Danny Sullivan Confirms SEO Value in Twitter and Facebook, According to Google/Bing

[tpw]

I have long assumed that Twitter and Facebook could have SEO value in Google, although not necessarily directly.

We know that many of the links from these sources carry the NoFollow tag, but how could the search engines ignore this much social proof as to the value of a particular website?

They couldn't... Or could they?

It would seem silly to me if they did ignore the social proof attached to a website from the social media websites, but until today, I only suspected that the search engine companies should give some SEO value to links on social media websites.

This article documents an interview between Danny Sullivan and spokespersons for both Bing and Google. Both verified that they try to track social proof when valuing a link to a website, regardless of whether the link is NoFollow or not:

Google + Bing Confirm that Twitter/Facebook Influence SEO | SEOmoz

A big factor that comes into measuring the social value of a link provided from a specific profile is the number of persons following a certain profile.

[ViralSO-CEO]

Here are the social media factors that we have seen with our clients on Google so far:

1) Pages that have been recommended on Facebook
2) Pages that have been retweeted on Twitter
3) Influence on domain name having Facebook total fans over 1000
4) Influence on domain name having Twitter total followers over 2000

This trend seems to be playing a larger role each quarter.

[bgmacaw]

The spam 'like' race to the bottom is on...

YouTube - George Jones - The Race Is On

On a related note, I recently got a rate sheet from an advertising agency I had done some work for in the past. They charge clients $50 for each Twitter mention and $150 for each Facebook wall mention on one of their accounts with over 1000 followers. You can also get a mention across their 'viral' blog network for $500 a shot and a mention on weekly email newsletters for $250-$2500 depending on the niche. Apparently businesses are buying this stuff like crazy.

[Daniel Deegan]

Good to hear some official stance on it. It makes sense as it's a natrual evolution behind the idea of page rank. Long term it seems clear (to me at least) that your social media presence is going to trump current SEO practices when it comes to presneting search results in regards to relevancy. The most talked about person on a subject or topic in many cases should be at the top of the serps.

The problem is that the technology to track and analyze social media presence in an effective manner (seperating spammers from real people) is still somewhat new. Google is obvisouly working on new ways to adapt this into the search algo, and I'd bet money its coming sooner then many think. Right now the major shift is in local & places, before that was video and rich media. The Big daddy will be social media. Ha thats I'm gunna call it before it happens...."The Big Daddy" update

[nettech]

I don't think the businesses do buy them knowingly. I've worked for several Agency's and its how you sell them the overall 'internet marketing' as part of their overall media plan. Its a combination of diversifying your IM, lack of clients knowledge (they'll buy into most things if you have a good relationship) and also how much profit the company makes.

Originally Posted by bgmacaw

The spam 'like' race to the bottom is on...

YouTube - George Jones - The Race Is On



On a related note, I recently got a rate sheet from an advertising agency I had done some work for in the past. They charge clients $50 for each Twitter mention and $150 for each Facebook wall mention on one of their accounts with over 1000 followers. You can also get a mention across their 'viral' blog network for $500 a shot and a mention on weekly email newsletters for $250-$2500 depending on the niche. Apparently businesses are buying this stuff like crazy.

[superSEO2011]

Wow - really some companies are paying that much for these services?

That is crazy!

[orvn]

Only makes sense! Nofollow is a smap deterrent, but the social sharing of content is by definition link popularity!

edit: SPAM, rather than smap, although I sort of like the way that sounded, so I'm not sully correcting it

[yukon]

Originally Posted by orvn

Only makes sense! Nofollow is a smap deterrent, but the social sharing of content is by definition link popularity!

edit: SPAM, rather than smap, although I sort of like the way that sounded, so I'm not sully correcting it

A business/person could be as popular as they want on the social networks for as little as $5 at Fiverr.

[orvn]

Originally Posted by yukon

little as $5 at Fiverr.

:O Now that's an interesting social network!

[Cataclysm1987]

It's sad, but it appears Google following the social networks like Twitter is just more proof that the nofollow tag is essentially dead. They are starting to break their own rules by paying attention to these links, which is the first sign of a breakdown.

Not that I ever cared for the nofollow tag in the first place. It's hypocritical to link to something without being willing to share pagerank value with that site.

Hopefully Google will just start ignoring nofollow everywhere now, especially Wikipedia.

[bgmacaw]

Originally Posted by nettech

I don't think the businesses do buy them knowingly.

Maybe in 2007 or 2008 but the market is a bit different now from what I've seen recently. Many companies know exactly what they want, like a social media campaign on Facebook or Twitter, and only want to outsource the grunt work. The days of selling a generic "Internet Marketing" campaign to a naive business are numbered (but may still be lucrative for a while).