about making your brand more visible on social platforms like Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, TikTok, and X.
SMO isn’t just about posting regularly. It’s about:
- Crafting content that performs well on each platform
- Using hashtags, keywords, and different formats strategically
- Engaging with your audience to improve visibility
- Maintaining a consistent tone of voice and visual identity
- Sharing posts that resonate with your audience, leading to follows and reshares
SEO vs SMO: What’s the Difference?
If you’re still wondering ‘what is SEO and SMO in digital marketing?’, the key is understanding how each strategy works (and how they differ). While both aim to increase your brand’s visibility, they do so in very different ways.
SEO focuses on improving your website’s ranking on search engines like Google. It involves optimising your website structure, writing keyword-rich content, and earning backlinks from other reputable websites. The goal is to make sure your site appears when people are actively searching for products or services like yours.
SMO, on the other hand, is all about building a strong presence on social media platforms. Rather than attracting people through search, SMO helps you engage with audiences where they already spend their time. It’s about sharing high-quality content, using platform-specific strategies, and encouraging interactions like shares, comments, and follows.
To summarise, SEO is search-driven, long-term, and rooted in your website. SMO is community-driven, more immediate, and based on your social presence. Both serve different functions but when used together, they create a well-rounded digital marketing strategy.
Why You Shouldn’t Ignore Either
When people ask ‘What is SEO and SMO in digital marketing?’, they’re often looking to choose between the two. In actual fact, for best results, you likely need a combination of the both.
Both elements support each other. Without SMO, your brand risks seeming inactive or out of touch. Without SEO, you miss the chance to capture intent-driven traffic (people who are already searching for what you do).
How Our Leading Marketing Agency in Essex Can Help
As a full-service marketing agency, we support clients across every element of digital marketing. From social media and SEO to PR, graphic design, and events, our team have your every need covered!
What makes us different?
- In-house expertise– Our SEO, content, and social teams all work under one roof, ensuring your strategy is cohesive.
- Tailored strategies– We know there’s no ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach to marketing. As such, we make sure all our proposals are bespoke and tailored to your individual needs and budget.
- Transparent reporting– We track what’s working, what’s not, and how to improve results, ensuring we are always optimising our approach.
- Proven results– Whether you’re in fashion, finance, hospitality, or education, we know what works and we’re ready to help you grow.
Let’s Chat!
Understanding ‘what is SEO and SMO in digital marketing?’ is the first step toward building a brand that’s visible, consistent, and connected. When used together, these strategies help businesses attract new audiences, nurture engagement, and grow sustainably.
Whether you’re starting from scratch or want to strengthen your current approach, VerriBerri is here to help! For more information, get in touch with our team by clicking here.