Navigating SEO in a Social Media-Driven World
Should you buy backlinks to boost your SEO?
Deciding whether to buy backlinks for SEO can be tricky. Here are three key trends to consider:
1.) Social media overtakes search engines for discovery among Gen Z and millennials.1 A recent survey revealed that social media has overtaken search engines as the primary tool for discovery among Gen Z (born 1997–2012) and Millennials (born 1981–1996), who are now ages 12 to 43 if I did my math right.
2.) The survey also found that one-third of respondents reported accessing the internet exclusively on their cellphones, underscoring the importance of mobile responsive websites.
3.) Google recently had a core update to their search algorithm. Their November 2024 core update is designed to continue their work to improve the quality of their search results by showing more content that people find genuinely useful and less content that feels like it was made just to perform well on Search.2 This isn’t surprising.
With these trends in mind, let’s revisit the question of whether buying backlinks is a good strategy. Purchased backlinks might be low quality, or come from spammy sites, which can potentially harm your website's reputation and authority. Do your research before you write the check, buying backlinks can be risky. It's always better to focus on building high-quality, organic backlinks through genuine content and engagement.
What does all this mean for business owners trying to market their company?
Leverage social media: establish a strong presence on platforms where your audience spends their time.
Optimize for mobile: Make sure your website is mobile responsive and easy to navigate.
Play the Search/SEO game: Search engines are still valuable, especially if your potential customers are 44 years old or older. Focus on creating high-quality content that’s relevant to your audience and build organic backlinks.
What strategies have you found most effective for reaching your target audience?
Sources:
1: https://www.emarketer.com/content/search-behavior-being-redefined-thanks-generational-shifts
2: https://searchengineland.com/google-november-2024-core-update-rollout-is-now-complete-448428